International IFEX campaign takes on culture of impunity to defend free expression
How do you break a culture of impunity? Support a culture that challenges impunity.
Three years ago, members of the IFEX network met in Beirut to discuss attacks on free expression and how to defend those who are targeted for speaking truth to power.
They agreed that a culture of impunity was feeding a climate in their countries where others were empowered to commit similar crimes, knowing they would likely walk away. The resulting chill on society as a whole was a shared concern – others would silence their own voices for fear of putting their careers, safety, and families at risk.
Imagine how serious and widespread a problem has to be for a diverse network of over 80 organisations based in more than 60 countries to agree on it. Nevertheless, voices were united on this crucial point – that no matter whether the attacks on free expression were against artists, protesters, lawyers, activists or the media, whether expressed in the form of censorship, legislation, imprisonment, intimidation, assaults, or even, in the ultimate form of censorship, murder – these attacks all had something in common. People were getting away with it. No matter if the perpetrators were governments or individuals, they were not being held to account for their crimes. Hard to believe? In a shocking 9 out of 10 cases, people were murdering journalists with impunity.
So the idea of an international day dedicated to challenging the culture of impunity itself took shape. Now, three years later, it is a truly global movement. The third annual International Day to End Impunity campaign launched on 1 November 2013, and culminates on 23 November.
Every year, a growing number of IFEX members and concerned individuals have taken part in this campaign that strikes at the very roots of the problem. Through the 23 Actions in 23 Days hosted on daytoendimpunity.org, as well as through events inspired and informed by the local context, we are turning up the volume on the call to end impunity.
The impact of the campaign is growing as well. IFEX members are participating in television debates, conferences, silent marches, social media campaigns. They are releasing reports, creating videos, infographics and multimedia sites to spread the message far and wide: the culture of impunity must end. The remarkable creativity and reach of this global network is building momentum for this important cause.
Join us. Visit daytoendimpunity.org on 23 November. Take action on behalf of the five cases the campaign is profiling this year. Check out the map of global campaign events. And next week, visit ifex.org to view a photo gallery of the top photographs submitted to the campaign’s photo contest – Impunity Exposed.
No single day, no single campaign will alter the reality that free expression is under threat in every country in the world, as well as on the Internet – a relatively new country we are all spending increasingly more time in. It is still the case that the people threatening free expression are getting away with it. In some cases, they are literally getting away with murder.
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