The dangers faced by journalists, including putting their lives at risk, are highlighted every year on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, which is celebrated on November 2.
This year, the International Day coincides with the UNESCO Director-General’s biannual Report on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, which recorded a 38 percent increase in the number of killings of journalists compared to the previous survey.
In his 2024 Day message, UN Secretary-General António Guterres pointed out that Gaza has seen the highest number of killings of journalists and media workers of any war in decades, and called on governments to take urgent measures to protect journalists and investigate crimes. against them, and prosecute the wrongdoers.
© UNDP PAPP/Abed Zagout
Television journalist Mustafa Al-Bayed, reporting from Gaza.
Journalists in Gaza killed ‘at a rate unseen in any conflict in modern times’
The war in Gaza clearly dominated the 2024 International Media Seminar of the UN International Media on Peace in the Middle East on Friday, an event that has taken place every year for the past three decades, with the aim of promoting dialogue and understanding between media workers, and encouraging their contribution. in support of a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In a statement sent to the Seminar, read by the head of international relations of the UN, Melissa Fleming, Mr. Guterres noted that journalists in Gaza have been killed “at a rate not seen in any conflict in modern times,” adding that the ongoing ban is hindering the international community. Gaza journalists are “suffocating the truth even more.”
Below is an excerpt of the comments made by Cheikh Niang, Chairman of the United Nations Committee on the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, and Permanent Representative of Senegal to the United Nations; Guilherme Canela, Head of Section, Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists, UNESCO; and Mohammad Ali Alnsour, Head of the Middle East and North Africa Division, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Cheikh Niang: One year has passed since the events of October 7, 2023, when Palestinian forces attacked Israel, followed by Israeli destruction. Israel’s response to Gaza.
Since then, access to information has been greatly reduced. Journalists were killed, newsrooms were destroyed, media were blocked by foreign media and communications were cut off. The Israeli military, as the ruling power, has systematically dismantled the Palestinian media infrastructure. Silencing voices through restrictions, threats, targeted killings and censorship.
In the past 380 days, more than 130 Palestinian journalists have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza. These were the voices reporting on possible war crimes, silenced before their stories were fully released.
Journalists in Gaza continue to report on the humanitarian crisis, often at great personal risk, giving the world an accurate picture of the unfolding disaster. We respect their courage and realize that their loss silences their stories and greatly reduces public access to the truth.
© UNESCO
Palestinian journalist, Mohammad Awad, reporting from the field (file)
Guilherme Canela: The Report of the Director-General of UNESCO on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Innocence, has for many years shown a decrease in the number of journalists killed in conflicts compared to journalists killed in other situations.
This is not true in this report. Since the report we released in 2017, it has completely changed because of the situation in Gaza. Journalists were killed because they were telling a story, a story that affects each one of us and every citizen.
And to be honest, it’s really scary to see the level of mistrust that exists against the world’s media and journalists. And this mistrust is happening because of the narrative of political leaders, religious leaders, celebrities who are against journalists, and against journalism as a fundamental pillar of our democratic values and the protection of human rights.
Mohammad Ali Alnsour: The media has a very important role in initiating the process of accountability, first by documenting crimes and violations of the law, then investigation and accountability, and finally achieving peace. Unfortunately, this has not been the case in the occupied Palestinian territories for forty years now, and the issue of access is not limited to the media and journalists.
Under international humanitarian law, the occupier, Israel, has an obligation to protect civilians, including journalists. We hear from politicians and senior leaders that it is okay to kill civilians to achieve a non-essential military objective in the process, which violates the balance, mission and necessity of the military..
International Day to End Impunity for Journalists
Every two years, the awareness campaign commemorating the International Day to End Impunity Against Journalists coincides with the findings of the Report which reveals the current state of impunity in the world and the region.
UNESCO is concerned that impunity harms entire societies by concealing serious human rights abuses, corruption, and crime. Governments, civil society, the media, and all people involved in supporting the law are asked to join the global effort to end impunity.
Source link
