On this International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, we, the national focal points of the Journalists Matter Campaign, reaffirm our shared determination to protect journalists and to ensure that those who commit crimes against them are brought to justice and punished.
Each attack on a journalist is an attack on freedom of expression and people’s access to information. It deprives citizens of reliable information, promotes disinformation, weakens democratic institutions, and spreads fear among those who serve the public’s right to know. Ending impunity for these crimes is therefore not only about defending journalists, but it is also about defending the values of our democracy.
Launched by the Council of Europe in October 2023, the Journalists Matter Campaign is now halfway through its five-year mandate. Over these two years, it has helped establish a network of national focal points and committees that bring together journalists, law enforcement, judges and prosecutors, and public authorities to build trust and improve protection.
In many member States, such cooperation did not exist before. The Campaign has demonstrated that dialogue and shared learning can lead to real change – from improved police – media relations at protests to new action plans and protocols for journalists’ safety.
Yet much remains to be done. Unfortunately, too many cases of violence, threats, and harassment – both offline and online – remain unresolved, hindered by both their complexity and insufficient action. Too many journalists continue to work in fear, and in some countries, newly created committees or focal points still lack the resources or political support needed to advance the protection of journalists and raise public awareness of the importance of their role in society.
We strongly condemn all acts of unlawful detention, torture, and killing of civilian journalists in the context of armed conflicts and military aggression. Such actions constitute grave breaches of international humanitarian and human rights law and an assault on the very foundations of free and independent journalism. Holding journalists as hostages or targeting them for reporting about the realities of war is utterly unacceptable. We call for the immediate release of all detained journalists and demand full accountability for all perpetrators involved in these crimes.
Furthermore, in view of the tragic toll of journalists who have lost their lives or suffered violence in conflict zones, we call on all parties to armed conflicts to respect and uphold the non – combatant status of journalists. They must ensure that journalists are able to work safely, without fear of attack, intimidation, or arbitrary detention, and that they have access to the information and conditions necessary to report from the field. Protecting journalists in times of war is not only a humanitarian obligation-it is a moral imperative essential to preserving the access to information and accountability amid conflict.
As focal points, we call on all Council of Europe member States to renew their commitments to protecting journalists and to strengthen the structure responsible for implementing them. This means ensuring that these structures meet regularly, that recommendations are implemented, and that investigations into attacks against journalists are conducted independently, urgently and effectively.
We also underline the vital importance of involving journalists themselves in the implementation of national actions.
Their participation is not optional – it is essential and fundamental to the pursuit of justice. Effective protection depends on hearing from those directly exposed to risks, understanding their realities, and ensuring that solutions are shaped with, not just for, the journalistic community.
The second half of the Journalists Matter Campaign is an opportunity to consolidate the progress made, deepen cooperation and show that dialogue can yield results. Between now and 2027, we must redouble our efforts to reduce the number of journalists who are unable to work freely and safely. We must also ensure that all related cases are thoroughly investigated, that impunity is reduced or eliminated, and that trust between journalists, citizens, and authorities is strengthened and restored.
On this day, we honour those who have been silenced, and we recommit ourselves to ensuring that their courage was not in vain. Together, we can ensure that the Journalists Matter Campaign leaves a lasting legacy: a Europe where journalists are protected, justice is pursued, and impunity has no place.
