Basic Information
International Day to End Impunity is observed on 2 November to raise awareness of, and demand justice for all around the world who are persecuted for exercising their right to free expression.
Observed on: 2 November
Organized by: UN, IFEX, UNESCO
Introduced in: 2013 (UN Resolution)
Observed: Worldwide
About International Day to End Impunity
The third committee of the United Nations General Assembly has passed a resolution on the safety of journalists and the issue of impunity in 2013. This resolution includes a call to observe the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on 2 November. The date coincides with the day when French journalists Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon were killed by militants in Mali.
The day was celebrated earlier on the anniversary of the 2009 Ampatuan massacre which is on 23 November. IFEX (the global network that defends and promotes freedom of expression) declared this day as the International Day to End Impunity in 2011.
The day is meant to raise awareness of, and demand justice for, artists, journalists, musicians, writers and free expression advocates around the world who are persecuted for exercising their right to free expression.
Activities and Programs on Day to End Impunity
The day become important as many journalists being killed and imprisoned worldwide by private individuals, non-state actors, and government officials who seek to silence them.
The observance of the day can help the journalists continue to work in the public interest without fear, and also to bring those who silence them with violence to justice.
UN has put a UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity and UNESCO to be the overall coordinator of the implementation of UN Plan of Action.