In many places around the world, journalists were killed, tortured, jailed and harassed for reports that exposed abuses of corrupt regimes; reports that undermined the work of terrorists and criminals; reports that gave voice to overlooked communities; and reports that countered misinformation.
At the December 2018, more than 250 journalists languish in jails around the world.
The International Day to End Impunity Against Journalists draws attention to the low global conviction rate for violent crimes against journalists and media practitioners.
The UN General Assembly at its 68th Session in 2013 adopted a resolution which proclaimed November 2 yearly as the International Day to End Impunity Against Journalists.
The resolution condemns attacks and violence against journalists and media workers.
The UN also urges member State to do their utmost to prevent violence against journalists and media workers to ensure accountability, bring to justice perpetrators of crimes against journalists and media workers and ensure that victims have access to appropriate remedies.
Member states were further called upon to promote a safe and enabling environment for journalists to perform their work independently and without undue interference.
Over the past 14 years, 1,200 journalists have been killed globally for reporting the news and bringing information to the public.
Globally, it is a matter of concern that less than one in 10 cases committed against media workers over the past decades had led to conviction.
This impunity emboldened the perpetrators of the crimes and at the same time has chilling effect on society including journalists themselves.
Society as a whole suffers from impunity.
The kind of news that gets silenced is exactly the kind that the public needs to know in order to make the best decisions on their lives; be it economic, social or political.
This access to reliable and quality information is the very cornerstone of democracy, good governance and effective institutions.
Globally, there should be an immediate end to all threats, intimidation and violence against journalists and media professionals.
In Nigeria, there have been calls for the Federal Government to reopen investigation of journalists killed in the past. Government was also urged to look into cases of journalists that were attacked, kidnapped and detained as well as making concrete efforts to apprehend the perpetrators of the acts.
We remember Bayo Ohu of The Guardian, Godwin Agboroko of This Day, Dele Giwa of Newswatch magazine, Edo Ugbagwu of the Nation.
We also remember Abdul Ganiyu Lawal, a Freelance Broadcast Journalist, Ikechukwu Onubogu, a Cameraman with the Anambra Broadcasting Services.
Lawrence Okojie of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in Edo State and Famous Giobaro, a Desk Editor with Glory FM in Bayelsa State, among others.
May their souls and the souls of others not listed here rest in peace.
There is therefore, the need for serious concern about the safety of journalists and the large number of media professionals working without insurance cover.
The Federal Government should take necessary measures through legislation protection mechanism and adequate resources to ensure investigation and trials relating to crime against journalists.
The inauguration of a Monitoring Network on Safety of Journalists in Abuja and the 36 States is commendable.
The group will establish, maintain and sustain relationships and communication between journalist and agents of the state.
The National Human Rights Commission is also committed to mobilising its resources to ensure a better and safe working environment for journalists.
On the whole, the press freedom in Nigeria has been enhanced through the Freedom of Information Act of 2011.
Any action, legislation, regulation or political pressure that limits freedom of the press, acts of intimation and violence against journalists in Nigeria has to end for democracy to survive.
The recent attacks by hoodlums on media organisations and journalists under the guise of EndSARS protest in Nigeria were attacks against democratic rights of the public to know the truth about governance.
Journalists as professionals have the responsibility to monitor governance and hold government accountable to the masses.
This is why the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, has repeatedly cautioned against acts of impunity, noting that press freedom is key to achieving credible democracy.
This freedom includes the right to seek and receive information from all available sources to enable formulation of proper opinion.
