Exactly 5 years ago, Jan Kuciak and his fiancée were killed in cold blood as a result of an investigation into the practices and affairs of the Italian mafia. In Slovakia, the call to protect journalists has since grown, just like in the Netherlands after the murder of Peter R de Vries.
Today the assassination of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak is commemorated in Slovakia. Since the murder, the country has worked a hotline for threatened journalists, says our reporter for Europe Geert Jan Hahn.
After the murder
After the murder, there was a big cleanup between government officials, police and judges. But better media protection never took off. This while two-thirds of the media indicate that they have been verbally threatened. “Half of journalists call it a professional risk,” says Hahn.
Press Safe
PersVeilig is a joint initiative of the NVJ, the Dutch Association of Editors-in-Chief, Police and Prosecutors and aims to strengthen the position of journalists against violence and aggression on the street, on social media and against legal claims. Slovakia wants to create a copy of PersVeilig in its country. Over the past two years, the Dutch experts at PersVeilig have worked hard to transfer all their knowledge, experience and pitfalls to their Slovakian counterparts. So that the Slovaks can take advantage of this by setting up their own PersVeilig.
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
