Dem don ask African governments to strengthen protection for journalists and investigate attacks against dem, for joint statement wey African Union Commission and Federation of African Journalists release on 2 November. Di appeal link reporters’ safety with how di public fit get information and take part for matters wey concern society.
Bankole Adeoye, di AU commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, and federation president Omar Faruk Osman sign di statement. Dem ask for national safety arrangements, protection for reporters wey cover elections and protests, and action against digital harassment and surveillance. Dem also say journalists suppose join to design and monitor di measures wey go protect dem.
Di appeal include di particular threats wey women journalists face. Di proposals concern prevention, protection and accountability. Dem ask authorities to investigate crimes, pursue di people responsible and provide remedy for victims. Na calls for action across member countries. Di statement no announce new Nigerian protection scheme, and e no show say dem don resolve individual cases.
Di date get wider history. UN General Assembly establish di observance for 2013. According to UNESCO, 2 November dey remember two French journalists wey dem kill for Mali that year. Di organisation connect di matter with how information about corruption, crime and abuse fit disappear when journalists no fit work safely.
UNESCO also release its director-general report on journalists’ safety on 2 November. Di report, wey dem dey publish every two years, examine threats to media workers and whether killings lead to court action wey hold people responsible. Its worldwide scope matter when you dey read di findings. Worldwide assessment no establish wetin happen for one particular Nigerian case or whether investigation for there don succeed.
Wetin e mean for you. Wetin happen after safety promise na wetin go test am. For readers for Nigeria, useful follow-up questions include whether dem investigate attack, whether di affected journalists fit continue to report, and whether authorities explain di outcome. Public declaration give people something to use ask these questions. Di declaration alone no answer dem.