Yemi Akinsuyi/
At least 1000 journalists have been killed in the last 12 year, says the Director-General of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), DG Audrey Azoulay.
According to Azoulay, over 40 died in 2019 alone.
He made this known Thursday in Abuja during this year’s International Day to End Impunity for Crime Against Journalists 2019, organised by UNESCO in collaboration with other relevant organizations.
Azoulay, who was represented by one of the staffers of the organization, Mr Lami So, said November 2nd had been set aside as the international day to ‘End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists’.
He said, “The fight against impunity is central to freedom of expression, press freedom and access to information. In 12 years, more than 1000 journalists have been murdered around the world.”
He called for joint efforts in putting a stop to the menace.
Earlier in his speech, the Chairman, National Union of Journalists, NUJ, Abuja, Mr Emmanuel Ogbeche had stated that Journalists all over the world are being maimed, jailed or killed.
He said, “Today, our job as media practitioner is endangered. That’s why this event is important to us.
“For us at NUJ, we will continue to pursue policies and programs that engender the Safety of Journalists. Also, we will continue to hold the government accountable.
“The constitutional guarantee of Chapter 22 of the Nigerian constitution will not be sacrificed.”
Ogbeche charged Journalists to continue to give balanced and objective reports of government and individuals.
The representative of the Nigerian military, Nigerian Army Spokesman, Col. Musa Segir, promised at the event to partner with the Nigerian Journalists to ensure that they practice their profession without fear or intimidation from the military.
Segir also promised the military’s readiness to deal with any officer or soldier caught in the act of intimidation against Journalists.
Former Chairperson, National Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, and staff of Nigeria Television Authority, NTA, Ms Evelyn Onyilo called on all journalists to ensure personal safety.
“Wherever there is corruption, there must surely be an attack on the journalists, who would expose perpetrators of such an act. Therefore, it is advisable for them to take their personal security very important.
“Journalists must be able to recognize the danger and forthwith, dodge it swiftly. No profession worth the life of any human being, ” she said.
Onyilo appealed for the creation of media trust fund for the welfare of journalists. She called on the practitioners to do more for themselves, noting that it is what they do for themselves that goes a long way in ensuring better welfare for them.
Participants, who are mainly journalists, expressed concern that other security operatives were absent at the event.