UNESCO: Everything you need to know about journalists’ human rights and safety
PICTURE: Ambassador-designate of Maldives to the United Kingdom Dr Farahanaz Faisal signed the Global Pledge on Media Freedom on behalf of the Maldivian government on 12 July 2019
UNESCO has provided a non-exhaustive list of texts, declarations, decisions, resolutions and conventions related to human rights and the safety of journalists.
International Human Rights Laws
- UN – The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
- UN General Assembly Resolution (A/RES/2673(XXV)) on the Protection of journalists engaged in dangerous missions in areas of armed conflict (1970)
- OHCHR – The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) (1976)
- UN Commission on Human Rights – Human Rights Resolution 2005/81: Impunity (2005)
- UN Security Council – Resolution S/RES/1738 (2006)
- General comment 34 on the article 19 of ICCPR (2011)
- Human Rights Council Resolution (A/HRC/RES/21/12) on the Safety of Journalists (2012)
- UN General Assembly Resolution (A/RES/68/163) on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2013)
- Human Rights Council Resolution (A/HRC/RES/27/5) on the Safety of Journalists (2014)
- UN General Assembly Resolution (A/RES/69/185) on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2014)
- UN Security Council Resolution S/RES/2222 (2015)
- UN General Assembly Resolution (A/RES/70/162) on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2015)
- Human Rights Council Resolution (A/HRC/RES/33/2) on the Safety of Journalists (2016)
- UN General Assembly Resolution (A/RES/72/175) on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2017)
- Human Rights Council Resolution (A/HRC/RES/39/6) on the Safety of Journalists (2018)
- UN General Assembly Resolution (A/RES/74/157) on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2019)
- Human Rights Council Resolution (A/HRC/RES/45/18) on the Safety of Journalists (2020)
- UN General Assembly Resolution (A/RES/75/101) Information in the Service of Humanity (2020)
- Human Rights Council Resolution (A/HRC/RES/47/16) on The promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the Internet (2021)
- UN General Assembly Resolution (A/RES/76/173) on The safety of journalists and the issue of impunity (2021)
- UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Kyoto Declaration on Advancing Crime Prevention, Criminal Justice and the Rule of Law: Towards the Achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted at the 14th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (2021)
- Human Rights Council Resolution (A/HRC/RES/50/15) on Freedom of opinion and expression (2022)
- Human Rights Council Resolution (A/HRC/RES/51/9) on the Safety of Journalists (2022)
- UN General Assembly Resolution (A/RES/78/215) on the safety of journalists and the issue of impunity (2023)
UNESCO Resolutions, Decisions, and Declarations on Safety of Journalists
Regional Declarations
- Declaration of Windhoek on Promoting an Independent and Pluralistic African Press (1991)
- Declaration of Alma Ata on Promoting Independent and Pluralistic Asian Media(1992)
- Declaration of Santiago on Media Development and Democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean (1994)
- Declaration of Sana’a on Promoting Independent and Pluralistic Arab Media (1996)
- Declaration of Sofia on promoting independent and pluralistic media (1997)
General Conference Resolutions
- UNESCO General Conference Resolution 4.3 on Promotion of press freedom in the world (1991)
- UNESCO General Conference Resolution 4.6 on the Role and functions of public service broadcasting (1993)
- UNESCO General Conference Resolution 4.6 on Promotion of independent and pluralist media (1995)
- UNESCO Resolution 29 on the Condemnation of Violence against Journalists adopted during the 29th General Conference (1997)
- UNESCO General Conference Resolution 34 on the Sana’a Declaration (1997)
- UNESCO General Conference Resolution 35 on the Sofia Declaration (1997)
- UNESCO Resolution 53 adopted during the 36th General Conference (2011)
- UNESCO Resolution 39 on Strengthening UNESCO leadership in the implementation of the UN Plan of Action adopted during the 39th General Conference (2017)
- UNESCO Resolution 52 on Major Programme V – Communication and Information (2019)
- UNESCO Resolution 41 on Windhoek+30 Declaration made on World Press Freedom Day 2021 (2021)
- UNESCO Resolution 36 on Major Programme V – Communication and Information (2023)
Executive Board Decisions
- UNESCO 196th Executive Board Decision (196 EX/31) on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2015)
- UNESCO 201st Executive Board Decision (201 EX/5.I.I) on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2017)
- UNESCO 202nd Executive Board Decision (202 EX/5.I.K) on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2017)
- UNESCO 206th Executive Board Decision (206 EX/5.I.B) on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2019)
- UNESCO 211th Executive Board Decision (211 EX/5.I.G) on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2021)
- UNESCO 216th Executive Board Decision (216 EX/5.I.G) on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2023)
International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) Intergovernmental Council Decisions
- IPDC Decision on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2008)
- IPDC Decision on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2010)
- IPDC Decision on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2012)
- IPDC Decision on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2014)
- IPDC Decision on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2016)
- IPDC Decision on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2018)
- IPDC Decision on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2020)
- IPDC Decision on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2022)
World Press Freedom Day Declarations
- UNESCO’s Resolution on Terrorism and Media (2002)
- UNESCO’s Belgrade Declaration on Media in Conflicts Areas in Countries in Transition (2004)
- UNESCO’s Dakar Declaration on Media and Good Governance (2005)
- UNESCO’s Colombo Declaration on Media, Development and Poverty Eradication (2006)
- UNESCO’s Medellin Declaration Securing the Safety of Journalists and Combatting Impunity (2007)
- UNESCO’s Maputo Declaration: Fostering Freedom of Expression, Access to Information and Empowerment of People (2008)
- UNESCO’s Doha Declaration on the Potential of Media: Dialogue, Mutual Understanding and Reconciliation (2009)
- UNESCO’s Brisbane Declaration on Freedom of Information: the Right to Know (2010)
- UNESCO’s Washington D.C Declaration on 21st Century Media: New Frontiers, New Barriers (2011)
- UNESCO’s Carthage Declaration on press freedom and the Safety of Journalists (2012)
- UNESCO’s San José Declaration on Securing Freedom of Expression in all Media (2013)
- UNESCO’s Paris Declaration on Media Freedom for a Better Future (2014)
- UNESCO’s Riga Declaration on Better Reporting, Gender Equality and Media Safety in the Digital Age (2015)
- Finlandia Declaration on Access to Information and Fundamental Freedoms (2016)
- Jakarta Declaration “Critical Minds for Critical Times: Media’s role in advancing peaceful, just and inclusive societies” (2017)
- Accra Declaration “Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and the Rule of Law” (2018)
- Addis Ababa Declaration “Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation” (2019)
- Windhoek +30 Declaration (2021)
- UN Joint Statement on the Safety of Journalists on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day 2022 (2022)
- UN Presidents Joint Statement on Freedom of Expression as a Driver of All Other Human Rights (2023)
- UN Presidents Joint Statement on Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis (2024)
- UNESCO’s Santiago Declaración en la Conferencia del Día Mundial de la Libertad de Prensa (2024)
Joint Declarations by the UN Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression
- UN Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression Joint Declaration on Promoting Freedom of Expression (1999)
- UN Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression Joint Declaration about Censorship by Killing and Defamation (2000)
- UN Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression Joint Declaration on International Mechanisms for Promoting Freedom of Expression (2002)
- UN Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression Joint Declaration (2005)
- UN Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression Joint Declaration on International Mechanisms for Promoting Freedom of Expression (2006)
- UN Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression Joint Declaration on the Challenges to Freedom of Expression in the Next Decade (2010)
- UN Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression Joint Declaration on Crimes against Freedom of Expression (2012-2)
- UN Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression Joint Declaration on Violence against Journalists and Media Workers in the Context of Protests (2013-3)
- UN Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression Joint Press Release on Stronger Protection of Journalists Covering Conflicts (2014-2)
- UN Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression Joint Declaration on Freedom of Expression and Responses to Conflict Situations (2015)
- UN Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression Joint Declaration on Challenges to Freedom of Expression in the Next Decade (2019)
- UN Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression Joint Declaration on Freedom of Expression and Elections in the Digital Age (2020)
- UN Special Rapporteurs on Freedom of Expression Joint Declaration on Politicians and Public Officials and Freedom of Expression (2021)
- UN Special Rapporteurs on Freedom of Expression Joint Declaration on Freedom of Expression and Gender Justice (2022)
- UN Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression Joint Declaration on Media Freedom and Democracy (2023)
- UN Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression Joint Declaration on the Climate Crisis and Freedom of Expression (2024)
Universal Periodic Review Process (including UNESCO’s Contribution)
The Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is the UN reporting mechanism on human rights in all UN Member States, to which UNESCO contributes on the fundamental human right freedom of expression, freedom of information, and safety of journalists, amongst others.
It convenes three times a year and provides the opportunity for each Member State to declare what actions they have taken to improve human rights within their borders and to fulfill their obligations.
13th Session (2012) | 14th Session (2012) | 15th Session (2013) | 16th Session (2013) | 17th Session (2013)
18th Session (2014) | 19th Session (2014) | 20th Session (2014) | 21st Session (2015) | 22nd Session (2015)
23rd Session (2015) | 24th Session (2016) | 25th Session (2016) | 26th Session (2016) | 27th Session (2017)
28th Session (2017) | 29th Session (2018) | 30th Session (2018) | 31st Session (2018) | 32nd Session (2019)
33rd Session (2019) | 34th Session (2019) | 35th Session (2020) | 36th Session (2020) | 37th Session (2021)
38th Session (2021) | 39th Session (2021) | 40th Session (2022) | 41st Session (2022) | 42nd Session ( 2023)
Regional Instruments of Human Rights Laws
- African Charter on Human and People’s Rights for Africa (1981, in force since 1986)
- American Convention on Human Rights (1969, in force since 1978)
- European Convention on Human Rights for Europe (1950, in force since 1953)
- Arab Charter on Human Rights (2004, in force since 2008)
Humanitarian Laws and Measures
- The Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their additional protocols
- ICRC 31st International Conference’s Resolution 2 on 4-Year Action Plan (2011)
Regional Measures Specific to the Safety of Journalists
- World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)+10 Final Statement (2013), the WSIS+10 High Level Outcome Documents (2014) and UN General Assembly Resolution (A/RES/70/125) on the Outcome Document of the High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Overall Review of the Implementation of the Outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (2016)
- Council of Europe: Declaration by the Committee of Ministers on the protection and promotion of investigative journalism (2007)
- African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Resolution (ACHPR/Res.185(XLIX)11) on the Safety of Journalists and Media Practitioners in Africa (2011)
- Council of Europe: Declaration of the Committee of Ministers on the protection of journalism and safety of journalists and other media actors (2014)
- EU Human Rights Guidelines on Freedom of Expression Online and Offline (2014)
- Council of Europe: Recommendation CM/Rec(2016)4 of the Committee of Ministers to Member States on the protection of journalism and safety of journalists and other media actors (2016)
- OAS General Assembly Resolution AG/RES. 2908 (XLVII-O/17) ii. on the Right to freedom of thought and expression and the safety of journalists and media workers (2017)
- OSCE Ministerial Council Decision MC.DEC.3/18 on the Safety of Journalists (2018)
- Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa (2019)
- African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Declaration of Principles of Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa (2019)
- African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Resolution (ACHPR/Res.468 (LXVII) on the Safety of Journalists and Media Practitioners in Africa (2020)
- Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Resolution (2317) Threats to media freedom and journalists’ security in Europe (2020)
- Council of Europe: Resolution of the Conference of Ministers responsible for Media and Information Society on the safety of journalists (2021)
Intergovernmental Statements and Declarations
- Global Conference for Media Freedom: Global Pledge on Media Freedom (2019)
- The Hague Commitment to increase the Safety of Journalists (2020)
- Groups of Friends on the Safety of Journalists Joint Statement on Press Freedom (2021)
- Joint Statement through the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse on World Press Freedom Day (2022)
- Arusha Declaration: 1st African Media Convention (2022)
- World Press Freedom Day: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union (2023)
- Lusaka Declaration: 2nd African Media Convention (2023)
Statements by Non-Governmental Organizations and Civil Society
- The London Statement by members of the global media community on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2012)
- Recommendations of the Warsaw International Conference on the Safety of Journalists (2013)
- Global Safety Principles and Practices, a set of international safety standards for freelance reporters on dangerous assignments, signed by a coalition of major news companies and journalism organizations (2015)
- International Declaration on the Protection of Journalists, by the International Press Institute, International News Safety Institute, Africa Media Iniative, and the Al Jazeera Media Network (2016)
- Joint Declaration on Media Independence and Diversity in The Digital Age (2018)
- Information and Democracy Partnership, initiated by the NGO Reporters without Borders (2019)
- IWMF Coalition Against Online Violence (2021)
- The Santiago +30 Declaration (2024)
National Statements and Declarations resulted of National Consultations on the UN Plan of Action
Key International Court Decisions
- Carvajal Carvajal v. Columbia (2018). Inter-American Court of Human Rights
- Herzog et al. v Brazil (2018). Inter-American Court of Human Rights
- Jineth Bedoya and Other v Colombia (2021) Inter-American Court of Human Rights
