Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) traži od Vijeæa za ljudska prava da prestane ubijanje novinara

20.09.2006.

PEC PRESS STATEMENT
(www.pressemblem.ch)

Protection of journalists: The Human Rights Council must act

33 journalists were killed in only 3 months since the first
session of the Human Rights Council.

2006 is becoming a record year for journalists killed

In the first 9 months, the figure of killed journalists has
surpassed that of 2005. The media massacre must stop

Geneva (18 September) (PEC) Addressing the second session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) which kicks off today in Geneva, the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) expresses its profound worry at the continued deterioration of the conditions of work of journalists in wars, internal conflicts and that of civil unrest.

Journalists are under attack only because of their profession.
Up to date no solution has been reached to solve the continued
tragedy of journalists including the violation of their right to life.

The PEC has appealed to the Human Rights Council, during its
first session, to act in order to improve the protection of journalists.

So far the PEC has not received any response which renders the
situation shameful, disrespectful to human rights, humanitarian
law, and the freedom of expression.

We, members of the Press Emblem Campaign, supported by more than 50.000 journalists around the world, believe that the HRC is the appropriate organ to launch the discussion in an open-ended working group to take concrete steps.

Condemnation speeches and studies are not enough. Killing of
journalists are now well documented by press organizations.

Since the first session of the HRW, June 19, 28 journalists were
killed in: Angola (2), Brazil (1), China (2), Colombia (2), DRCongo
(1), Guatemala (1), Iraq (8) , Kazakhstan (1), Lebanon (1), Mexico
(1), Pakistan (2), Philippines (1), Russia (1), Somalia (1), Sri
Lanka (1), Sudan (1), Turkmenistan (1). Other 5 media assistants
were killed: 2 in Sri Lanka, 1 in Afghanistan, 1 in Lebanon, 1 in
Somalia.

The PEC calls upon member states of the HRC and the Special
Rapporteur entrusted with the freedom of expression Mr. Ligabo to
give serious attention to this unresolved problem.

A clock count on all journalists killed since the inauguration
of the HRC will be undertaken by the PEC board, in a similar move
like that of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL),
carried within the Ottawa process for mine victims.

The Ottawa process is a living example of success where world
public opinion has made a difference in developing a binding treaty
in favor of landmine victims.

Today, in Geneva, parallel to the second session of the HRC, the
7th meeting of the Parties to the Ottawa treaty has kicked off,
thus marking the continued efforts by the process to clear the
world from landmines and to alleviate the suffering of landmine
victims' survivors.

Media organizations must follow suit in the absence of a special
Convention to protect journalists in war zones and zones of civil
unrest.

Since the beginning of this year, at least 51 journalists were
killed and 17 media assistants: this toll, 68 media workers killed
is already higher than the record year of 2005 (with at least 63
media employees killed).

The massacre of media must stop.

We urge governments to comply with International Law and the
Universal Declaration on Human rights and move forward to establish a working group on the sidelines of the Human Rights Council to deliberate on a draft convention for the protection of journalists.

The PEC board (for more information on the PEC, consult:
www.pressemblem.ch)

Povratak