In Africa, an online platform for the protection of journalists

The African Union (AU), in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), launched this Friday the first online platform aimed at improving the protection of journalists and combating threats and violence against them.

« Safety of Journalists in Africa » is the name of the online platform, launched on Friday by the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Its mission is to monitor threats to the physical integrity or safety of journalists and other media actors; threats to the confidentiality of journalists’ sources or to the physical integrity and safety of journalists as a result of their collaboration with journalists and media; human rights defenders or organisations; as well as restrictions to press freedom, such as intimidation (hate speech, incitement to violence) by judicial and political authorities.

Developed by African actors, this platform will also contribute to the fight against impunity. This, through the possibility of creating synergies between stakeholders, in order to force the perpetrators of violence against journalists and the media as a whole to answer for their acts.

Furthermore, Safety of Journalist in Africa will also be the tool to highlight the actions of the African Union, the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), the African Governance Architecture (AGA), the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights), civil society organisations, as well as media networks and development partners, in partnership with UNESCO.

Chaired by Cyril Ramaphosa, current Chairperson of the African Union (AU), Audrey Azoulay, Director General of UNESCO and Jamesina King of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the virtual launch ceremony of this platform was attended by several African Heads of State.