The International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Committed against Journalists was celebrated on November 2 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. On this occasion, the Minister of Communication and Media, Patrick Muyaya, as well as his Human Rights colleague, Albert Puela, took part in this event. The objective of this day is to pay tribute to the murdered journalists and to fight against impunity for these crimes.
During this celebration, the Congolese Association of Women of the Written Press (ACOFEPE) presented an argument for the recognition of the 22 journalists murdered in the DRC between 1994 and 2021 as Martyrs of press freedom. This approach was supported by several organizations of media professionals.
ACOFEPE thus officially submitted this argument to Ministers Muyaya and Puela. This aims to make immortal the memory of these murdered journalists and to advocate for the protection of journalists in the DRC. Minister Muyaya assured that he would transmit the message to the competent authorities and that a follow-up would be given to this argument.
In his speech, Minister Muyaya stressed the importance of taking a day to remember these colleagues who died in tragic conditions. He also recalled the commitment of the Ministry of Communication and Media to guarantee the security conditions necessary for the exercise of the profession of journalist.
For his part, Minister Puela insisted on the need for those responsible for these crimes to answer for their actions, and promised to take up this fight loud and clear for the recognition of murdered journalists and the fight against impunity.
This celebration of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Committed against Journalists in the DRC is an opportunity to recall the importance of press freedom and the protection of journalists in the exercise of their profession. Fighting impunity is essential to guarantee the safety of journalists and preserve freedom of expression in our society.