Ashrafuddin Pirzada
PESHAWAR: The US States Department Mathew Maller on Friday said that the world should come together to work jointly to end impunity against journalists as the killings of journalists around the world have been rapidly increasing.
He said that more than 350 journalists have been killed since the UN General Assembly established the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists in December 2014.
Mathew Maller reaffirmed their commitment to ending impunity for crimes against journalists and they called on the global community to unite in holding accountable those who direct and perpetrate violence, harassment and intimidation against media workers.
He said the United States is committed to continued partnership with the Media Freedom Coalition and our partners in the global human rights community to promote accountability for those who carry out violence against journalists simply for doing their jobs.
He said corruption and abuse of power thrive where the free and independent press is suppressed. Adding that violence, spurious detentions, harassment and acts of intimidation against media workers carry tangible harm to both the individual and to society at large.
Mathew said combatting impunity for violence against journalists was a key line of effort under the department’s journalism protection platform, announced at the first summit for democracy.
“We call on governments globally to bring to justice those responsible for crimes against journalists, so that they may continue their important work shining the light of truth free from fear of violence or harassment”Mathew Miller urged the world.
