A/HRC/56/53 journalists eventually abandon their profession. Exile thus becomes yet another way to silence critical voices – another form of press censorship. 8. Journalists are not above the law, but by virtue of their function and the public interest in disclosure, they are entitled to specific legal protection, whether at home or in exile. The international community needs to invest much more in protecting and supporting exiled journalists and journalism. The United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, adopted in 2012, does not even mention exiled journalists. 7 It was only in 2022 that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) established the Safe Spaces project to support displaced journalists and journalists in diaspora and keep public interest journalism alive in crisis situations. 8 9. The objective of the present report is to throw light on a category of journalists who deserve better protection and support, both for their own sake and in the broader interests of human rights, media freedom, peace and democracy. Building on her previous report on reinforcing media freedom and the safety of journalists in the digital age, 9 the Special Rapporteur analyses the problems, challenges and threats that journalists in exile face, as well as the relevant laws, policies and practices of States and companies that aggravate or seek to resolve them. She notes some good policies and practices and makes recommendations to States, digital and media companies, international organizations and civil society to strengthen the safety of journalists and enhance the viability of independent media in exile. 10. The Special Rapporteur is grateful for the submissions received from 10 Governments, 36 civil society organizations and one international organization and for the consultations held with experts and other stakeholders, which informed the report. II. International legal framework 11. The international legal framework for media freedom and the safety of journalists was covered by the Special Rapporteur in her previous report. 10 In the paragraphs below, she underlines some points of specific relevance to journalists in exile. 12. Who is a journalist in exile? The Human Rights Committee has recognized journalism as a function shared by a wide range of actors, including professional full-time reporters and analysts, as well as bloggers and others who engage in forms of self-publication in print, on the Internet or elsewhere.11 In the context of exiled media, exiled freelancers, independent bloggers and journalists running their Telegram channels or online websites play as significant a role as journalists and media workers employed by media outlets. The term “journalists in exile” in the present report covers this varied group, and the Special Rapporteur uses the term “journalist” to include both journalists and media workers, unless specified otherwise. 13. It is important at the outset to acknowledge that journalists are in exile because their human rights, in particular their right to freedom of opinion and expression, are endangered in their own country. By protecting exiled journalists (and other exiles), the international legal framework provides a pragmatic response to the human rights failures in the country of origin. 14. Under international law, no one should be forcefully displaced or sent into exile or be compelled to flee their home country, and all persons have the right to leave and return to their countries of origin freely and to fully enjoy all human rights guaranteed under international law.12 Most journalists regard their exile as a temporary state of affairs and wish to return home or at least to be able to move freely to and from their country of origin. They 7 8 9 10 11 12 GE.24-06673 See https://www.ohchr.org/en/safety-of-journalists/un-plan-action-safety-journalists-and-issueimpunity. Submission from UNESCO. A/HRC/50/29. Ibid., paras. 10–23. Human Rights Committee, general comment No. 34 (2011), para 44; and A/HRC/50/29, paras. 15 and 16. Article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. 3