International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists 2023

The United Nations (UN) have dedicated November 2 as a special day to condemn all attacks against journalists and media workers: The Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.

Life-threatening Occupation

Not all countries are open to freedom of speech and being a journalist can be a life-threatening occupation. According to the UN, more than 700 journalists were killed between 2004 and 2014.

Many of these deaths are either unsolved murders or killings in crossfire/combat. Only a small number of these has led to a conviction.

In Memory of Two Killed Journalists

In late 2013, the UN decided to dedicate November 2 to draw attention to crimes against journalists. The date was chosen in memory of two French journalists. Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon were brutally murdered in Mali on November 2, 2013. They were seen being beaten before they were driven away in a truck. Some sources say their bodies were found riddled with bullets, while others report their throats may have been cut.

Keeping Journalists Safe

This UN day is one of a number of campaigns urging leaders and governments to prevent violence against news workers. The UN has a number of similar days, like World Press Freedom Day.

What's Open or Closed?

The day is a global observance and not a public holiday so it's business as usual.

While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. If you find an error, please let us know.