UNITED NATIONS
Sponsors: Uruguay, Finland, Netherlands
Signatories: Argentina, Albania, Canada, Sweden
To the human rights council,
Noting with deep concern that impunity for threats, attacks and acts of
intimidation against human rights defenders persists and that this impacts
negatively on the work and safety of human rights defenders,
Fully aware that free, independent and diverse media, online and offline, are
essential to freedom of expression, democracy, informed citizens, public
participation and government accountability,
Recognizing the current range of threats to the safety of journalists, media
freedom and media pluralism, which include physical, psychological, legal,
political, technological and economic threats,
Deeply concerned that the work of journalists and media workers often puts
them at specific risk of human rights violations and abuses, including killing,
torture, enforced disappearance, arbitrary arrest and arbitrary detention,
arbitrary expulsion, physical, sexual and gender-based violence, as well as
intimidation, threats and harassment of all kinds,
Having considered that existing models — including emergency relocation
programmes, shelter initiatives, and sustained funding for independent
journalism — already demonstrate that protection in practice is achievable,
Aware that any mechanism proposed under this resolution must be built in
partnership with, and not imposed upon, African regional bodies and national
governments,
Urges Member States to adopt anti-SLAPP laws to protect journalists and media
outlets from abusive lawsuits intended to silence public-interest reporting,
including by allowing courts to dismiss such cases quickly and require those
responsible to cover legal costs, while preserving legitimate legal claims;
Supports the creation of independent teams supported by the UN to check
reports of attacks against journalists and human rights defenders in conflict
areas by using several trusted sources, including local news organizations and
civil society groups, and to share clear findings without limiting free speech or
allowing censorship;
Encourages Member States to prosecute serious international crimes against
journalists and human rights defenders committed abroad when the responsible
State is unwilling or unable to act, while ensuring fair trials and impartial
investigations;
Urges affected states to grant independent international monitors timely, safe
and unhindered access to conflict-affected areas to observe, document and
report violations against journalists and human rights defenders, while ensuring
impartiality, confidentiality, respect for national sovereignty and the protection
of witnesses;
Calls for the establishment of a Rapid Protection Mechanism that provides
journalists and displaced human rights defenders with emergency shelters, safe
relocation, transportation, legal and medical assistance, and psychological
support, in cooperation with UN agencies, the African Union and trusted local
civil society organizations, while ensuring confidentiality, informed consent and
non-discrimination;
Demands the strengthening of human rights institutions, the establishment of
accountability mechanisms and the protection of human rights defenders,
particularly in conflict and crisis situations, in order to promote lasting peace,
prosperity and resilience;
Calls for the establishment of a UN-coordinated global database to document
and verify attacks against journalists and human rights defenders, including
killings, threats, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances and online
harassment, while protecting victims’ personal information and publishing
regular reports to support early warning, accountability and prosecution.