EU's Frans Timmermans backs call for UN special representative

The statement of support by Timmermans came in response to an appeal by RSF to European governments and institutions to do more to protect journalists in the wake of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia's murder on 16 October, which sent shock waves through the region.

In a 7 December letter to RSF, Timmermans wrote: "I am pleased to tell you that I support the #ProtectJournalists campaign and would welcome the creation of a UN Special Representative for the Safety of Journalists."

"We are very grateful to Frans Timmermans for his support for the protection of journalists," RSF secretary-general Christophe Deloire said. "More than 60 journalists have again lost their lives in 2017 alone. It is time to put an end to these abuses, which seriously violate the right of millions of citizens around the world to be informed."

At least 66 journalists and media workers have been killed since the start of 2017. Despite many UN resolutions, at least 780 journalists and media workers have been killed in connection with their work in the past decade. Only a special representative reporting directly to the UN secretary-general would be able to act quickly and would have sufficient political weight to coordinate all of the UN's efforts and bring about a real change on the ground.

French President Emmanuel Macron also voiced support for the #ProtectJournalists campaign in an address to the UN General Assembly on 19 September. Dozens of other governments around the world, from Afghanistan to Spain, and from Sweden to Uruguay, are calling for the creation of this position.

Launched by RSF in 2015, the #ProtectJournalists campaign is supported by more than 130 media outlets, NGOs and labour unions.

More information on the #ProtectJournalists campaign is available here, including the list of more than 130 media outlets and NGOs that back the initiative.