Greetings to the resilient people of Rivers State, and welcome to another episode of Rivethics on Radio, our character-building weekend show. Remember the words of Christiane Amanpour that *good journalism makes the world a better place*. This Week’s episode is in commemoration of the UN International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists which came up yesterday, on November 2nd.
Every four days a journalist is killed around the world usually because he or she denounced corruption, trafficking, political wrongdoing or human rights abuses. Those responsible for these killings are almost never brought to justice. Today we pay tribute to all those journalists around the world who lost their lives & suffered attacks in the exercise of their profession.
The International Day to End Impunity for crimes against journalists (IDEI) is commemorated on 2 November every year. Since its proclamation by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution in 2013, IDEI has gained significant momentum and support by all actors involved in the promotion and protection of freedom of expression and the safety of journalists. With over 1,000 journalists killed from 2006 to date, according to UNESCO data, and less than one case out of nine judicially solved, the level of impunity for crimes against journalists remains terribly high and sends a chilling message across society. This extremely high level of impunity for killings of journalists imposes a climate of fear in many parts of the world, not only for media professionals but also for the whole society, which is detrimental to the free circulation of information and the expression of opinions and ideas for all citizens.
Impunity for crimes against journalists, and for the countless other forms of violence against them, such as arbitrary detention, tortures, kidnapping, gender-based violence, threats or harassments, are hindering the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals and in particular SGD 16, which strives to promote peaceful and inclusive societies.
According to the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, “Female journalists are often at greater risk of being targeted not only for their reporting but also because of their gender, including through the threat of sexual violence.” In addition to the inexcusable murder of Journalists, many thousands more have been attacked, harassed, detained or imprisoned on spurious charges, without due process. “This is outrageous,” he declared. “This should not become the new normal. When journalists are targeted, societies as a whole pay a price.”
Our guest speaker today is Ms. Ify Onyegbule, a broadcast journalist and social critic. She will be sharing her thoughts on the subject. Please enjoy the episode.
Our peace-loving people of Rivers people, *please remember to always let your manners speak for you*.
God bless and keep you and your families and God bless Rivers State.
From Her Excellency,
Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike,
The Wife of His Excellency,
Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON. GSSRS. POS (Africa).
You can also listen to and download the Pidgin English version of this Episode below