Freedom of Expression
2014 – 2
JOINT
PRESS RELEASE
Joint Press Release of the United Nations (UN) Special
Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, David Kaye; the Organization
for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Representative on Freedom of the
Media, Dunja Mijatović; the
Organization of American States (OAS) Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression,
Catalina Botero; and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
(ACHPR) Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information, Faith Pansy Tlakula, on the obligation of States to
protect journalists covering armed conflicts.
INTERNATIONAL
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION RAPPORTEURS URGE STRONGER PROTECTION OF JOURNALISTS
COVERING CONFLICTS
GENEVA / WASHINGTON
/ VIENNA / PRETORIA, September 1, 2014 – Recent attacks, ongoing kidnappings,
and arbitrary and unjustified incarcerations of journalists around the world
must be condemned and opposed by the international community, a group of
international Freedom of Expression Rapporteurs said today.
"The prevailing
impunity for attacks on civilians, including journalists, encourages perpetrators
to believe that they will never be held to account for their grave crimes," the
rapporteurs warned. "We call for improved international protection for anyone
engaged in journalism, especially during conflict situations."
"Journalists must
be ensured the highest degree of protection by States and non-state actors,"
the rights experts stated, expressing outrage at the recent execution of James
Foley by the IS group, and deep concern by the fate of at least seven other
journalists and members of the media believed to be held captive by IS in
Syria.
The international
Rapporteurs on Freedom of Expression stressed that "journalists covering armed
conflicts do not lose their status as civilians; they are not participants in
the conflicts they cover. As such, they continue to be protected by the
applicable guarantees under human rights law and international humanitarian
law."
"Attacks against
journalists covering conflicts victimize individuals first and foremost, but
they also harm us all," they said. "But attacks also deter and sometimes
prevent journalists from exercising their right to seek and disseminate
information. Attacks deprive all of us of the right to know and to access
information about critical situations around the world."
"It is a sad fact
that violent attacks against journalists covering conflicts are common. In
Syria alone, reports indicate over sixty journalists have been killed in the
last three years. Journalists working in Ukraine and Iraq, for instance, are
subjected to attacks, kidnappings and violence on a daily basis, and several
journalists have been killed during the recent violence in Gaza," the
international rapporteurs said.
"We call for an
open and committed dialogue among governments, non-state groups, journalists
and other interested parties in order to strengthen protections to promote the
safety and respect for those reporting on a conflict, especially to ensure that
those responsible for such violence are held accountable."
OAS - Freedom of
Expression: http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/expression/index.asp
UN - Freedom of
Expression:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/FreedomOpinion/Pages/OpinionIndex.aspx
OSCE - Freedom of
the Media: http://www.osce.org/fom
ACHPR: Freedom of
Expression and Access to Information: http://www.achpr.org/