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The Permanent Missions of Lithuania and Greece together with UNESCO organized an interactive Panel discussion on “Ending impunity for crimes against journalists: putting resolutions into practice” on the occasion of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on 2 November.

“Journalists, media workers, bloggers help us satisfy the inherent thirst for information and continue to die as they do so. Nothing challenges tyrants and butchers more than the right to know, the freedom of expression and freedom of information on their nefarious deeds. According to UNESCO, one journalist is killed every week on average around the world. While impunity for crimes against journalists is at a shocking 95 per cent of cases,” said Lithuania’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Raimonda Murmokaitė.

Lithuania’s Permanent Representative noted that the UN had contributed significantly to the devolvement of the legal framework for the protection of journalists over the past decade, but the implementation of these legal norms was still the most serious problem.

“In May, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted the resolution on the protection of journalists in armed conflict that was submitted by Lithuania. The resolution binds member states to conduct independent, impartial and effective investigations for crimes committed against journalists and to fight impunity. The requirements to investigate, prosecute and punish any unlawful arrests and attacks against journalists and the criminalization of any such unlawful behavior should be an integral part of any national legal system,” the Lithuanian Ambassador told at the discussion. She reminded that it was necessary to consistently support the consolidation of the rule of law, democratic institutions and human rights in order to put an end to impunity.

The Lithuanian representative pointed out that in cases where states were themselves unable to ensure accountability for crimes against journalists, international mechanisms, like the International Criminal Court may contribute.

The protection of journalists in armed conflict is one of the priorities for Lithuania’s membership of the UN Security Council. On 27 May, the UN Security Council adopted the resolution (S/RES/2222 (2015) on the protection of civilians in armed conflict that was drafted by Lithuania. The resolution urges Member States to take active steps to ensure accountability for crimes against journalists and other media representatives in armed conflict. In this resolution the UN Security Council recognized for the first time the role of free and independent media and right to seek, receive and disseminate information online as well as offline.

Lithuania was elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2014-2015 term.