** Ukraine : RSF warns about the repression of journalists
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Since 24 February 2022, being a journalist in Ukraine has meant risking your freedom and your life. Russian forces have killed thirteen media professionals ([link removed]) , 18 are currently detained and one is a victim of enforced disappearance. Three hundred twenty-ninehttps://rsf.org/en/rsf-urges-european-governments-strengthen-their-support-independent-russian-journalism-resilientUkrainian outlets were closed ([link removed]) . One of the worst cases of persecution against Ukrainian journalists is that of Victoria Roshchyna: arrested by Russia on 23 August, she was missing until September 2024, when her family received a letter from Russian authorities announcing the journalist had died in detention. To condemn this repression, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) staged a flash protest
([link removed]) with twenty coffins, one closed for Victoria Roshchyna, and a banner reading: “A Ukrainian journalist has died in a Russian prison. Nineteen others are still behind bars. Must we wait for their deaths to act?” RSF also filed its ninth complaint with the ICC ([link removed]) and the Ukrainian Prosecutor General to combat impunity for crimes committed against journalists.


** Data : Three years of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
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** Video
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** Freedom of expression and freedom of the press — what’s the difference?
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In light of recent events — US Vice President J.D. Vance's speech at the Munich Security Conference and the final decision on the non-renewal of broadcast licenses for television channels C8 and NRJ12 — RSF Director General Thibaut Bruttin breaks down these two concepts, which are related but not the same.
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** NEWS BRIEFS
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** Gaza : journalists still work in horrific conditions
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Gaza’s remaining journalists, who have survived 15 months of intensive bombardment, continue to face immense challenges ([link removed]) despite the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that came into effect on 19 January 2025. Humanitarian aid, filtered by the Israeli authorities, is merely trickling into the blockaded territory, and Israel continues to deny entry access to foreign journalists. Exiled Palestinian journalists are also prevented from returning to the Gaza Strip. RSF continues to call for justice and to offer its full support to journalists.


** Paris AI Summit: RSF releases 7 recommendations to ensure the AI declaration translates into action
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Following the Summit for Action on Artificial Intelligence (AI), held in Paris in early February, which culminated in 62 signatories endorsing a Statement on Inclusive and sustainable AI for People and the Planet, RSF is issuing seven recommendations ([link removed]) to ensure the declaration translates into concrete action.


** RSF journalist acquitted of libel by son of former president of Mali
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A Paris court acquitted Arnaud Froger, Head of the RSF Investigation Desk, in a lawsuit filed by Karim Keïta, son of the former president of Mali. Karim Keïta had been mentioned several times in the NGO’s investigations into the 2016 disappearance of Malian journalist Birama Touré. According to Arnaud Froger, “This is yet another legal setback for Karim Keïta, who has relentlessly targeted journalists working on this case, without success. But we’re still waiting for the real victory: truth and justice.”


** Afghanistan: how far will the Taliban authorities go to stifle the press?
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In February alone, political programmes were banned on television, the emblematic women’s radio station Radio Begum was suspended, and at least two journalists were arrested. RSF has compiled a list ([link removed]) of media bans currently in place, which illustrates the Taliban authorities’ strategic muzzling of the press.


** Trial against ISIS members accused of kidnapping and torturing four journalists opens in Paris — a crucial step in Syria’s reconstruction
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The trial of five men accused of holding four French journalists, Didier François, Édouard Elias, Nicolas Hénin and Pierre Torrès has begun in Paris ([link removed]) , two months after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria. The trial sends a strong signal in favour of the fight against impunity ([link removed]) for crimes committed against journalists that took place over more than a decade of war. Over 20 journalists kidnapped by the Islamic State are still missing in Syria. Bashar al-Assad's regime and its allies, meanwhile, have killed ([link removed]) at least 181 journalists since 2011 and imprisoned dozens more for their work.


** With AI making it harder to tell what's real, public media credibility is more important than ever. JTI's news trustworthiness certification helps us check the quality of our reporting and also the transparency of our management.
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Cherry Lai, President of Radio Taiwan International (RTI), the first news organisation to obtain the Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI) certification in a Chinese-speaking market. JTI is an international quality standard for news organisations, a crucial method for restoring public trust in journalism and combating disinformation.


** Highlight
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From criminal litigation to supporting journalists in the field, from establishing crisis response programs to unblocking censored websites, and from engaging in dialogue with heads of state, including those from authoritarian regimes, to advocating for legal standards that favor journalism, RSF stood out in 2024 for its ability to take action and mobilize. Discover its 2024 Activity Report.
➔ Read here ([link removed])
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RSF Activity Report


** GOOD NEWS OF THE WEEK
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The independent Russian media outlets Novaya Gazeta and TV Dojd have secured a significant victory for the right to reliable information ([link removed]) before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The Court unanimously condemned Russia, ruling against the censorship laws enacted following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, particularly those prohibiting the “discrediting of the army.” These laws were used to shut down the two independent media organisations. The Court also identified “a systemic and widespread pattern of restrictions on reporting the war in Ukraine,” exposing a coordinated effort to silence criticism rather than addressing any genuine threat to national security.


** YOU CAN HELP
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** Your donations have a real impact for journalists
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Thanks to your support, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) can take concrete action to help journalists who risk their lives in the context of their work. RSF provides them with protective equipment. For example, a donation of €80 fully funds the purchase of an emergency first aid kit. By making a donation to RSF now, you are helping to protect the lives of those who risk everything to keep you informed.
➔ Donate ([link removed]〈=en_EN&reserved_origine=NLS091&utm_source=mailchimp&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter-S091)
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