Thousands of Journalists Fleeing Political Repression Face Threats in Exile, UN Investigator Warns
In recent years, thousands of journalists have been forced to flee their home countries to escape political repression, save their lives, and avoid conflict. However, even in exile, they are not safe from threats, both physical and digital, as well as legal challenges, according to a report presented to the UN General Assembly by investigator Irene Khan.
Khan highlighted the increasing number of journalists in exile due to the shrinking space for independent and critical media in democratic countries where authoritarianism is on the rise. She emphasized that in over a third of the world’s nations, where more than two-thirds of the global population resides, free and diverse media supporting democracy are either absent or severely restricted.
While many journalists leave their countries to report freely without fear or favor, they often find themselves in precarious situations in exile. Facing threats against themselves and their families from their home countries, they lack legal status and adequate support to continue their work in their host countries.
The report also mentioned the challenges exiled journalists face, including financial struggles, safety concerns, and the difficulty of living in a foreign country. Many journalists end up abandoning their profession, leading to further silencing of critical voices and press censorship.
Khan called for better protection for exiled journalists, including visas, work permits, and support from civil society and press freedom groups. She also emphasized the need for companies to ensure that essential journalism technologies are not used against journalists in exile.