International Day to End Impunity

Honest journalists and bloggers, courageous human rights defenders and other public figures are often targets of threats, attacks and torture for exercising the rights to freedom of expression. In most cases, such incidents and crimes go unpunished. IFEX, an independent organization based in Montreal that defends freedom of speech, established a commemorative date in 2011. November 23 is the International Day against Impunity. Employees of modern media are much less likely than 10 or 20 years ago to broadcast information independent of the political situation and the interests of the ruling elites of a particular country. Those who dare to speak the truth and their families are subject to psychological and physical pressure. The bias of the press, including electronic publications, and television is partly related to the financing of the media by interested parties and criminal structures. The names of rebellious and honest journalists who became victims of the system will forever remain in the history of Russia - these are Vladislav Listyev, Natalya Estemirova, Anna Politkovskaya, Vector Afanasenko, Dmitry Kholodov, Irina Slavina... They died or were driven to suicide for their opposition activities. Those responsible for this, as well as for the mysterious death of Valeria Novodvorskaya under incompletely clarified circumstances, were not punished. The tragic death of journalist Artem Borovik and many of his colleagues raises many questions. It is no coincidence that International Day to End Impunity falls on November 23rd. On this day in 2009, a terrible crime was committed in the Philippines in the province of Maguindanao. In the city of Ampatuan, 58 people were kidnapped and killed, 32 of whom were journalists and media workers. All the victims were supporters of Ismael Manguadadatu, who was running for provincial governor. The orderers of the massacre were representatives of the influential Ampatuan clan, who for a long time occupied the main positions in the government of Mindanao. The investigation, during which 4 witnesses were killed, ended in 2019. 5 clan members were sentenced to life imprisonment, the perpetrators were sentenced to prison terms from 6 to 10 years. But at the same time, 80 suspects, including police officers who covered up the activities of the Ampatuan family, remain at large. IFEX cannot accept such impunity for the perpetrators in this and similar cases. Therefore, the organization established the International Day to End Impunity, celebrated annually around the world. The Day against Impunity was approved by the UN in 2013 at its 68th session. The resolution of the General Assembly of the organization calls on the authorities of all countries to begin combating any manifestations of violence against media workers. The killing of journalists, bloggers, correspondents and public figures because of their honesty, integrity and opposition views must be stopped.