A photographer running away from a burning vehicle Photo Credit: Aziz Ahmed
A ground-breaking United Nations Convention aimed at giving greater protection for journalists and journalism in the face of a tide of violence and threats has received widespread support from media bodies and journalist unions.
It is for the first time that the Convention, proposed by the International Federation of Journalists, would establish binding standards creating safeguards specifically for journalists and media workers. The measure will hold the governments accountable before the Unite Nations and intensify scrutiny into violence against journalists.
Journalists union leaders representing 600,000 media workers across the world endorsed the International Convention on the Safety and Independence of Journalists and Other Media Professionals at a meeting in Tunisia, the IFJ reported Saturday.
The proposal comes as the new numbers of journalists being violently attacked, threatened, jailed and prevented from working free from fear and harassment continues to grow, while impunity for such crimes is running at over 90%.
While under international humanitarian and human rights law journalists enjoy the same protections as all other civilians, such laws fail to acknowledge that journalists face greater risks compared to other civilians.
Photo: UNESCO
“There is a strategic advantage to be gained from targeting the media – those who wish to prevent the dissemination of information and international scrutiny increasingly deliberately target journalists,” the IFJ said.
It notes that journalists’ deliberate proximity to any conflict also makes them especially vulnerable; unlike other civilians, journalists do not avoid conflict areas.
“Whilst every individual is entitled to the protection of their right to life, personal liberty, security, freedom of expression and an effective remedy when their rights have been infringed, existing general human rights instruments fail to reflect the systemic effect of attacks against journalists on societies.
“Unlike most violations, attacks on journalists’ life or physical integrity have an impact on the public’s right to information, contribute to a decline of democratic control and have a chilling effect on everyone’s freedom of expression.
“Despite this, there is no independent course of action for members of the public or other media workers in cases of violations of the rights of a journalist to lodge an application for the case to be heard in an international procedure,” the Federation said.
IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: “A new international instrument dedicated to the safety of journalists would make an important statement. It would acknowledge their distinctiveness, stemming from the risks to which they are routinely exposed and the value of journalistic work to society. It would intensify international scrutiny over attacks against journalists as well as assisting national authorities in understanding their international obligations, currently fragmented in several treaty provisions and case law.
“Such a momentous initiative would make the safety of journalists and everyone’s right to information a clear priority for the international community.
From today, the IFJ and its affiliates – on behalf of all the victims of those who seek to silence the messenger – commit ourselves to this cause and we look forward to your support in this crucial struggle.”
“58 journalists have already been killed this year. Governments will be accountable before the UN General Assembly. Consequently, they will be forced to fulfil their obligations by developing effective judicial mechanisms to bring journalists´ attackers to justice. This convention is an important step towards achieving that,¨ added IFJ President, Philippe Leruth.
