The International News Safety Institute has welcomed an historic action by the United Nations Security Council to protect journalists working in conflict zones. The Council has unanimously adopted a resolution condemning deliberate attacks on journalists and called for an end to such practices.
To ensure that the issue remains on the Security Council agenda, the resolution asks the Secretary General to address the safety and security of journalists in his regular reports on the protection of civilians in armed conflict.
“The resolution is a vitally important step in addressing the spiralling death toll of journalists and other news media staff covering conflict,” said INSI Director Rodney Pinder.
“It could not come at a more critical time, with 2006 heading towards an all-time record number of news media killed trying to tell the story.”
As of 21 December, INSI counted 147 journalists and critical support staff killed as they tried to keep the world informed. Most were local journalists working in their own countries and the great majority were murdered. The Iraq war continues to exact a heavy price with 161 dead since the start of the conflict almost four years ago.
INSI congratulated the Greek government, which left the Security Council at the end of 2007, for having joined with France in leading the push on the Security Council for action. Although UN agencies like UNESCO have drawn attention to problems facing journalists over the years, this is the first time one of the main bodies of the United Nations has taken up the matter.
A draft resolution on journalist safety was drawn up by the International Federation of Journalists, the European Broadcasting Union and the International news Safety Institute. The three organisations had been lobbying for support for almost two years. The draft was presented to outgoing UN Secretary General Kofi Annan a year ago at the World Electronic Media Forum, alongside the UN Summit on the Information Society.
The resolution as adopted “condemns intentional attacks” against journalists” and calls upon “all parties to put an end to such practices.” The Security Council stresses that the deliberate targeting of civilians “may constitute a threat to international peace and security” and reaffirms its readiness “to consider such situations and, where necessary, to adopt appropriate steps.”
The resolution “urges all parties involved in situations of armed conflict to respect the professional independence and rights of journalists, media professionals and associated personnel as civilians.” It also urges warring parties “to do their utmost to prevent violations of international humanitarian law against civilians, including journalists, media professionals and associated personnel.”
The resolution emphasises that there are existing prohibitions under international humanitarian law against attacks intentionally directed against civilians, including journalists, “which in situations of armed conflicts constitute war crimes.” The resolution asks the Secretary General to address the safety and security of journalists in his regular reports on the protection of civilians in armed conflict.
Hailing the resolution, IFJ General Secretary Aidan White said: “This last point is significant. From now on we can expect the United Nations to identify and highlight those nations that are failing to protect journalists.”