Journalists’ Safety And Freedom Of Expression

Journalists’ safety has received world attention due to attacks and the impunity accompanying these attacks. On May 3, 2017 the world celebrates World Press Freedom Day. The theme: “Critical Minds in Critical Times: Media’s role in advancing peaceful, just and inclusive societies” highlights protection of journalists’.

Generically, journalist refers to reporters, photojournalists, camera men, support staff and fixers, bloggers and citizen journalists who produce, curate, or distribute public interest content. Key findings of the United Nations Scientific and Cultural Organisation Director General’s 2016 Report state: “a clear upward trend in the rate of journalists’ killings can be observed over the course of the last decade (2006-2015). While between 2006 and 2011, the average annual rate was of 67 killings, it increased to an average of 106 killings per annum between 2012 and 2015”

The report further states: “impunity continues to be a widespread problem. According to information received from Member States, 63 of the 827 killing condemned by the UNESCO Director General between 2006 to 2015 have been resolved, which constitutes only 8% of all cases. Moreover, no information was received on 419 cases or 51% of all cases”

The above engenders one thing – self-censorship.

Comparatively in Ghana, according to the Media Foundation for West Africa(MFWA), “The State of Journalists’ Safety in Ghana” (2005 – 2014) the story hasn’t been different in spite of the constitutional strength given to the media in Chapter 12 “Freedom and Independence of the Media” (1992 Fourth Republican Constitution). It states: “in the last 10 years, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has recorded a total of 138 incidents of violations against journalists and media workers, representing an average of nearly 14 violations a year”

There have been moments when journalists and media workers have been attacked by various people: for example in a news article, “Media Stakeholders resolve to fight. Attacks on journalist” (Daily Graphic Tuesday September 16, 2014 edition; page 32-33), it was reported that Daniel Kenu of the Daily Graphic, members of staff of Multi TV and Ms. Afua Pokua were attacked on different occasions in the course of their work. The situation was described thus: “It’s a spreading canker that must be halted. This worrying view is further strengthened by recent international events regarding the safety of journalists”.

Meanwhile at the continental level Ghana is described as “Africa’s traditional leaders in respect for journalists” as reported in an article “Journalism in Africa: respect and repression (Africawatch February 2012 edition, page 58-59).

The World Press Freedom Day concept note links the safety of journalists to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels” and specifically target 10: “ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements”.

The concept note states: “Media’s contribution to good governance and development has been recognized in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by the 193 Member States of the United Nations in September 2015. Thus: “the SDGs recognise the importance of public access to information and fundamental freedoms which includes freedom of expression”.

In line with its role of advancing peaceful, just and inclusive societies the media must have an environment that is free from all forms of attack – verbal or physical – to enhance the sharing of information between the media and the public. A society devoid of attacks on the media engenders a sense of courage to receive information from the public and this goes a long way to promote the rights of the citizenry. Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers”.

Freedom of expression, and media freedom are crucial rights for protecting and daily realising of other human rights since freedom of the press is not a human right on its own but an inference from the freedom of expression. Back home, Chapter 12: “Freedom and Independence of the Media” of the 1992 Fourth Republican Constitution, Article 165 states: “For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of this chapter shall not be taken to limit the enjoyment of any of the fundamental human rights and freedoms guaranteed under Chapter 5 of this constitution”

Therefore, journalists have fundamental rights too; violent attacks on journalists must be seen from two ways: that the fundamental human rights of the individual journalist have been infringed and the right of the public to receive information has also been denied – situations that must not be allowed to continue.

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