Journalists and other human rights defenders (HRDs) are the first line of defence against human rights violations and abuses across the globe. It is because of their tireless, and often unrecognized efforts that individuals, organizations and governments can be held accountable for human rights infringements. Journalists and other HRDs are critical to the full enjoyment of human rights in democratic countries.

The work of journalists and other HRDs, however, can expose them to human rights violations and abuses when the promotion and protection of rights is at odds with the objectives of those in power. The growing rate of the infrigement of rights of journalists and other HRDs has been associated with the global rise in authoritarianism and a decline of the rules-based international order.

With this in mind, on 14 February 2022 members of the Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development (the Subcommittee) agreed to:

conduct a study on human rights defenders, in particular journalists and media organizations, under attack, and how Canada can support their efforts, that the study focus on human rights in repressive states and that the findings collected are reported to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development.^[1]

The Subcommittee heard testimony that governments go to great lengths to censor rights defenders. This includes harassment and intimidation, imprisonment and even killings. For women journalists and other women HRDs, rights violations and abuses can be considerably harsher as they face the additional burden of gender-based violence. Governments have used domestic and global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, conflict, and concerns about terrorism and national security to justify their repression. In addition, social media and other online platforms play a key role in fostering the spread of misinformation and disinformation, as well as surveilling, harassing and intimidating dissenters and critics.

Given how essential journalists and other HRDs are for the full enjoyment of human rights, they and their work must be protected from human rights violations and abuses. Governments, whether authoritarian or democratic, must not be allowed to violate human rights with impunity. The Subcommittee strongly believes that Canada has a role to play in this regard. This report sets out 12 recommendations that call on the Government of Canada to implement a number of measures to prevent human rights violations and abuses of journalists and HRDs, to help those being unjustly and unfairly prosecuted and to hold governments to account. The Subcommittee strongly believes that in implementing these recommendations, Canada is capable of elevating the human rights situation of journalists and HRDs across the globe.