Luxembourg Hosts CoE Conference on Combating Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists

On Tuesday 29 April 2025, the second annual thematic conference of the Council of Europe's "Journalists Matter" campaign took place at the Hemicycle in Luxembourg-Kirchberg, under the title "Building the Paradigm for Combating Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists." 

Organised jointly by the Council of Europe, Luxembourg's Ministry of Justice and the Media, Connectivity and Digital Policy Department of the Ministry of State (SMC), the conference took place in the context of Luxembourg's Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. 

According to Luxembourg's Ministry of Justice and SMC, approximately 150 participants, including around thirty judges and prosecutors from twenty-seven Member States, took part in the event. High-level representatives from the European Commission, UNESCO, the European Court of Human Rights, the Council of Europe, Reporters Without Borders, and Amnesty International, as well as lawyers, journalists and academics contributed to the discussions. 

The conference served as an opportunity to reaffirm that freedom of expression and press freedom can only exist in an environment where media professionals can carry out their duties safely. In her opening speech, Luxembourg's Minister of Justice and Minister Delegate for Media and Connectivity, Elisabeth Margue, stated: "Freedom of expression and press freedom are fundamental pillars of any democracy. They allow citizens to be informed, to participate actively in public life and to hold those in power accountable for their actions. By building a paradigm against impunity, we protect not only journalists but also freedom of expression and democracy itself." 

Minister Margue presented the National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists (2025–2028). Developed in cooperation with various institutional stakeholders including the Ministry of Justice, SMC, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Information and Press Service, the Grand Ducal Police and representatives of the press, the initiative reflects a joint commitment to ensuring a safe environment for journalists operating in the Grand Duchy. 

The plan is structured around four key pillars – prevention, protection, prosecution and promotion of information, education and awareness – and includes concrete national-level actions. It aims to prevent threats, strengthen institutional and media cooperation, ensure effective prosecution of perpetrators of violence and raise public awareness about the vital role journalism plays in society. 

"Impunity must not be tolerated. I hope this conference will draw the necessary attention to this concerning issue and provide our prosecuting authorities with more tools to effectively combat impunity for crimes committed against journalists," Minister Margue added. 

The conference was followed on Wednesday 30 April 2025 by the third annual meeting of national focal points of the campaign, which aimed to continue the exchange of ideas and strengthen coordination between states.