Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) has welcomed the decision of the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly in a consensus resolution to create an international day to end impunity for crimes against journalists.
The day would be celebrated each year on November 2.
PEC President, Hedayat Abdel Nabi, noted that the resolution was a great step forward for all media workers who were living the trauma of acute danger in the field, a danger that was growing daily and changing in character.
Its secretary general, Blaise Lempen, said that the overwhelming majority of crimes against journalists were committed with impunity. Lempen added that so far this year some 108 journalists were killed, and noted that the PEC was also very concerned by the fate of a dozen foreign journalists kidnapped in Syria, among them 2 Swedish journalists, abducted last week-end.
He thanked France for that important initiative co-sponsored by more than 70 countries and expressed hope that other initiatives to protect journalists would follow in the right direction which the PEC adhered to since 2006.
The resolution unequivocally condemned all attacks, intimidation and violence against journalists and media workers, and called on all member states to protect them, to ensure that all crimes against them were investigated and brought to justice, and to promote an environment in which journalists and media workers could work independently and without interference.
It also expressed support for the United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, an unprecedented step in the promotion of freedom of expression.
The PEC, since launching its campaign ten years ago further developed it in December 2007 to include draft convention to protect journalists in conflict zones and dangerous situations, among the many provisions of the draft was to hold the perpetrators of crimes against journalists accountable.
The Geneva based NGO initiated this year interviews with journalists who were abducted such as Francois Aubenas of France and Giuliana Sgrena of Italy in order to mobilize the world community to stand by journalists in conflicts zones and dangerous situations.
The resolution which passed 26 November paid homage to French journalists of Radio France Internationale, Ghislaine Dupont et Claude Verlon, killed in Mali on 2 November this year.
Abdel Nabi and Lempen expressed hope that more steps would be taken in 2014 to strengthen the legal aspects of protection for journalists.
(C) Politico 28/11/13
