By the NGOs.ke Editorial Team.
The International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists falls on 2 November, and in 2026 it carries the theme “Threats evolve. Impunity endures.” For Kenyan NGOs, the day is a practical prompt: if you work with journalists, run community media projects or depend on the press to expose abuses, you can use it to set up safety support, referral routes and documentation before a crisis, not after one.
What is the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists?
The UN General Assembly proclaimed 2 November as the day in resolution A/RES/68/163, adopted at its 68th session in 2013. According to UNESCO, the date commemorates the assassination of two French journalists in Mali on 2 November 2013. UNESCO leads the observance, and its page for the day is the best starting point for the global picture (UNESCO: End Impunity Day).
How big is the impunity problem?
UNESCO’s figures are blunt. Between 2006 and 2025, over 1,800 journalists were killed worldwide, and close to six out of seven of those killings remain judicially unresolved. UNESCO’s 2024 Director-General report put the global impunity rate at 85%, a slight fall from 86% in 2022. The 2022 release also noted that, in 2020-21, 91 of 117 journalists killed for being journalists (78%) were killed off assignment, for example at home or in the street.
We could not confirm a Kenya-specific impunity rate from UNESCO’s published pages this run, so we are not quoting one. Treat any Kenyan figure you see with caution unless it names its source and period.
What can Kenyan NGOs actually do?
- Know the reporting routes. The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) publishes a journalists’ safety hotline, 0702 222 111, and a “Report a Violation” form on its website at mediacouncil.or.ke. Put both in your partner briefing packs.
- Document incidents the same day. Date, place, what happened, who witnessed it, any medical or police record. Keep it factual and store copies securely.
- Budget for safety. Digital security training, a legal-aid referral and an emergency contact tree cost little compared with what an unprotected incident costs.
- Link protection work. Journalists and human rights defenders face overlapping threats. Our guide to the Haki Village protection hub covers defender support, and our piece on Kenya’s shrinking civic space sets the wider context.
- Protect sources. If your NGO shares evidence with reporters, read our whistleblowing guide first.
What is the situation in Kenya right now?
As of October 2026, MCK’s website carries several recent statements on attacks against journalists, dated between 6 August and 2 September 2026. We are not repeating individual allegations here because the site’s summaries do not give case details, and we have not verified them independently. Read the statements directly before citing them.
Key facts at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date | 2 November (annual) |
| Established by | UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/68/163 (2013) |
| 2026 theme | “Threats evolve. Impunity endures.” |
| Killings 2006-2025 | Over 1,800 journalists; about 6 in 7 unresolved |
| Global impunity rate | 85% (2024 report); 86% (2022) |
| MCK safety hotline | 0702 222 111 |
Frequently asked questions
Why is 2 November the date?
It marks the 2013 killing of two French journalists in Mali, according to UNESCO.
Who coordinates the day?
UNESCO leads the observance within the UN system.
Can an NGO report an attack on a journalist?
Yes. MCK publishes a safety hotline and an online violation-report form. Keep your own records alongside any report.
Does the impunity rate mean no arrests happen?
The rate measures killings that remain judicially unresolved, so it describes the justice outcome, not whether an investigation was opened.
What is a low-cost first step for a small NGO?
Add the hotline and reporting form to your staff and partner contacts, and agree who documents incidents.
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