In a major push towards justice, leading press freedom organisations Free Press Unlimited (FPU), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), requested the Permanent People's Tribunal to convene a People's Tribunal on the Murder of Journalists.
People's Tribunals are designed to hold states accountable for violations of international law by building public awareness and generating a legitimate evidence record, and play an important role in empowering victims and recording their stories. The People's Tribunal on the Murder of Journalists will indict the governments of Sri Lanka, Mexico, and Syria for failing to deliver justice for the murders of Lasantha Wickramatunga, Miguel Ángel López Velasco, and Nabil Al-Sharbaji.
Renowned human rights lawyer Almudena Bernabeu will lead the prosecution for the opening hearing. A keynote address will be delivered by Baroness Helena Kennedy of the Shaws QC, member of the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom.
Key witnesses delivering testimonies include prominent Filipino journalist Maria Ressa, Hatice Cengiz, academic and fiancée of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was murdered in 2018, Matthew Caruana Galizia, journalist and son of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia who was murdered in 2017, and Pavla Holcová, investigative journalist and colleague of Slovak journalist Ján Kuciak, murdered in 2018.
The opening hearing will take place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central European Time on Tuesday, November 2, 2021, in The Hague, and can be attended in person by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or joined via livestream on https://www.google.com/url?q=http://saferworldforthetruth.com&source=gmail&ust=1633014567722000&usg=AFQjCNGIwGX6rR2afxnlHecCI99ytcDrxA">saferworldforthetruth.com
