New global campaign launched to promote journalists' safety
SOURCE: International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Brussels
(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an IFJ media release:
Journalists Sign Up To New Global Campaign to Promote Safety and Security of Journalists
The International Federation of Journalists and a number of other press freedom and human rights groups today launched a
new global initiative aimed at reinforcing international efforts to make journalism safer around the world.
After two days of debate in Geneva, a meeting called to discuss whether or not there should be a new international
convention to protect journalists, a declaration (http://www.ifj.org/pdfs/genevaprotectjournalists210904.pdf) was
adopted outlining a series of urgent objectives, including an end to impunity for those who attack journalists and a new
mechanism for the systematic investigation of killings of journalists and media staff.
"The world of journalism cannot wait for long-winded debates over new laws and ideas about whether journalists need an
internationally recognised emblem to protect them," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary, in Geneva. "We need action
now. We need governments to abide by international law and we need the killers of media staff brought to justice."
The meeting, organised by the Press Emblem Campaign, a coalition of groups that seek the adoption of an international
emblem for journalists -- similar to the Red Cross and Red Crescent symbols used by humanitarian aid workers -- finally
adopted a declaration that gives priority to immediate steps to improve protection for media staff.
It was agreed to set up an international committee of experts to examine in detail the legal and professional priorities
for improving safety and security in journalism while looking again at the possible need for a new international
convention and an emblem.
"We reached an important agreement that gives us an opportunity to work together on strategies that will involve media
organisations, journalists' groups and colleagues from every region of the world," said White. "We agreed that the
current level of attacks on journalism and the media is intolerable and we must hold governments to account where they
are failing in their responsibilities."
The meeting agreed that existing international legal provisions provide protection for journalists and other civilians,
but many governments, even some of those from democratic countries, have been woefully negligent. "Journalists and media
staff are sometimes simply forgotten when it comes to the international community's concern for civilians caught in
conflict," said White, referring to the adoption of resolution 1502 by the United Nations Security Council last year,
which called for member states to reinforce protection for humanitarian aid workers in war zones.
The meeting agreed to ask the International News Safety Institute to play a leading role in co-ordinating the
preparation of a report on steps needed to improve protection of journalists. "This is a process that must involve media
organisations and all journalists," said White. "A good start has been made, but we have to move forward with a sense of
urgency that reflects the current emergency that faces media staff in conflict zones and other hostile areas."
The meeting took up an invitation from the United Arab Emirates Syndicate of Journalists to hold a further meeting and
this will be held early in 2005.
The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 100 countries.