The media sector, the police and the Prosecutors Office took steps in 2019 against violence and aggression against journalists. This resulted in the platform PersVeilig. With PersVeilig the various parties aim to reduce threat, violence and aggression against journalists and people in the media. The parties involved all signed a Press Safety Protocol for the purpose of this goal. The media has drawn up a collective norm. This means that journalists always file a complaint by the police when something happens within the norm. The parties involved within PersVeilig underline the importance of this collective norm to make it known that such behavior is not accepted and action will be taken.
Employers in the media sector are responsible for the safety, health and well-being of the journalists working for them. This means that employers ensure sufficient preparation time and preventive measures, such as effective training, for any form of reporting or publication that may involve risks. The document Security plan for Dutch media by PersVeilig is provided for this purpose.
Journalists attend training courses that the employer offers and will act in accordance with the responsibilities set out in the Security plan for Dutch media. For freelancers without a client, training courses will be offered by or via PersVeilig.
For journalists it is of the utmost importance that all incidents are reported to the employer and to the PersVeilig hotline.
Starting in 2020 PersVeilig analyses the reported incidents from the previous year at the start of every new year.
In 2025 a total of 262 incidents were reported to PersVeilig, against 249 in 2024 and 218 in 2023. The 262 incidents mainly concerns threats (106 times), discrimination, stalking or intimidation (72 times) and physical violence (55 times).
Image: Overview five years of PersVeilig with the number of incidents that were reported each year.
If you need more information or want to be in touch with PersVeilig, please send us an email at info@persveilig.nl or fill in the contact form. We are happy to help you.
Press safety protocol PersVeilig
Survey 2021 Aggression and threats against journalists
Op woensdag 2 september ontvangt Persveilig een delegatie uit Montenegro dat bezig is een mechanisme voor de veiligheid van journalisten te ontwikkelen, met hulp van PersVeilig.
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Op uitnodiging van de Raad van Europa waren afgevaardigden van diverse Oost-Europese ministeries dinsdag 16 december bij de NVJ in Amsterdam om te leren over de werking van PersVeilig.
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Aan een leergierige, enthousiaste groep vrouwelijke journalisten gaf PersVeilig trainer Valerie van Unen vrijdag 12 december een training in Bulgaarse hoofdstad Sofia.
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