Authors
- Catalog Number
- 0000391483
- Collation
- 19 pages
- Document code
- CI-2024/WTR/4
- Imprint
- [30315] Paris : UNESCO, 2024
- Media type
- Electronic Paper
- Notes
- With the support of the Multi-Donor Programme on Freedom of Expression and the Safety of Journalists
- Pages
- 19
- Published in
- France
- Rights URI
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/igo/
- Series title and vol / issues
- World trends in freedom of expression and media development: issue brief
- Source
- UNESCO
Table of Contents
- The misuse of financial laws to pressure silence and intimidate journalists and media outlets 1
- 1. Introduction 2
- UN agencies and experts 2
- 2. Preliminary data findings 3
- 3. Applicable international standards 5
- 3.1. Standards in international and regional human rights instruments on Freedom of Expression 5
- Arti niversal Declaration of Human Rights UDHR including arbitrary detention 5
- The American Convention on Human rights 5
- 3.1.1. Right to access funding 5
- 3.2. Standards related to misuse of financial crimes from anti-corruption and counter-terrorism bodies 6
- 3.2.1. Standards on counter-terrorism financing and combating money laundering 6
- In June 2015 FATF established international best practices 6
- UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders in October 2023 6
- 3.2.2. UN High Level Panel for Financial Accountability Transparency and Integrity FACTI 6
- 2021 Report of the High-Level Panel on International Financial Accountability Transparency and Integrity for Achieving the 2030 Agenda 6
- 3.2.3. United Nations Convention against Corruption UNCAC 6
- United Nations Convention against Corruption UNCAC 6
- 3.2.4. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime UNDOC Kyoto Declaration 7
- Kyoto Declaration on Advancing Crime Prevention Criminal Justice and the Rule of Law 7
- 3.3. Soft Law Jurisprudence and Advocacy Milestones 7
- 3.3.1. Human Rights Council on journalists covering corruption 7
- 3.3.2. Misuse of the law and judicial system to silence journalists 7
- 2023 joint declaration on Media Freedom and Democracy 7
- 4. The Impact of the misuse of financial laws on freedom of expressionmedia freedom 8
- 4.1 Censorship and self-censorship 8
- Reputational damage 8
- . Accusations of money-laundering tax evasion or extortion are also an effective strategy to sow doubt over the honesty of the journalists and to isolate them from receiving public support 8
- Economic impact 8
- Damage to media pluralism and diversity 9
- Exile or forced displacement 9
- 5. Trends and challenges 10
- 5.1. Global mapping of financial laws misused to target journalists 10
- 5.1.1. Overview of the application of financial laws 10
- 5.1.2. Growing legal restrictions on access to funding 10
- 5.1.3. Regional trends 11
- 5.2. Trends in the use of financial crimes to target journalists and media 12
- 5.2.1 Package of charges and smear campaigns 12
- 5.2.2. Journalists reporting on corruption face higher risks 12
- 5.2.3. Absent where other legal tools and strategies are easier to employ 12
- 5.2.4. Targeting lawyers 12
- 5.3. Challenges linked to cases of financial crimes 12
- 5.3.1 12
- 5.3.2. High costs 13
- 5.3.3. Psychological impact 13
- 6. Gender and diversity related considerations 14
- 7. Recommendations 15
- States 15
- Intergovernmental organizations 15
- CSOs 16
- Strategic Litigation and legal support for journalists 17
- Tax regulators and authorities 17
- 8. Conclusion 18