On the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, the National Committee of Ukraine for Cooperation with UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) appeals to international partners to once again draw attention to the problem of crimes committed by the Russian Federation against Ukrainian journalists, which has reached unprecedented proportions.
Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, 116 journalists have been killed, 18 of them directly while performing their professional duties. Among the deceased are not only Ukrainian, but also foreign reporters who risked their lives so the world could learn the truth about Russian aggression. In addition, at least 26 civilian Ukrainian media workers and one journalist who joined the Defense Forces are currently held in Russian captivity.
The unacceptability of this situation requires decisive and consolidated actions by the international community to ensure justice, protect press freedom, and uphold international law.
We strongly condemn:
- All acts of illegal detention, torture, killing of journalists and other media workers, as well as all information attacks, disinformation campaigns, and instances of Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) directed against Ukrainian media workers, committed in the context of the armed conflict and the ongoing aggressive war by the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
We emphasize that:
- According to the International Declaration of Principles of Conduct for Journalists, a journalist serves the public’s right to the truth, not the state or any political power, and therefore, equating propagandists with journalists is unacceptable. It is important to clearly distinguish between journalists who perform their professional mission and individuals engaged in state propaganda (as exemplified by the recent UNESCO statement following the death of Russian state agency RIA Novosti correspondent Ivan Zuyev).
- As emphasized in UN General Assembly Resolution 68/163 “Safety of journalists and the issue of impunity,” journalists, media professionals, and associated personnel performing dangerous professional missions in areas of armed conflict shall be considered civilians and shall be respected and protected as such, provided that they take no action adversely affecting their status as civilians.
- Thus, the protection status provided by international humanitarian law for journalists performing dangerous professional missions in conflict zones cannot be extended to individuals whose activities are deliberately aimed at promoting war, inciting hatred, and justifying aggression. Consequently, the approaches to investigating crimes against genuine journalists and the fate of propagandists cannot and should not be the same.
We are convinced that:
- The lack of a swift and effective international response to cases of murder, illegal detention, torture, or capture of journalists, as well as to information attacks, disinformation campaigns, and instances of TFGBV against Ukrainian media workers, creates a sense of impunity for the aggressor and signals that such actions are permissible.
- When crimes against journalists remain unpunished, it is not merely an injustice – it is the destruction of the very foundation of democracy. Impunity signals that the truth can be destroyed without consequences, and with it, freedom of speech around the world.
We call upon international partners to:
- Demand that the Russian Federation immediately cease the persecution of journalists, release all captured media workers, and comply with international humanitarian law in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2222 on the protection of journalists, media professionals, and associated personnel in armed conflicts.
- Develop and implement an effective international mechanism for holding accountable those responsible for the murder, persecution, and torture of journalists. This mechanism must include special procedures for evidence gathering, independent investigations, and international justice mechanisms that will prevent criminals from escaping justice.
- Establish and support independent international investigative teams to probe crimes against journalists and media workers, particularly in occupied territories.
- Establish coordination and cooperation between international structures and Ukrainian law enforcement agencies in investigating crimes against journalists, especially regarding the documentation, preservation, and verification of evidence.
- Strengthen financial, technical, and expert support for Ukrainian and international organizations engaged in documenting crimes against journalists, providing them with legal aid, psychological support, and ensuring their safety.
- Develop joint international standards for responding to information attacks, disinformation campaigns, and Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) against journalists, especially women, who are most often targeted by such attacks.
- Clearly condemn any attempts to legitimize the activities of state propagandists disguised as journalism, as well as calls that justify violence or aggression under the guise of freedom of speech.
On the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, November 2, we call the world to action: jointly put an end to impunity and protect those who protect our right to know the truth.
The statement is available for download here.
