3.5 minutes of support for threatened journalists worldwide

Information is the first step towards change - that's why it's not just authoritarian governments that fear independent reporting. If journalists are not allowed to report on injustice, abuse of power or corruption, people in these countries lack access to free information. There can be no public control of political decisions and no free opinion formation. Human rights violations do not come to light. When media workers in countries with restricted press freedom report on these issues, they are often targeted by governments. They are threatened, persecuted, imprisoned or prevented from doing their research by digital surveillance. The number of imprisoned media workers rose to a record high in 2021. At least 488 journalists and media workers worldwide were in prison for their work (Reporters Without Borders, 2021). This development is mainly due to a handful of countries whose governments are trying to suppress the pursuit of democracy. In Myanmar, where the military regained power in a coup in 2021, 53 journalists were in prison (Reporters Without Borders, 2021a). In Belarus, President Alexander Lukashenko is cracking down on media workers after his controversial re-election: 32 of them were imprisoned at the end of 2021, many for their coverage of demonstrations (ibid.). The threat to journalists from digital surveillance is also increasing. Repressive governments are increasingly using spy software to suppress critical opinions and silence media workers (Amnesty International, 2021). The pressure on journalists in these countries is enormous. A protected space and comprehensive training on digital security are therefore essential.