Photo: Harald A. Stolt-Nielsen.
The plenary session of the 9th Global Investigative Journalism Conference, opening today in Lillehammer, Norway, focused on how journalists are fighting back against the extraordinary level of attacks against them worldwide. After hearing case studies about their colleagues in Angola, Azerbaijan, Malaysia, and Mexico, journalists from 121 countries approved the following declaration:
Given the extraordinary levels of harassment, persecution, imprisonment, and violence directed against investigative journalists and their colleagues worldwide;
Given the widespread impunity among those who employ these measures;
And given the significant contributions made by investigative journalists to exposing corruption, organized crime, abuse of power, and lack of accountability, and to strengthening civil society;
Be it resolved that the attendees of the 9th Global Investigative Journalism Conference, representing 121 countries, demand that governments, multilateral agencies, and authorities worldwide prioritize the protection of journalists and an end to impunity for those who attack us.
