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The Mozambican chapter of the regional press freedom body MISA (Media Institute of Southern Africa) has urged President Filipe Nyusi to ensure that measures are taken to protect journalists and allow them to do their jobs in an environment of freedom and safety.
In a statement issued on the occasion of the International Day to end Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, celebrated every year on 2 November, MISA-Mozambique also called on the President to act so that “all the predators and enemies of press freedom are punished”.
MISA hoped that all those who endanger the physical integrity of journalists “will be tried and sentenced under the laws that govern the justice system in our country”.
MISA warned that in recent years “the environment for the exercise of the freedoms of expression and of the press has become increasingly hostile in Mozambique, and there are a large number of cases of harassment, threats, kidnapping and torture perpetrated against journalists”.
“The criminals who attack press freedom are linked to political and economic power which keeps them anonymous”, the statement accused. Even when they are known, “they enjoy greater protection and go unpunished”.
A fortnight ago, MISA-Mozambique asked the government to support a draft resolution of the United Nations Human Rights Council on the safety of journalists, which contains commitments by the international community to protect journalists, and to ensure that those who commit crimes against journalists are brought to justice.
MISA stressed the importance of Mozambique “taking a strong and public position in favour of the freedom of journalists on the international stage of the United Nations”, and regretted that Mozambique did not co-sponsor recent resolutions on the safety of journalists in the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council.
MISA also lamented that Mozambique has not yet deposited the Declaration under the Protocol setting up the African Court on Human and People’s Rights that would allow Mozambican citizens and civil society organisations to have direct access to the court.
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