2008

***18.12.08. Second Informal Consultation organized by the PEC at the United Nations in Geneva on the protection of journalists - summary of the meeting (read also below the "non-paper" sent with the invitation, the PEC report on media casualties in 2008 and the summary of the first meeting)

On December 15th, 2008, an informal consultation meeting organized by the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) and the International Covenant for the Protection of Journalists (ICPJ) took place at the Palais de Nations in order to continue the discussion from the previous informal meeting held on November 6, 2008, regarding the consideration of different ways and means for concrete measures to reinforce the protection of the journalists.

The meeting, which brought together member States and PEC’s UNOG-accredited journalist members, was chaired by Ambassador Luis Alfonso de Alba (Mexico), under the request of the PEC and co-chaired by PEC Secretary-General Blaise Lempen and Fawzia Assaad (International PEN - in representation of President and ICPJ coordinator Hedayat Abdel Nabi).
 
The meeting was aimed to discuss the existing initiatives that have been already developed by United Nations and regional organizations for the protection of journalists, in order to build-up from there, raise awareness and identify the gaps. Also, it was discussed on possibilities to organize a special event of the Human Rights Council in June 2009.

Fawzia Asaad stressed the importance of considering the issue of the press freedom as one of the pillars of a democratic society since journalists are one of the keys for ensuring such freedom. Moreover, she called attention to Art. 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in order to be considered as a mean to provide with negotiated guidelines that could better protect and secure media professionals.

Blaise Lempen, gave lecture to the 2008 PEC Report which comes up with the annual number of journalist victims of their profession in different situations: war, crime, ethnic conflict, and political turmoil. He mentioned that even though the number of murders had decreased compared to 2007 the only outstanding improvement had been made in Iraq. He also referred to the many kidnappings and the impunity that remains in general.

At this meeting, representatives of United Kingdom and Canada expressed their support to the PEC-ICPJ initiative. Delegations mentioned that the activity that might take place in the following sessions of the Council should include the reinforcement of already existing mechanisms in the international law and humanitarian law. Moreover, it was agreed to meet again by the end of January 2009 in order to define possible topics to be dealt at the special event, the participants, and the speakers, among others.

***15.12.08. Rapport de la PEC pour l'année 2008: 95 journalistes tués en un an dans 32 pays - PEC report for 2008: 95 journalists killed in one year in 32 countries - PEC informe del ano 2008: 95 periodistas asesinados en 32 paises en un ano
******************************* Among the most dangerous countries for media employees in 2008: Iraq (15 killed), Mexico (9), Pakistan (8), India (7), the Philippines(6), Georgia (5), Russia (4) , Thailand (4), followed by: Afghanistan, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nepal, Nigeria, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Venezuela (2) - click left on PRESS for press reports on the publication of PEC media casualties

English and Spanish versions after French

Rapport de la PEC pour l'année 2008
95 journalistes tués en un an dans 32 pays, annonce la PEC 

 Genève, 15 décembre (PEC) 95 journalistes* ont payé de leur vie l'exercice de leur métier en un an dans 32 pays, selon le rapport 2008 de la Presse Emblème Campagne (PEC) publié lundi. Ce chiffre est inférieur au record de 115 journalistes tués l'an dernier, mais cette baisse de 17,5% est due uniquement à l'amélioration de la sécurité en Irak. 

 En moyenne, près de deux journalistes ont été tués chaque semaine, au cours des trois dernières années (96 en 2006, 115 en 2007, 95 en 2008). Beaucoup d’autres ont été blessés, kidnappés, menacés, emprisonnés ou n’ont pas pu s’exprimer librement (Birmanie, Chine, Zimbabwe, Erythrée notamment). 

    « La sécurité des employés des medias est devenue un problème global », a constaté la présidente de la PEC Hedayat Abdel Nabi. « 60 ans après l’adoption de la Déclaration universelle des droits de l’homme, les atteintes à la liberté de la presse sont massives dans plusieurs régions du monde », a-t-elle souligné.
 
 « Fait positif, le nombre de journalistes tués en Irak a fortement diminué cette année, grâce à l’amélioration relative de la sécurité dans ce pays. Malheureusement, la situation s’est détériorée dans d’autres pays, une évolution très inquiétante », a expliqué le secrétaire général de la PEC Blaise Lempen.
 
   La « Media ticking clock » de la PEC montre une détérioration dans plusieurs pays en 2008 : Mexique, Pakistan, Inde, Thaïlande, Russie, Philippines, Géorgie et Croatie. Outre l’Irak, une amélioration (précaire) est par contre à signaler en Somalie (deux tués contre huit en 2007), au Sri Lanka (deux tués contre sept l’an dernier). 

   L'Irak est resté en 2008 le pays le plus dangereux, avec 15 morts depuis janvier. Ce bilan est toutefois nettement inférieur aux 50 journalistes tués en 2007, soit une baisse de 70% du nombre de victimes, et aux 48 tués en 2006. Depuis le début de la guerre en mars 2003, au moins 265 journalistes ont péri dans ce pays.

  La vague criminelle s’est aggravée au Mexique. Avec neuf victimes depuis janvier (contre trois l'an dernier), le Mexique est le deuxième pays le plus dangereux au monde cette année.

 La détérioration est aussi très nette au Pakistan, au 3e rang, avec huit journalistes tués cette année (contre cinq l’an dernier). La situation s'est nettement détériorée dans les zones tribales proches de la frontière afghane.

  L’Inde suit au 4e rang, avec sept journalistes tués (deux l’an dernier), surtout en relation avec les conflits ethniques dans le nord du pays. Suivent les Philippines (5e rang), avec six journalistes tués (contre quatre l'an dernier), notamment en raison du conflit sur l’île de Mindanao, puis la Géorgie (6e rang, 5 tués), à cause de la guerre du mois d’août avec la Russie.
 
 On trouve ensuite parmi les dix premiers pays les plus dangereux la Russie (quatre tués, contre un l’an dernier), principalement des assassinats liés aux conflits dans le Caucase, puis, fait nouveau cette année, la Thaïlande (quatre tués, au 8e rang, zéro l’an dernier).

 Deux victimes ont été recensées dans neuf autres pays, au 9e rang à égalité: Afghanistan, Colombie, RDC, Népal, Nigéria, Somalie, Sri Lanka, Venezuela et, un pays nouveau qui s’est ajouté sur la liste cette année pour la première fois depuis 1995, la Croatie.

 Une victime a également été enregistrée dans chacun de ces pays en 2008 : Bolivie, Brésil, Burundi, Cambodge, Equateur, Gaza, Guatemala, Honduras, Iran, Kenya, Niger, Ouganda, Panama, République dominicaine, Zimbabwe.
 
 Principales conclusions:

 - Le rapport montre que l'amélioration relative de la sécurité en Irak a été malheureusement compensée par une détérioration dans plusieurs autres pays. Le chiffre de 95 tués en un an est pratiquement équivalent à celui de 2006, malgré la nette baisse du nombre de victimes en Irak.

 - outre les assassinats, de très nombreux enlèvements ont eu lieu cette année, notamment en Afghanistan, en Somalie, en RDC, en Irak, à Gaza et au Mexique. La Somalie a ainsi connu moins d'assassinats que l'an dernier (deux contre huit), mais plusieurs prises d'otages.

 - la très grande majorité des victimes (près des trois quarts) a été enregistrée dans une zone de conflit armé. Parmi les pays les plus dangereux, le Mexique et la Thaïlande sont des cas à part, car il n’y a pas de conflit armé dans ces pays.

 - par région, le bilan est assez surprenant : l’Asie est en tête, avec quatre pays parmi les huit les plus dangereux (soit au total 30 tués : Pakistan, Inde, Philippines, Thaïlande, Sri Lanka, Népal, Cambodge), devant l’Amérique latine (20 tués : Mexique, Colombie, Venezuela, Guatemala, Bolivie, Equateur, Panama, Honduras, Brésil, République dominicaine), puis seulement le Proche-Orient (19 tués : Irak, Afghanistan, Iran, Gaza). L’Europe suit cette année, pour la première fois depuis longtemps avec un nombre de victimes relativement élevé (soit 11 tués : Géorgie, Croatie, Russie), devant l’Afrique (10 tués : RDC, Somalie, Nigéria, Ouganda, Niger, Burundi, Kenya, Zimbabwe).
 
- la très grande majorité des journalistes tués ont été personnellement visés en raison de leur profession. Il s’agit d’assassinats délibérés visant à éliminer un individu, en raison de ses enquêtes ou de ses opinions contraires à des groupes armés, des groupes politiques, des réseaux criminels, ou des intérêts locaux. Les causes accidentelles (par exemple, décès lors d’une explosion terroriste, ou en raison d’une balle perdue) représentent cette année environ 10% du total.

 - l'impunité reste la règle. Lorsqu'elles ont lieu, les enquêtes sont très difficiles à mener dans les zones de conflit, les procès sont très longs ou ne correspondent pas aux critères d'impartialité (voir le procès des auteurs du meurtre d’Anna Politkovskaïa en Russie) .

 - Consultation lancée par la PEC : l’ONG se félicite que des Etats aient accepté de créer un groupe de travail informel à Genève, chargé de discuter des moyens de renforcer la protection des medias dans les zones de conflit et de violences. Peu de gouvernements ont jusqu'ici exprimé leur soutien à une nouvelle convention internationale, proposée par la PEC lors d'une consultation lancée il y a un an, mais la quasi-totalité des pays qui ont exprimé un point de vue estiment qu'il faut obtenir une meilleure application du droit existant. La PEC va poursuivre en 2009 ses discussions avec les Etats afin de parvenir à une amélioration de la sécurité des journalistes dans les régions secouées par des crises et des violences. Elle espère que le Conseil des droits de l'homme pourra adopter l'an prochain
une résolution forte sur le respect de la liberté d’expression.

  * Note : le chiffre de 95 journalistes tués correspond à la période du 15 décembre 2007 jusqu’au 14 décembre 2008.

PEC Report for 2008
95 journalists killed in one year in 32 countries

 Geneva, 15 December (PEC) During the past year, ninety-five journalists* in 32 countries paid with their lives for exercising their profession, according to the 2008 Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) report published Monday. This figure is lower than the record 115 journalists killed last year, but this drop of 17.5% is due solely to an improvement in security in Iraq.

On average, nearly two journalists were killed every week in the course of the last three years (96 in 2006; 115 in 2007; 95 in 2008). Many others were injured, kidnapped, threatened, imprisoned or unable to express themselves freely (notably in Burma, China, Zimbabwe and Eritrea).

“The security of media employees has become an overall problem,” pointed out Hedayat Abdel Nabi, president of the PEC. “Sixty years after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the violations of press freedom are widespread in several regions of the world,” she emphasized.
 
“On the positive side, the number of journalists killed in Iraq has greatly declined, owing to the relative improvement in security in this country. Unfortunately, the situation has deteriorated in other countries, a disturbing development,” explained the PEC general secretary, Blaise Lempen.
 
The PEC’s “Media Ticking Clock” shows a deterioration in several countries in 2008: Mexico, Pakistan, India, Thailand, Russia, Philippines, Georgia and Croatia. Besides Iraq, a (precarious) improvement has been reported in Somalia (two killed, as opposed to eight in 2007) and in Sri Lanka (two killed as opposed to seven last year).

Iraq has remained in 2008 the most dangerous country, with 15 deaths since January. This is, however, significantly lower than the 50 journalists killed in 2007 (a drop of 70% in the number of victims) and the 48 killed in 2006. Since the beginning of the war in March 2003, at least 265 journalists have perished in this country.

The crime wave has swelled in Mexico. With nine victims since January (as opposed to three last year), Mexico is the second most dangerous country in the world this year.
 
The deterioration is also stark in Pakistan, in third place, with eight journalists (as opposed to five last year). The situation has noticeably deteriorated in the tribal zones near the Afghan border.

India follows, in fourth place, with seven journalists killed (two last year), especially in relation to the ethnic conflicts in the north of the country. Then comes Philippines (fifth place), with six journalists killed (as opposed to four last year), particularly because of the conflict on the island of Mindanao, then Georgia (sixth place, five killed), because of war with Russia in August.

mong the ten most dangerous countries are Russia (four killed, one last year), mainly murders linked to the conflicts in the Caucasus, then, new this year, Thailand (in eighth place with four killed, none last year).
 
Two victims have been reported in nine other countries, putting them all in ninth place: Afghanistan, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nepal, Nigeria, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Venezuela and – a country appearing on the list for the first time since 1995 – Croatia.
 
One victim was also reported in each of the following countries in 2008: Bolivia, Brazil, Burundi, Cambodia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Gaza, Guatemala, Honduras, Iran, Kenya, Niger, Panama, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

Main Conclusions

- The report shows that the relative improvement in security in Iraq has, unfortunately, been compensated for by a deterioration in several other countries. The figure of 95 killed in one year is practically the same as the 2006 figure, in spite of a net drop in the number of victims in Iraq.

- Besides murders, many kidnappings took place this year, notably in Afghanistan, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Gaza and Mexico. While Somalia has experienced fewer murders than last year (two as opposed to eight), several journalists were taken hostage.
 
- The majority of victims (almost three-quarters) were in zones of armed conflict. Among the most dangerous countries, Mexico and Thailand were exceptions, for there is no armed conflict in these countries.

- Considered by region, the final figures are somewhat surprising. Asia is in the lead, with four countries among the eight most dangerous (a total of 30 killed in seven countries: Pakistan, India, Philippines, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Cambodia) ahead of Latin America (20 killed: Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Guatemala, Bolivia, Ecuador, Panama, Honduras, Brazil, Dominican Republic), then the Near East (19 killed: Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Gaza). Europe follows, this year, for the first time in a long time, with a relatively high number of victims (11 killed: Georgia, Croatia, Russia), ahead of Africa (10 killed: Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Uganda, Niger, Burundi, Kenya, Zimbabwe).

- The great majority of journalists killed were personally targeted because of their profession. There were deliberate killings aiming to eliminate individuals owing to their investigations or opinions running counter to those of armed groups, political groups criminal networks or local interests. Accidental causes (for example death during a terrorist explosion or from a stray bullet) represented, this year, about 10% of the total. 
 
- Impunity remains the rule. When investigations take place, they are difficult to carry out in conflict zones, trails are long and drawn out or simply do not correspond to criteria of impartiality. (A good example is the trail of the alleged killers of Anna Politkovskaïa in Russia.)

- The consultation undertaken by the PEC has resulted in the setting up of an informal working group in Geneva, entrusted with discussing the means for reinforcing the protection of media in areas of conflict and violence. Few governments have expressed support for a new international convention, as proposed by the PEC during a consultation launched one year ago. However, most of the countries that have expressed an opinion said that there is a need to enforce better existing laws.
 
The PEC will continue its discussions with governments throughout 2009 in order to arrive at an improvement in the security of journalists in areas shaken by crises and violence. It hopes that the Human Rights Council will be able to adopt a strong resolution next year on the respect of freedom of expression.

* Note that the one year period is from December 15th 2007 to December 14th 2008

PEC Informe del año 2008
95 periodistas asesinados en 32 países en un ano

    GINEBRA, 15 dic (PEC) – Noventa y cinco periodistas pagaron con sus vidas el ejercicio de su profesión en un año en 32 países, según el informe de 2008 de la Campaña Emblema de Prensa (PEC), publicado este lunes. Esa cifra es inferior al récord de 115 periodistas muertos el año anterior, aunque esta baja del 17,5% se debe únicamente al mejoramiento de la seguridad en Iraq.

En promedio, cerca de dos periodistas fue asesinado semanalmente, durante los últimos tres años (96 en 2006, 115 en 2007, 95 en 2008). Muchos otros fueron heridos, secuestrados, amenazados, o encarcelados en lugares donde no pudieron expresarse libremente (particularmente en Birmania, China, Zimbabue, Eritrea ). 

“La seguridad de los trabajadores de los medios de comunicación ha devenido un problema global”, constató la Presidenta de PEC, Hedayat Abdel Nabi. “Sesenta años después de la adopción de la Declaración Universal de Derechos Humanos, las amenazas a la libertad de prensa son masivas en numerosas regiones del mundo”, subrayó Abdel Nabi.

El Secretario General de PEC, Blaise Lempen, por su parte, destacó como “un hecho positivo, el número de periodistas muertos en Iraq ha disminuido sensiblemente, gracias a un mejoramiento relativo de la seguridad en ese país. Desafortunadamente, la situación se ha deteriorado en otros países, una evolución inquietante”, apuntó Lempen.
 
El sistema de monitoreo de PEC, conocido por “Media ticking clock”, refleja un deterioro en numerosos países en 2008: México, Pakistán, India, Tailandia, Rusia, Filipinas, Georgia y Croacia. Además de Iraq, ha habido una mejoría (precaria) en Somalia (dos muertos contra ocho en 2007), en Sri Lanka (dos muertos contra siete el año pasado).
 
Iraq sigue siendo en 2008 el país más mortal para el trabajo de los medios, con 15 periodistas asesinados desde el inicio del año. Ese saldo es de todas maneras notablemente inferior a los 50 periodistas asesinados en 2007, lo que representa una bajada del 70% del número de víctimas, y a los 48 que murieron en 2006. Desde el inicio de la guerra, en marzo de 2003, por lo menos 265 periodistas perecieron en ese país.
 
La delincuencia criminal se ha agravado en México. Con nueve víctimas mortales desde enero (contra tres el año pasado), México es el segundo país de mayor peligrosidad en el mundo en este año.
 
El deterioro ha sido sustancial en Pakistán, en el tercer lugar, con ocho periodistas muertos este año (contra cinco el año pasado). La situación se ha deteriorado netamente en las zonas tribales próximas a la frontera afgana.
 
La India ocupa el 4to lugar, con siete periodistas asesinados (dos el año pasado), sobre todo en relación con los conflictos étnicos en el norte del país. Le siguen Filipinas (5to lugar), con seis periodistas muertos (frente a 4 en 2007), particularmente en razón del conflicto sobre la Isla de Mindanao, después viene Georgia (6ta posición, 5 muertos), a causa de la guerra del mes de agosto con Rusia.

Entre los 10 primeros más peligrosos, se encuentran también Rusia (cuatro muertos, contra uno el año anterior), principalmente asesinatos vinculados a los conflictos en el Cáucaso, y por primera vez, Tailandia (cuatro muertos, lo que la sitúa en el 8vo lugar, contra ninguno el pasado año).

En un total de nueve países se ha censado dos víctimas mortales en cada uno de ellos, por lo que comparten la novena plaza: Colombia, Venezuela, Afganistán, Somalia, Croacia, Nigeria, la República Democrática del Congo, Nepal, y Sri Lanka.

Un periodista fue asesinado en el transcurso de 2008, en cada uno de los siguientes países: Irán, República Dominicana, Ecuador, Panamá, Gaza, Bolivia, Uganda, Honduras, Brasil, Níger, Guatemala, Burundi, Kenia, Cambodia, y Zimbabue.

Principales conclusiones:
 
- El informe demuestra que el mejoramiento relativo de la seguridad en Iraq fue desafortunadamente compensado con un deterioro en muchos otros países. La cifra de 95 muertos en un año es prácticamente equivalente a la de 2006, a pesar de la disminución del número de víctimas en Iraq.
 
- Además de los asesinatos, han tenido lugar numerosos secuestros durante este año, particularmente en Afganistán, Somalia, la RDC, Iraq, Gaza y México. En Somalia, si bien hubo menos asesinatos que el año anterior, se llevaron a cabo numerosas toma de rehenes.

- La mayoría de las víctimas de los medios de comunicación, (cerca de las tres cuartas partes) han hallado la muerte en zonas de conflicto armado, a excepción de los casos de México y Tailandia.

- Por región, el saldo es bastante sorprendente: Asia es la líder, con cuatro países señalados entre los de mayor peligrosidad (con un total de 30 muertos: Pakistán, India, Filipinas, Tailandia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Camboya), delante de América Latina (20 muertos: México, Colombia, Venezuela, Guatemala, Bolivia, Ecuador, Panamá, Honduras, Brasil, República Dominicana), y seguido del Medio Oriente (19 muertos: Iraq, Afganistán, Irán, Gaza). Europa sigue este año, por primera vez después de mucho tiempo, con un número de víctimas relativamente elevado (11 muertos: Georgia, Croacia, Rusia), delante de África (10 muertos: RDC, Somalia, Nigeria, Uganda, Níger, Burundi, Kenia, Zimbabue).
 
- La gran mayoría de los periodistas asesinados fue blanco dirigido en razón de su profesión. Se trata de asesinatos deliberados destinados a eliminar a un individuo, en razón de sus encuestas o de sus opiniones contrarias a las de grupos armados, de grupos políticos, de redes criminales, o de los intereses locales. Las causas accidentales (por ejemplo, muertes a causa de una explosión terrorista, o por causa de una bala perdida) representan este año cerca del 10% del total. 

- La impunidad se mantiene como regla. Cuando proceden, las investigaciones son muy difíciles de llevar a cabo en las zonas de conflicto; los procesos son demasiado largos o no se corresponden con los criterios de imparcialidad (véase el proceso de los autores de la muerte de Anna Politkovskaïa en Rusia).

- Consulta lanzada por la PEC: La ONG se felicita que los Estados hayan aceptado crear un grupo de trabajo informal en Ginebra, encargado de discutir los medios de reforzar la protección de los medios de comunicación en las zonas de conflicto y de violencias. Pocos gobiernos han expresado hasta ahora su apoyo a una nueva convención internacional, propuesta por la PEC en ocasión de una consulta lanzada hace un año, pero la casi totalidad de los países han expresado un punto de vista estimando que hay que obtener una mejor aplicación del derecho existente.
 
- La PEC va a proseguir en 2009 las consultas con los Estados a fin de lograr un mejoramiento de la seguridad de los periodistas las regiones sacudidas por las crisis y las situaciones de violencia. 

***11.12.08. The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) and the International Covenant of Journalists (ICPJ) are pleased to invite all UN Permanent Missions to a second informal meeting to discuss ways and means to enhance the promotion and protection by the United Nations of the human rights of journalists in all times and circumstances.

This second informal meeting will take place on MONDAY 15 DECEMBER, 2008 in Room XVI at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, from 10 to 13.00. (5th floor - take Ascenseur 12B, 3rd floor near the Assembly Hall) - All Un Member States are invited to participate in the meeting

Please find below an information document published in order to facilitate the discussion at the meeting: Non paper

"The right to freedom of opinion and expression entails the right of every person to hold opinions without interference, as well as to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his/her choice. Press freedom is one the pillars of a democratic society, and journalists are a fundamental element towards ensuring such freedom. Journalists and media professionals require appropriate protection and security in order to adequately perform their work.

The right to freedom of opinion and expression is recognized in several international instruments, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the American Convention on Human Rights and the African (Banjul) Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, among others. International Humanitarian Law also offers protection to journalists in armed conflicts, as recognized in the Geneva Convention of August 12, 1949 relative to the treatment of prisoners of war; the Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 relating to the Protection of Victims of International and non Armed Conflicts (Protocols I & II), from 8 June 1977. The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court considers a crime attacks to protected persons in times of armed conflict. This includes the journalists not participating in hostilities.

The international community has taken measures for the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. For example, in the early 70’s an initiative to grant journalists in dangerous missions a status was adopted (GA Resolution 2673 (XXV) entitled “Protection of journalists engaged in dangerous missions in areas of armed conflict”). The need to grant a status to journalists was considered also during the negotiations of the Diplomatic Conference on the Reaffirmation and Development of International Humanitarian Law applicable in Armed Conflicts (1974-1977).

UN Security Council Resolution 1738 (23 December 2006) condemned international attacks against journalists, media professionals and associated personnel in situations of armed conflict.

The UN Human Rights Committee monitors freedom of opinion and expression, in conformity with the ICCPR. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has the mandate to promote all human rights.
 
Human Rights Council resolution 7/36 of (28 March 2008) renewed the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and within its terms of reference has to, among others, consider threats or use of violence, harassment, persecution or intimidation against journalists or other professionals in the field of information.
 
UNESCO through its New Communication Strategy gives high priority to encouraging the free flow of information, at international as well as national levels, to promoting its wider and better balanced dissemination, without any obstacle to the freedom of expression, and to strengthening communication capacities in the developing countries in order to increase their participation in the communication process. One of its projects it the International Freedom of Expression Exchange Network, that monitors, promotes and defends freedom of expression worldwide. 

At the regional level, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) of the Organization of American States, and the African Commission of Human and People’s Rights have appointed experts as Special Rapporteurs on Freedom of Expression. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has a representative on freedom of the media.
 
Recently, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expresion has reiterated a call to the Human Rights Council to pay increased attention to the issue of the security and protection of journalists, in particular in situations of armed conflict. Also, the Special Rapporteur has recommended the preparation of a study on international protection enjoyed by media professionals and their legal status, especially while on mission in dangerous zones and, among others the causes of violence against media professionals, based, inter alia, on information from Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations (E/CN.4/2006/55, para. 77 and A/HRC/4/27, paras. 62 & 86).
 
Taking into account that in 2007, 110 journalists were reported death (PEC MEDIA CASUALTIES 2007), numerous organizations, including civil society organization have urged the international community to increase the protection of journalists, in all circumstances and enhance the mechanisms for the promotion and protection of freedom of opinion and expression. 

In November 6, 2008 a group of delegates and journalists decided to continue meeting informally in order to discuss on existing measures and standards for the protection of journalists, with a view to identify concrete possible actions for the enhancement of such protection.
 
The group will meet informally next December 15, 2008 and such meeting will provide an opportunity to exchange information on initiatives and issues related to the protection of journalists, including possible actions from the Human Rights Council, i.e. a special event with the participation of the Special Rapporteur, the OHCHR, the ICRC and journalists organizations; a request to human rights mechanisms to follow up on this issue, among others".

***03.12.08. PEC-ICPJ call upon the international community to pay attention to the global crisis of the protection of journalists as the world enters the 61st year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (FRENCH AND SPANISH VERSIONS AFTER ENGLISH)
Read also page OTHER NEWS for IFJ-Article 19-Mada statements

Article 19 - Tout individu a droit à la liberté d'opinion et d'expression, ce qui implique le droit de ne pas être inquiété pour ses opinions et celui de chercher, de recevoir et de répandre, sans considérations de frontières, les informations et les idées par quelque moyen d'expression que ce soit.

Article 19 - Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Artículo 19 - Todo individuo tiene derecho a la libertad de opinión y de expresión; este derecho incluye el no ser molestado a causa de sus opiniones, el de investigar y recibir informaciones y opiniones, y el de difundirlas, sin limitación de fronteras, por cualquier medio de expresión.

GENEVA, December 3 (PEC-ICPJ) -- The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) and the International Covenant for the Protection of Journalists (ICPJ) call upon the international community to pay attention to the serious neglected global crisis of the protection of journalists in conflict zones and elsewhere.

   As the world celebrates the 60 th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December, the two Geneva-based NGOs call upon UN member states to look after this escalating crisis, which has seen more than 500 journalists killed during the past 5 years with a weekly average of 2 journalists killed. More media employees have been injured, kidnapped, harassed.

   Never before in the history of the profession have media workers been so harmed by the injuries of war, hostile governments, non-state actors and bandits. 

   From Nepal to the Philippines , from India to Sri-Lanka, from Iraq to the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Somalia , from Mexico to Columbia , from the Caucasus to Croatia and Russia , journalists have been targeted by regular armies, non-state actors, cartels and governments. 

   The targeting of journalists because of their profession has added danger to media work and turned it into one of the professions that warrant additional protection under international law and international humanitarian law. 

   Unfortunately, the unrelenting call by media organizations has not often been heard even though the calls have intensified during the past five years. 

  A crackdown on media work has been a feature of the conduct of many governments, which silence the truth through the physical liquidation of journalists and other means be it in armed conflicts, civil unrest or elsewhere.   

   Today as the Declaration reaches 60, the threats to freedom of opinion and expression have gone even further, infringing on and violating all human rights of journalists, including the most sacred, the right to life, and at the same time everyone’s right to information. 

   The Universal Declaration of Human Rights set the standard for the protection of freedom of opinion and expression, as expressed in article 19.
 
   The PEC and the ICPJ call today upon the international community to take action and build upon existing international and humanitarian law to improve the protection of journalists as they exercise their profession in armed conflicts and other dangerous situations. 

 La PEC et l'ICPJ appellent la communauté internationale à répondre à la crise globale de la protection des journalistes alors que la Déclaration universelle des droits de l’homme entre dans sa 61e année

 Genève, 3 décembre (PEC-ICPJ). La Presse Emblème Campagne (PEC) et le Pacte international pour la protection des journalsites (ICPJ) demandent à la communauté internationale de répondre à une sérieuse crise négligée sur le plan mondial, celle de la protection des journalistes dans les zones de conflit et de violences internes.

 Alors que le monde célèbre les 60 ans de la Déclaration universelle des droits de l'homme le 10 décembre, les deux ONG appellent les pays membres de l’ONU à s’occuper de cette escalade dans la violence qui a vu plus de 500 journalistes être tués dans l'exercice de leur métier ces cinq dernières années, soit en moyenne 100 par an et deux par semaine, dans plus d'une trentaine de pays sur la planète. Beaucoup d’autres ont été blessés, enlevés, harcelés.

 Jamais autant d'employés des medias ont été victimes de la guerre, de gouvernements hostiles, de groupes armés non étatiques et de bandits criminels.

 Du Népal aux Philippines, de l'Inde au Sri-Lanka, de l'Irak aux territoires palestiniens occupés, de la République démocratique du Congo à la Somalie, du Mexique à la Colombie, du Caucase à la Croatie et à la Russie, des journalistes ont été la cible de soldats réguliers, de groupes non étatiques, de cartels du crime ou de la drogue et de gouvernements.

 L'assassinat de journalistes a accru les risques liés à cette profession et il faut y répondre par des garanties internationales supplémentaires pour leur protection en vertu du droit international et du droit humanitaire existant.

 Malheureusement, les nombreux appels des organisations de défense de la liberté de la presse n’ont souvent pas été entendus au cours de ces cinq dernières années, même si ces appels se sont intensifiés.

 De nombreux gouvernements ont réprimé le travail des medias pour faire taire la vérité à travers la liquidation physique des journalistes et d’autres moyens, que ce soit dans le contexte de conflits armés, de troubles internes ou dans d’autres situations.
 
  Alors que la Déclaration universelle des droits de l’homme a 60 ans, les menaces qui pèsent sur la liberté d’opinion et d’expression se sont accrues, en violation des droits fondamentaux des journalistes, dont le plus sacré, le droit à la vie, en même temps qu’en violation du droit à l’information du public.

 La Déclaration universelle des droits de l'homme a garanti la liberté d'expression et d'opinion dans son article 19.

 La PEC et l'ICPJ demandent à la communauté internationale de réagir et de renforcer la protection des journalistes qui exercent leur profession dans les zones de conflit et de violences internes en se fondant sur les normes existantes du droit international et humanitaire.

PEC –ICPJ instan a la comunidad internacional a prestar atención a la crisis global de
protección de los periodistas cuando el mundo entra en el 60 aniversario de la
Declaración Universal de Derechos Humanos

   GINEBRA, 3 dic (PEC-ICPJ) -- La Campaña Emblema de Prensa (PEC) y el Convenio Internacional para la Protección de los Periodistas (ICPJ) instan a la comunidad internacional a prestar atención a la crisis global de descuidada protección a los periodistas en zonas de conflicto y en otros lugares.

  Cuando el mundo celebra el 60 aniversario de la Declaración Universal de Derechos Humanos, el 10 de diciembre, las dos Organizaciones no Gubernamentales, basadas en Ginebra, hacen un llamamiento a todos los Estados miembros de la ONU a atender a esta escalada de la crisis, que ha dejado más de 500 periodistas asesinados durante los últimos cinco años, con un promedio semanal de dos periodistas muertos. Muchos otros han sido heridos, secuestrados, acosados.
 
  Nunca antes en la historia de la profesión, los trabajadores de los medios de comunicación habían sido tan perjudicados por las heridas de la guerra, por los gobiernos hostiles, los actores no estatales y los bandidos.

 Desde Nepal hasta Filipinas, de la India a Sri Lanka, de Iraq hasta los Territorios Palestinos Ocupados (OPT), desde la República Democrática del Congo hasta Somalia, desde México hasta Colombia, del Cáucaso a Croacia y Rusia, los periodistas han sido objetivo de ejércitos regulares, actores no-estatales, carteles y gobiernos.

 Los ataques de los periodistas a causa de su profesión han añadido peligro al trabajo de los medios de comunicación y han convertido la profesión en una de las que requieren protección adicional en virtud del derecho internacional y del derecho internacional humanitario.

  Lamentablemente, el llamado incesante hecho por organizaciones de medios de comunicación para la protección a menudo no ha sido escuchado, aun cuando las llamadas se hayan intensificado durante los últimos cinco años.

  La represión del trabajo de los medios de comunicación ha sido una característica de la conducta de muchos gobiernos, la cual silencia la verdad a través de la liquidación física de los periodistas, y otros medios, ya sea en conflictos militares o en otros lugares.
                       
  Hoy, cuando la Declaración alcanza los 60 años, las amenazas a la libertad de opinión y de expresión han ido más allá, infringiendo y violando todos los derechos humanos de los periodistas, incluido el más sagrado, el derecho a la vida y, al mismo tiempo, el derecho de toda persona a la informacion.
 
  La Declaración Universal de Derechos Humanos marca la pauta para la protección de la libertad de opinión y de expresión, tal como se expresa en el artículo 19.
 
 La PEC y el ICPJ hacen hoy un llamado a la comunidad internacional para tomar medidas y construir, sobre la base del existente derecho internacional y humanitario, una mejor protección de los periodistas cuando ejercen su profesión en conflictos armados y otras situaciones delicadas, incluyendo los disturbios civiles. 

***22.11.08. DRC: the PEC shocked by the killing of a journalist of Radio Okapi - RDC: la PEC choquée par l'assassinat d'un journaliste de Radio Okapi (lire aussi sous PRESS)

Un journaliste congolais de la radio Okapi, parrainée par l'ONU, a été abattu par balles par des inconnus à Bukavu dans l'est de la République démocratique du Congo (RDC). On ignore les raisons de cet assassinat.

Didace Namujimbo "rentrait à la maison hier soir. On l'a abattu à quelques mètres de chez lui", a expliqué le rédacteur en chef de la radio, Léonard Mulamba. "On lui a tiré dans la tête", a-t-il précisé. "On n'a aucun détail sur le mobile ni sur le ou les commanditaires", a-t-il ajouté.

Le 13 juin 2007, un autre journaliste de la radio Okapi avait été tué à Bukavu, la capitale de la province du Sud-Kivu. De nombreux groupes armés - miliciens ou rebelles - opèrent dans cette région instable, frontalière de la province du Nord-Kivu qui est le théâtre de combats depuis près de trois mois entre l'armée et la rébellion de Laurent Nkunda.

"Dans cette région qui demeure dangereuse, tous les sujets restent sensibles, les sujets militaires, les sujets sur les viols", a estimé M. Mulamba. Didace Namujimbo, qui travaillait depuis quelques années à Okapi, avait "beaucoup couvert le procès de Serge (Maheshe). Est-ce que ce sont les mêmes qui cherchent à se venger? Ce sont des supputations", a-t-il encore dit.

Basée à Lausanne, la Fondation Hirondelle, qui gère Radio Okapi en partenariat avec la Mission de l'ONU en RDC, s'est dite "profondément choquée par ce crime odieux".

La PEC condamne ce nouvel assassinat dans une région où il est particulièrement difficile de pratiquer une information indépendante et où elle est très importante pour la poursuite de l'aide humanitaire. Ce décès porte à 85 le nombre de journalistes tués depuis le début de cette année dans le monde.

For information, UN Secretary-General and Swiss Foreign Ministry statements:

BAN VOICES OUTRAGE AFTER MURDER OF JOURNALIST AT CONGOLESE RADIO STATION
New York, Nov 24 2008 4:10PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today expressed his deep distress at hearing of the murder of a journalist working for a UN-sponsored radio station in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Didace Namujimbo, 34, died after being shot in the neck by unknown assailants about 9:30 p.m. last Friday as he returned to his home in Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province in the country’s far east. He leaves behind a wife and three children.

“This crime is all the more devastating as it marks the second time in less than two years that a member of Radio Okapi’s staff has been brutally killed in the same city,” Mr. Ban said in a statement.

Radio Okapi is a partnership between MONUC and the Hirondelle Foundation, a Swiss non-governmental organization (NGO).

Last June, Serge Maheshe, a news editor with the station, was shot in Bukavu while entering a UN car. A Congolese military tribunal subsequently convicted several people of charges related to the killing.

“Didace Namujimbo’s murder underlines once again the deep insecurity in the DRC, particularly for journalists, whose work leaves them particularly vulnerable,” the Secretary-General said, extending his deepest condolences to the slain journalist’s family, friends and colleagues.

He said that the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC, known by its French acronym MONUC, is following the investigation closely and that the UN also stands ready to assist.

Mr. Ban called upon the country’s authorities to ensure that the case is investigated thoroughly and “pursued to the full extent of the law.”

In a statement issued on Saturday, Alan Doss, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of MONUC, deplored the “cowardly murder” and pledged that the mission would do its utmost to help prosecutors in their investigations.

The DRC continues to be plagued by violence in its far east, despite the official end of its brutal civil war earlier this decade. The fighting has been worst in North Kivu province, which – like South Kivu – borders Rwanda, and has displaced an estimated 250,000 civilians in the past three months.

Congolese armed forces, or FARDC, have been fighting a rebel militia known as the Congress in Defence of the People (CNDP), led by the renegade general Laurent Nkunda. Other armed groups, including the Mayi Mayi, have also been involved in deadly clashes, some of which have been along ethnic lines.

Communiqué du DFAE (Suisse): "Le Département fédéral des affaires étrangères (DFAE) condamne l’assassinat d’un journaliste de Radio Okapi en République démocratique du Congo. Didace Namujimbo est déjà le deuxième journaliste de Radio Okapi à avoir été assassiné, après Serge Maheshe en 2007. Le DFAE est extrêmement préoccupé par cette attaque contre la liberté de la presse dans la région.

Didace Namujimbo a été tué par balle près de son domicile le vendredi 21 novembre à Bukavu, dans l’est de la RDC. Le journaliste de Radio Okapi laisse une femme et deux enfants. Le DFAE exprime sa profonde sympathie à sa famille et à la fondation suisse Hirondelle, qui gère ce projet radiophonique. 

M. Namujimbo avait mené d’intenses recherches sur les circonstances de l’assassinat de son collègue Serge Maheshe et sur le problème des viols, largement répandu dans le pays. Dans ce combat inégal, la violence l’a emporté sur l’humanité. 

Le DFAE estime qu’il est indispensable que la presse puisse travailler librement pour que la démocratie progresse. Le projet Radio Okapi bénéficie du soutien de la Direction du développement et de la coopération (DDC). Le DFAE condamne cette attaque contre la liberté de la presse et demande que toute la lumière soit faite sur ces deux assassinats." (24.11.08)

***20.11.08.  PEC joins the world media in denouncing the ban on media coverage in Gaza (Consult also our page: Other News)

The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) denounces strongly the Israeli government's decision to ban journalists from entering the Gaza Strip for the last two weeks.

The PEC, joined by the International Covenant for the Protection of journalists (ICPJ) believes that in ongoing conflicts it is of paramount importance to have free access for journalists to guarantee the accurate and fair coverage of events.

In addition, journalists are indispensable when it comes to the important witnessing and documentation of human rights violations.

Journalists, therefore are a safe valve against impunity.

The world cry against the ban was addressed to the Israeli Prime Minister and signed by the following media organizations Associated Press Chief Executive and President Tom Curley, Reuters Editor-in-Chief David Schlesinger, New York Times Executive Editor Bill Keller, ABC News President David Westin, BBC News Director Helen Boaden and other top executives from CNN, the Canadian TV network CTV, the German broadcaster ZDF, and the French news service Agence France Presse.

The Wednesday protest was the latest in a chorus of international criticism of Israel's Gaza closure, tightened after a five-month truce began unraveling about two weeks ago in a flurry of Israeli air strikes against militants and Palestinian rocket barrages targeting Israeli towns.

***07.11.08. On November 6th 2008, an informal meeting on the Protection of Journalists between UN member states, the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) and the International Covenant for the Protection of Journalists (ICPJ) took place at the invitation of both organizations, with the technical support of the Mexican Mission, at the United Nations in Geneva. Some 20 UN missions and 40 participants responded positively to the invitation. It is the hope of the PEC and the ICPJ that the new informal working group can meet on a regular basis.

Ambassador Luis Alfonso de Alba (Mexico), PEC president Hedayat Abdel Nabi, PEC Secretary-General Blaise Lempen at the meeting Nov 6, room IX Palais des Nations, Geneva

Representatives of UN Member States and other delegates at the launch of the informal working group

Around 20 UN Missions responded positively to the PEC-ICPJ invitation to discuss ways and means to enhance the protection of journalists in conflict zones (more photos below)

SUMMARY: On November 6 th , 2008, an informal meeting organized by the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) and the International Covenant for the Protection of Journalists (ICPJ) took place at the Palais de Nations in order to discuss ways and means for concrete measures to reinforce the protection of the journalists in conflict zones and under other dangerous situations. 

The meeting, which brought together some 20 member States and 40 participants, was chaired by PEC President and ICPJ coordinator Hedayat Abdel Nabi, and cochaired by PEC Secretary-General Blaise Lempen. 

In her opening statement, Mrs. Abdel Nabi underlined the need for visibility of the situation faced by journalist and called attention to the advantage of being in Geneva where the Human Rights Council sits as an incentive to move forward the work of the UN related to the protection of journalists. Among other thoughts, she proposed the consideration of a new international instrument; suggested the establishment of a group to put together different ideas that could improve the human rights of journalists; recommended to value the work and input of the Special Rapporteur on the Freedom of Expression, Mr. La Rue; and suggested the organization of a special event within the framework of the Human Rights Council. 

Mr. Lempen mentioned that the goal of the meeting was to enhance dialogue with the Governments since some countries have already expressed their interest on the subject. He expressed his desire for achieving a deeper respect and enforcement of the current international humanitarian law for those persons in charge of informing the public and thus, he asked if a new international instrument was required. He offered some facts about the present situation faced by journalists in different parts of the world and highlighted the need to develop concrete actions.

Several member States agreed that the existing international laws and norms address the protection of journalists and there was a need to improve their implementation and enforcement. 

During the meeting it had been clearly stated that it was important to continue the dialogue for identifying concrete measures that could enhance a better application of the international humanitarian and human rights law for the protection of journalists. Another informal meeting will take place in December 2008, in a date and venue to be defined. Such meeting will discuss practical measures within the United Nations to make the issue of the protection of journalists more visible, as well as to discuss possible activities that will create greater awareness of this global problem among the international community. 

It is the hope of the PEC and the ICPJ that the informal working group can meet on a regular basis. 

At the 6th November meeting, Ambassador Luis Alfonso de Alba (Mexico), first president of the UN Human Rights Council, has supported the creation of an informal working group on the protection of journalists and has suggested different options 

At the meeting: Daniel Favre, vice-president PEC and vice-president of the French-speaking countries international press Union (UIPF) (left) with Damaris Carnal, Directorate of Public International Law, Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (Bern).

The ex-permanent representative of Egypt to the United Nations in Geneva ambassador Mounir Zahran (center) has supported the PEC-ICPJ initiative (photos PEC - Cherif, Abdel Nabi)

List of countries who have attended the PEC meeting at the UN in Geneva: Mexico, Colombia, Egypt, Singapour, France, Canada, Romania, United States of America, Argentina, Sweden, Turkey, Ireland, Marocco, Switzerland, Jordan, Greece, United Kingdom of Great Britain
List of countries who have answered in writing to the PEC consultation (8): Switzerland, France, Mexico, Qatar, Serbia, Holy See, Democratic Republic of Congo, Latvia.

PEC SG introductory remarks at the meeting Nov 6th: 

Messieurs les Ambassadeurs, Mesdames, Messieurs, merci d’être venus et d’avoir répondu à notre invitation. Votre présence est un réconfort pour les familles de tous ceux qui ont payé de leur vie le simple fait de vouloir informer : près de cent journalistes par année, en moyenne, ont été tués ces cinq dernières dans l’exercice de leur métier, soit au moins 500 en cinq ans.

Le but de notre invitation est d’ouvrir un espace de dialogue avec les gouvernements sur cette question très importante qu’est la protection des medias dans les zones de conflit et de violences internes. Lors d’entretiens préliminaires ces derniers mois, quelques pays nous ont indiqué qu’ils sont favorables à un tel dialogue.

Nous pensons qu’un échange est nécessaire sur le plan multilatéral, si l’on veut progresser. En vertu des Conventions de Genève, les Etats ont l’obligation de respecter et de faire respecter le droit international humanitaire. Notre objectif est de discuter des moyens de mieux faire respecter et appliquer le droit existant, pour une catégorie particulière de personnes qui ont une mission spécifique, celle d’informer l’opinion publique, notamment sur les violations des droits de l’homme et du droit humanitaire.
 
Concrètement, nous souhaiterions savoir aujourd’hui si un certain nombre d’entre vous sont d’accord de lancer un processus de discussion des nombreux problèmes posés par la protection des journalistes dans les zones de conflit et de violences internes. Lors de ces discussions, il s’agira notamment de déterminer si un nouvel instrument international est nécessaire. 

Nous souhaiterions donc qu’aujourd’hui nous prenions une décision sur la procédure à suivre : s’il y a accord sur la nécessité de discuter de cette problématique, fixer la date d’une prochaine réunion, par exemple en décembre ou en janvier, déterminer qui va participer au processus, dans quel cadre, à quel niveau, sous quelle forme.
 
L’ouverture d’un dialogue ne préjuge pas du résultat final.
 
Nous représentons ici le souhait exprimé par quelque 35 associations de journalistes et de défense des medias dans le monde qui sont confrontés aux pires difficultés sur une base quotidienne pour informer. Il existe parmi les associations de journalistes des pays en conflit ou ayant connu un conflit un besoin très fort de mesures supplémentaires concrètes de protection. 
 
Parmi ces associations, les journalistes irakiens, ceux qui ont payé un plus lourd tribut ces dernières années, en Asie la Fédération des journalistes du Népal, les journalistes philippins, pakistanais, srilankais, taiwanais, iraniens, les journalistes palestiniens, israéliens, en Europe les journalistes serbes, macédoniens, chypriotes, géorgiens et d’autres pays du Caucase, en Afrique, plusieurs des journalistes des pays membres de l’Union internationale de la presse francophone, les journalistes somaliens, congolais, algériens, nigérians, soudanais, ougandais, camerounais, mauriciens, d’Afrique de l’Ouest, en Amérique latine les colombiens, mexicains, péruviens. Tous vivent dans un climat de peur et de menaces multiformes. 

Dans tous ces pays et dans d’autres, où malheureusement les journalistes ne sont pas suffisamment organisés pour faire entendre leur voix, comme en Afghanistan, des journalistes ont été ciblés en raison de leur profession. Ils sont ciblés par des acteurs variés : des réseaux criminels ou mafieux, des services secrets, des partis extrémistes, des groupes terroristes, des gouvernements aussi, des militaires soit de forces gouvernementales soit de forces rebelles. Ils sont tués ou blessés lors d’attentats terroristes, lors d’échanges de coups de feu, lors de manifestations violentes ou accidentellement. Les contextes sont différents d’un pays à l’autre, mais l’on constate des points communs : la grande difficulté à clarifier les circonstances de ces assassinats, et une difficulté encore plus grande à en poursuivre les responsables. Or l’impunité favorise le cycle de la violence.
 
Si l’on prend le dernier mois écoulé, huit journalistes ont été tués dans l'exercice de leur fonction en octobre, ce qui porte à 79 le nombre de victimes depuis le début de l'année dans 31 pays. Cela représente huit journalistes tués chaque mois, deux par semaine en moyenne. (...)

Depuis le début de l'année, la PEC a recensé 79 journalistes tués, contre 104 à la même période de l'an dernier: cette baisse du nombre de victimes en dix mois est due exclusivement à la diminution du nombre des victimes en Irak, 15 jusqu'ici cette année contre 50 l'an dernier. Par contre, le nombre de victimes a augmenté ailleurs dans le monde.

Selon notre décompte, après l'Irak (15) et le Mexique (8) viennent parmi les pays les plus dangereux depuis janvier le Pakistan (6 tués), la Géorgie (5), les Philippines (4), la Russie (4), la Thaïlande (4), l'Inde (3), la Colombie (2), le Venezuela (2), l'Afghanistan (2), la Somalie (2), la Croatie (2), le Nigéria (2) et le Sri Lanka (2).

Une victime a également été recensée dans chacun de ces pays depuis janvier jusqu’au 31 octobre: Iran, République dominicaine, Equateur, Panama, Gaza, Bolivie, Ouganda, Honduras, Brésil, Niger, Népal, Guatemala, Burundi, Kenya, Cambodge et Zimbabwe.

Dans les trois quarts de ces pays, règnent des conflits armés ouverts ou larvés. On peut rester les bras croisés à compter les morts, mais il y a certainement davantage à faire.

Il ne faut pas seulement voir la situation à court terme. Il y aura à l’avenir bien d’autres conflits et les mêmes questions se reposeront alors. Donc c’est un travail à long terme que l’on peut décider d’engager aujourd’hui. 

Les principes du droit existant, la nécessité de protéger les civils, sont clairs. Ils ont été réaffirmés dans la résolution 1738 du Conseil de sécurité en décembre 2006. Mais nous estimons que les mécanismes d’application manquent pour faire appliquer le droit de manière plus efficace, et nous pensons à des procédures d’enquête, de suivi, de réparations, de poursuites, d’identification, d’avertissement, de prévention, de formation, de renforcement des capacités, d’assistance aux victimes.

Nous avons lancé il y a près d’un an une procédure de consultation par courrier électronique sur un avant-projet de convention internationale. Peut-être que la méthode utilisée, le courrier électronique, n’est pas la bonne, mais le taux de réponse obtenue des Etats est largement insuffisant : huit pays seulement ont répondu par écrit, la Suisse, la République démocratique du Congo, le Saint-Siège, la Lettonie, la Serbie, le Qatar, la France et le Mexique. Nous les remercions vivement. Oralement, nous avons obtenu des réponses de trois ou quatre autres pays, comme l’Irak, l'Espagne et les Etats-Unis. C’est insuffisant, d’où notre réunion d’aujourd’hui. 

La première question que nous vous proposons de débattre est donc simplement la suivante: est-ce que vous pensez que l’ouverture d’un dialogue sur le plan multilatéral est nécessaire pour discuter des mesures à prendre afin de renforcer la protection des medias dans les zones de conflit et de violences ? 

More on: www.mediacovenant.org 

************************************************************************

***05.11.08. Barack Obama new US President - The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) Rejoices with the American people, looks forward to a more right and just world 

  GENEVA, November 5 (PEC-ICPJ) – The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) and the International Covenant for the Protection of Journalists (ICPJ) rejoice with the American people their choice of a new dynamic American President that will redirect America on a new path that will make right and justice a commitment of America.

   The two Geneva based organizations express hope today that the words of the new American President will be soon a reality across the globe including a withdrawal of American troops from Iraq where more than 265 journalists were killed since March 2003.

   This global problem has taken the lives of more than 500 journalists off their job across the world since March 2003.

   The PEC and the ICPJ see in the new American President a more positive approach to multilateralism and hence hope that his administration will be more committed to the Human Rights Council, International Human Rights Law and International Law.

   In this context the two organizations express hope that the benevolent son of America with his roots in the Afro-American community and Africa, and his rising from difficulty to presidency, will side with the aspirations of journalists and defend their human rights against impunity and abuse around the world.

   The two organizations express hope that a draft convention for the protection of journalists shall be signed during the first term of the new American President by force of his energy and commitment to humanity and human values. 

***02.11.08. PEC Monthly Report: 8 journalists killed in October, Media victims 79 in 31 countries up to 31 October 2008 (textes en français et en espagnol après l'anglais)

  According to the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) 8 journalists were killed during the month of October while carrying their work as journalists. This figure steps up the number of journalists killed from the beginning of the year to 79 in 31 countries.

    Croatia has been added to the map of dangerous media zones when two journalists were killed when their car was targeted and exploded in Zagreb. They are the first media victims in Croatia since the end of the war in 1995.

    Mexico, where two journalists were killed in October, continues to be a battle ground for journalists suffering from a criminal climate. The last two casualties steps Mexico 's ranking as the second most deadly country for media work, after witnessing 8 casualties so far this year.

   In Iraq, a journalist was killed also in October which increases the number of Iraqi journalists killed this year to 15, and more than 265 since March 2003.

   One journalist was killed in Thailand , thus increasing the number of media casualties to 4 from the beginning of the year.

   One other journalist was killed in Sri Lanka , another in Nigeria targeted by criminals.

   Last year, for the same period up to 31 October, 104 journalists were killed. The reason for the reduction of casualties, 79 up to date this year, is a lower casualty figure in Iraq: 15 this year, 50 last year. However, media victims have increased in other parts of the world.

   The PEC Media Ticking Clock ranks Iraq (15 killed) as the deadliest place for media work for the 5th consecutive year, followed this year by Mexico (8), Pakistan (6), Georgia (5), the Philippines (4), Russia (4), Thailand (4), India (3), Colombia (2), Venezuela (2), Afghanistan (2), Somalia (2), Croatia (2), Nigeria (2), Sri Lanka (2).

   One journalist was killed in Iran , Dominican Republic , Ecuador , Panama , Gaza , Bolivia, Uganda , Honduras , Brazil, Niger , Nepal , Guatemala , Burundi , Kenya , Cambodia and Zimbabwe from 1 January to 31 October 2008 . 

Rapport mensuel de la PEC - octobre 2008: Huit victimes de plus en octobre, ce qui porte à 79 le nombre de journalistes tués depuis janvier jusqu’à fin octobre dans 31 pays

  Huit journalistes ont été tués dans l'exercice de leur fonction pendant le mois d'octobre, ce qui porte à 79 le nombre de victimes depuis le début de l'année dans 31 pays, a annoncé lundi la Presse Emblème Campagne (PEC) dans son rapport mensuel.

 Un nouveau pays s'est ajouté à la liste de ceux où la vie des journalistes est menacée: la Croatie, déplore l'ONG. Deux journalistes ont été visés par l'explosion d'une voiture piégée à Zagreb. Ce sont les premières victimes dans ce pays depuis la fin de la guerre en 1995.

 La vague criminelle n'a pas connu de répit au Mexique, où deux journalistes supplémentaires ont été tués le mois dernier. Avec huit victimes depuis janvier, le Mexique est le deuxième pays le plus dangereux au monde cette année.

 Un journaliste de plus a été tué en octobre en Irak, ce qui porte le bilan depuis janvier dans ce pays à 15 morts (plus de 265 depuis mars 2003).

 En outre, en octobre, un journaliste a été tué en Thaïlande, une évolution très préoccupante: depuis janvier, quatre journalistes ont été visés dans ce pays. Toujours en octobre, un journaliste est mort au Sri Lanka dans un attentat et un journaliste est tombé sous les balles de criminels au Nigéria.

 Depuis le début de l'année, la PEC a recensé 79 journalistes tués, contre 104 à la même période de l'an dernier: cette baisse du nombre de victimes en dix mois est due exclusivement à la diminution du nombre des victimes en Irak, 15 jusqu'ici cette année contre 50 l'an dernier. Par contre, le nombre de victimes a augmenté ailleurs dans le monde.

 Après l'Irak (15) et le Mexique (8) viennent parmi les pays les plus dangereux depuis janvier le Pakistan (6 tués), la Géorgie (5), les Philippines (4), la Russie (4), la Thaïlande (4), l'Inde (3), la Colombie (2), le Venezuela (2), l'Afghanistan (2), la Somalie (2), la Croatie (2), le Nigéria (2) et le Sri Lanka (2).

 Une victime a également été recensée dans chacun de ces pays depuis janvier jusqu’au 31 octobre: Iran, République dominicaine, Equateur, Panama, Gaza, Bolivie, Ouganda, Honduras, Brésil, Niger, Népal, Guatemala, Burundi, Kenya, Cambodge et Zimbabwe.

PEC INFORME MENSUAL: Ocho víctimas mortales más en el mes de octubre. Se eleva a 79 el número de periodistas asesinados en 31 países - hasta el 31 de octubre de 2008. 

  Ocho periodistas han sido asesinados durante el mes de octubre en el ejercicio de su profesión, con lo cual asciende a 79 el número de víctimas fatales reportado en 31 países desde el inicio del año, anunció el lunes la Campaña Emblema de Prensa (PEC), en su informe mensual. 

  Croacia ha sido añadido a la lista de países de alta peligrosidad para la vida de los periodistas, tras el fallecimiento el pasado mes de dos periodistas a causa de la explosión de un coche-bomba en Zagreb. El informe de PEC precisa - asimismo - que esas dos víctimas fatales han sido las primeras en ese país desde el final de la guerra en 1995.

  La ola criminal no ha conocido respiro en México, donde otros dos periodistas fueron asesinados el pasado mes. Estas dos últimas muertes han ubicado a México como el segundo país de mayor riesgo en el mundo en este año. En lo que va de año, ocho periodistas han hallado la muerte en el país azteca en el desempeño de su trabajo.

  Con el asesinato de otro periodista en Iraq en octubre, ya son 15 las víctimas mortales (más de 265 desde 2003).

  La evolución de la situación en Tailandia, donde un periodista fue muerto en octubre, resulta muy preocupante. De enero a octubre, cuatro periodistas fueron objeto de ataques mortales.

  También en Sri Lanka un periodista murió el pasado mes en un atentado. Similar suerte corrió en Nigeria otro periodista muerto balazos.

  Desde el inicio del año, el sistema de monitoreo de PEC ha contabilizado el asesinato de 79 periodistas, contra 104 en el mismo período del año 2007. Esta baja del número de víctimas fatales en los últimos 10 meses se debe únicamente al hecho de que en Iraq este año los periodistas muertos fueron 15 en tanto el año precedente fueron 50. No obstante, el número de víctimas mortales ha aumentado en otros paises.

  El sistema de monitoreo de PEC (conocido como Media Ticking Clock) mantiene a Iraq (15 asesinados) por quinto año consecutivo como el lugar de mayor peligro de muerte para el trabajo de los medios, seguido este año de México (8), Pakistán (6), Georgia (5), Filipinas (4), Rusia (4), Tailandia (4), India (3), Colombia (2), Venezuela (2), Afganistán (2), Somalia (2), Croacia (2), Nigeria (2), Sri Lanka (2).
 
  En lo que va de año, en cada uno de los siguientes países también se reportó una víctima mortal: Irán, República Dominicana, Ecuador, Panamá, Gaza, Bolivia, Uganda, Honduras, Brasil, Níger, Nepal, Guatemala, Burundi, Kenya, Camboya y Zimbabwe,
entre el 1 de enero y el 31 de octubre del año en curso.

***30.10.08. INVITATION - The PRESS EMBLEM CAMPAIGN (PEC) is pleased to invite all UN Member States, UN concerned agencies and NGO's representatives to an informal meeting to discuss ways and means to protect journalists in conflict zones - This meeting will take place on THURSDAY 6 NOVEMBER 2008 - salle IX at the Palais des Nations in Geneva from 10.00 to 13.00 (see below letter to Ambassadors)

GENEVA, 30 October 2008 

Dear Ambassador,

   The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) and the International Covenant of Journalists (ICPJ) are pleased to invite you to a meeting to discuss ways and means to protect journalists in conflict zones.

   This consultation will take place on Thursday 6 November 2008 in room 9 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The meeting is expected to last from 10 to 13.00. The PEC and the ICPJ have invited all UN member states to take part in this initial process.

   After two short opening speeches by the PEC President and the PEC Secretary-General, the floor will be opened to each delegation.

   The PEC, supported by 35 journalists' associations around the world, has launched a global consultation on a draft convention in December 2007. The meeting will discuss the reactions to this consultation.

   Last year, 115 journalists were killed around the world. This year, since January till the close to the end of October, some 80 journalists were killed in 30 countries while performing their job as journalists.
   The hope of the PEC and the ICPJ is to reach an agreement among member states who would wish to volunteer to join a working group on this important issue. 

Please accept, Ambassador, our assurances of our highest consideration, 
                                           
Hedayat Abdel Nabi                                                        Blaise Lempen
PEC President                                                                 PEC Secretary-General

***24.10.08. La Presse Emblème Campagne (PEC) se félicite du soutien renouvelé apporté par l'Union internationale de la presse francophone (UPF) au projet de convention lors de ses 40emes assises qui ont eu lieu à Montréal du 15 au 18 octobre (lire communiqué de l'UPF ci-dessous)

"Lors des 40emes Assises de la Presse francophone qui ont eu lieu à Montréal du 15 au 18 octobre 2008, le comité international:

- a décidé d'attribuer pour l'année 2008, le "Prix de Libre expression" UPF-TV5 Monde à Moussa Kaka, journaliste nigérien

- sur proposition de sa Section suisse, l'UPF soutient l'idée d'une Convention internationale protégeant les journalistes dans les zones de conflit et de violences internes émise par l'organisation non gouvernementale Presse Emblème Campagne (PEC). Cette proposition devra être soumise à l'Organisation internationale de la Francophonie afin de faire adopter par les Etats et gouvernements francophones une convention semblable à celle de l'Unesco sur la protection et la promotion de la diversité des expressions culturelles

- s'est félicité de la mise en ligne de la nouvelle version du site UPF (www.pressefrancophone.
org)

- a procédé à l'élection ou à la réélection de
· Alfred DAN MOUSSA, président

· Amer OUMALOU, vice-président pour Ie Maghreb

· Edouard OUEDRAOGO, vice-président pour l'Afrique de l'Ouest

· Jean-Pascal N'DONG-OBIANG, vice-président pour l'Afrique centrale

· Philippe DESSAINT, vice-président pour l'Europe

· Francois STEVENIN, trésorier international

Rappelons que les deux vice-présidents internationaux sont Alain-Blaise
BATONGUE et Abdelmouna'im DILAMI et que Jean SAINT-CYR est vice-président
pour l'Amérique du Nord.

- a annoncé les deux prochaines Assises que le secrétariat international organisera

· du 3 au 8 avril 2009 en Algérie
· en novembre 2009 au Cameroun."

www.presse-francophone.org, courriel: union@presse-francophone.org

***01.10.08. PEC welcomes new Special Rapporteur. First meeting in Geneva between the PEC board and the UN Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression Frank La Rue

The new UN Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression Frank La Rue (right), a human rights lawyer and ex-journalist in Guatemala, with the PEC president Hedayat Abdel Nabi in Geneva (photo PEC) 

During the first meeting between the new UN Special Rapporteur, PEC President Hedayat Abdel Nabi and PEC Secretary-General Blaise Lempen, at Palais Wilson in Geneva, Frank La Rue has expressed his will to move forward quickly on the question of the protection of journalists. The PEC has submitted to the Rapporteur the draft proposal for an international convention. The creation of a working group with representatives of governments was discussed. A human rights lawyer and ex-journalist, born in Guatemala, Frank William La Rue is the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression since August 2008.

PEC Secretary-General Blaise Lempen with Frank La Rue at his Human Rights Office at Palais Wilson in Geneva, Oct 1rst (photo PEC) 

***01.10.08. PEC September Monthly Report - New Spiral of Violence in Iraq alarming - 71 journalists killed in nine months in 30 countries (texte en français après l'anglais) 

 GENEVA, October 1 (PEC) In their monthly report, the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) and the International Covenant for the Protection of Journalists (ICPJ) expressed today their serious concern at the escalating spiral of violence in Iraq where journalists were targeted to death.

 In September, four Iraqi journalists from one TV channel were kidnapped and killed and the President of the Iraqi Journalists Union (IJU) and co-founder of the PEC Moaid Al-Lamy was targeted, wounded and hospitalized on 20 September.

 From his bed in hospital recovering from his wounds Al-Lamy called upon the International Community to act and to find practical and legal means to defend journalists worldwide and in Iraq in particular.

 According to the PEC Media Ticking Clock (go to: www.pressemblem.ch), the total number of journalists killed from the beginning of the year now stands at 71 compared with 91 during
the same period in 2007.

  Eight Journalists were killed in September. In addition to the four journalists killed in Iraq, one was killed in Dagestan, on in Georgia, one in Mexico and the other in Thailand. The August figure was a record high of 15.

 In Sofia (Bulgaria) journalist Ognyan Stefanov was brutally attacked on 22 September, was hospitalized and recovered from his wounds. Two journalists were wounded in military operations in Bolivia. The situation remains very dangerous and serious in Somalia.

 Iraq remains the most deadly country for media work with 14 journalists killed from the beginning of 2008, followed by Pakistan where 6 journalists were killed, Mexico 6, Georgia 5, the Philippines 4, Russia 4, India 3, Thailand 3, Columbia 2, Venezuela 2, Afghanistan 2, Somalia 2.

 One journalist was killed in the following countries: Iran, Nigeria, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Panama, Gaza, Bolivia, Uganda, Honduras, Brazil, Niger, Nepal, Guatemala, Burundi, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Cambodia and Zimbabwe.

 The two organizations welcomed the statement made in Geneva on 13 September by the Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari that the Iraqi government will take steps to provide more protection for Iraqi journalists and correspondents reporting from the country.

 Zebari said that terrorists were targeting journalists to "murder the truth." Asked precisely whether he would support an International Convention for the Protection of Journalists in
conflict zones and other dangerous situations, Zebari said he would support any measures that would help the protection of journalists and that would help them to perform their job in a better environment.

 Another welcoming statement was made by the representative on Freedom of the Media of the Organization of Security and Cooperation (OSCE) Miklos Haraszti. Following the visit in Geneva of the president of the Independent Association of Georgian Journalists Zviad Pochkhua, the OSCE representative called for free access to journalists in South Ossetia and Abkazia covering the conflict zone in Georgia.

 In addition, the PEC and the ICPJ feel encouraged by the liberation of Burmese journalist U Win Tin (79 years old) after 20 years of detention in Burma. U win Tin is the recipient of the UNESCO Guillermo Cano of 2001. The PEC and the ICPJ voice their strong condemnation against the detention of journalists whether it is for short or long periods.

 The PEC renews its call upon UN member states to respond to its global consultation process on a new draft convention to protect journalists in conflict zones and other dangerous situations. The PEC urges States to respond to the draft before 31 October 2008..

 Iraq remains the most deadly country for media work with 14 journalists killed from the beginning of 2008, followed by Pakistan where 6 journalists were killed, Mexico 6, Georgia 5, the Philippines 4, Russia 4, India 3, Thailand 3, Columbia 2, Venezuela 2, Afghanistan 2, Somalia 2.

 One journalist was killed in the following countries: Iran, Nigeria, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Panama, Gaza, Bolivia, Uganda, Honduras, Brazil, Niger, Nepal, Guatemala, Burundi, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Cambodia and Zimbabwe.

 The two organizations welcomed the statement made in Geneva on 13 September by the Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari that the Iraqi government will take steps to provide more protection for Iraqi journalists and correspondents reporting from the country.

 Zebari said that terrorists were targeting journalists to "murder the truth." Asked precisely whether he would support an International Convention for the Protection of Journalists in
conflict zones and other dangerous situations, Zebari said he would support any measures that would help the protection of journalists and that would help them to perform their job in a better environment.

 Another welcoming statement was made by the representative on Freedom of the Media of the Organization of Security and Cooperation (OSCE) Miklos Haraszti. Following the visit in Geneva of the president of the Independent Association of Georgian Journalists Zviad Pochkhua, the OSCE representative called for free access to journalists in South Ossetia and Abkazia covering the conflict zone in Georgia.

 In addition, the PEC and the ICPJ feel encouraged by the liberation of Burmese journalist U Win Tin (79 years old) after 20 years of detention in Burma. U win Tin is the recipient of the UNESCO Guillermo Cano of 2001. The PEC and the ICPJ voice their strong condemnation against the detention of journalists whether it is for short or long periods.

 The PEC renews its call upon UN member states to respond to its global consultation process on a new draft convention to protect journalists in conflict zones and other dangerous situations. The PEC urges States to respond to the draft before 31 October 2008.

Rapport mensuel de la PEC - septembre 2008

  Nouvelle spirale alarmante de la violence en Irak – 71 journalistes tués en neuf mois depuis janvier dans 30 pays

 Genève, 1er octobre (PEC) - Dans leur rapport mensuel, la Presse Emblème Campagne (PEC) et le Pacte international pour la protection des journalistes (ICPJ) dénoncent la nouvelle spirale alarmante de la violence en Irak, où plusieurs journalistes ont été victimes d'attaques en septembre.

 Quatre journalistes d'une équipe de télévision ont été enlevés et tués et le président de l'Union des journalistes irakiens (IJU) et co-fondateur de la PEC Moaid Al-Lamy a été blessé le 20 septembre dans un attentat.

 De son lit d'hôpital, Moaid Al-Lamy a appelé la communauté internationale à passer à l'action et à trouver des moyens concrets pour renforcer la protection des journalistes sur le plan juridique dans le monde et en Irak en particulier.

 Selon la Media ticking clock de la PEC (voir: www.pressemblem.ch), 71 journalistes ont été tués en neuf mois depuis le début de cette année. Au cours de la même période de l'an dernier, 91 journalistes avaient été tués.

  En septembre, huit journalistes ont été victimes d'attaques mortelles : un au Dagestan, un en Géorgie, un en Thaïlande, un au Mexique et quatre en Irak, l'équipe de la télévision Al-Sharqiya à Mosul. En août, un nombre record de 15 journalistes avait succombé à des attaques.

 En outre, le journaliste Ognyan Stefanov a été sauvagement attaqué à Sofia (Bulgarie) et a dû être hospitalisé le 22 septembre. En Bolivie, deux journalistes ont été blessés pendant des opérations militaires. La situation reste également dramatique en Somalie.

 Depuis janvier, l'Irak reste le pays le plus dangereux, avec 14 employés des medias tués. Il est suivi par le Pakistan (6 tués), le Mexique (6), la Géorgie (5), les Philippines (4), la Russie (4), l'Inde (3), la Thaïlande (3), la Colombie (2), le Venezuela (2), l'Afghanistan (2) et la Somalie (2).

 Une victime a également été recensée dans chacun de ces pays depuis janvier: Iran, Nigéria, République dominicaine, Equateur, Panama, Gaza, Bolivie, Ouganda, Honduras, Brésil, Niger, Népal, Guatemala, Burundi, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Cambodge et Zimbabwe.

 La PEC et l'ICPJ saluent les déclarations du ministre irakien des Affaires étrangères Hoshyar Zebari, le 13 septembre à Genève, qui a affirmé que le gouvernement de Bagdad prendra des mesures pour renforcer la protection des journalistes en Irak.

 Zebari a déclaré que les groupes terroristes ciblent des journalistes pour "assassiner la vérité". A la question de savoir si l'Irak soutient le projet de convention internationale sur la
protection des journalistes dans les zones de conflit et de violences internes, Zebari a répondu qu'il soutiendra toute mesure qui pourrait aider à renforcer la protection des journalistes et à
leur permettre de travailler dans un environnement plus sûr.

 La PEC se félicite aussi de la prise de position du représentant pour la liberté d'expression de l'Organisation pour la sécurité et la coopération en Europe (OSCE) Miklos Haraszti, qui, à la suite de la visite du président de l'Association des journalistes géorgiens Zviad Pochkhua à Genève, a exigé le libre accès des journalistes aux zones de conflit en Géorgie, soit l'Ossétie du Sud et l'Abkhazie.

 La PEC salue en outre de la libération du journaliste birman U Win Tin (79 ans), Prix Guillermo Cano de l'UNESCO en 2001, après 20 ans d'incarcération en Birmanie, tout en condamnant avec la plus grande fermeté un si long emprisonnement.

 La PEC renouvelle son appel aux Etats pour qu'ils répondent à la consultation mondiale lancée sur un avant-projet de convention internationale destiné à renforcer la protection des journalistes dans les zones de conflit. La PEC les invite à envoyer leur réponse avant le 31 octobre 2008.

***22.09.08. Iraq: The Press Emblem Campaign appalled at the attack against the Iraqi  Syndicate of Journalists and his president Moaid Al-Lamy, co-founder of the PEC (Read also IFJ statement on page: Other News)

GENEVA, September 22 - The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) and theInternational Covenant for the Protection of Journalists (ICPJ) condemned strongly the targeting of the President of the Iraqi Syndicate of Journalists (ISJ) Moaid Al-Lamy and the attack against the ISJ headquarters
Saturday.

The PEC and the ICPJ were appalled and shocked at the heinous attack and wished well Mr. Al-Lamy who is currently in hospital.

In a phoner Monday with PEC President Hedayat Abdel Nabi, Al-Lamy called upon the international community to put an end to those attacks and to work on placing mechanisms for the protection of journalists and not rely on promises and words.

Facing death and escaping it by God's will, Al-Lamy called upon all concerned parties to put an end to the massacre of Iraqi journalists and expressed hope that the international community acts in a manner that shows its credibility and translates its promises into action and moves ahead to
protect the Iraqi journalists.

He stressed that the profession of journalism is an impartial profession based on narrating and uncovering the truth and therefore journalists deserve added protection faced in most conflicts with dangerous situations.

Mr. Al-Lamy is a co-founder of the PEC, he joined the movement on behalf of his Syndicate in June 2004. Mr. Al-Lamy established, with a team of journalists from across the globe, in Geneva on 10 September 2007, the ICPJ. He is the ICPJ Vice President for Asia.

The PEC and the ICPJ join hands in stressing that targeting the President of the ISJ for the second time in several months, the first attacked was the former President Shihab Al Tamimi who was killed when his car was attacked in Baghdad last February, a few days after he was hospitalized from his serious wounds, opens and re-opens the file of the protection of journalists and warrants the serious attention of the international community.

The media activist organizations call upon the Iraqi government and Iraqi parliament to pass the Iraqi Law for the Protection and Journalists presented by the ISJ.

The two NGOs based in Geneva have requested time and again that action is needed and that the time is pressing and dangers engulf journalists.

They are urging member states to act, within the Human Rights Council (HRC), or outside it, to start discussions on a legal instrument that would protect the media work in conflict zones and in dangerous situations.

Whether member states start with a binding declaration or guidelines en route to start deliberations on a new convention, the important issue is to start this process and not sit idle watching media workers targeted day and night all over the globe.

Watching media workers fall one after the other by member states might give the wrong impression to the media community that others "don't care".

***18.09.08. GEORGIA - visiting Geneva, the president of the Independent Association of Georgian Journalists requested the UN member States to discuss the needs for the legal protection of journalists in conflict zones. New member of the PEC, his association announces its support for a new legal instrument to protect journalists in conflict zones (go also to PRESS)

Zviad Pochkhua (right), president of the Association of Georgian Journalists, with the president of the Human Rights Council Ambassador Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi (Nigeria) at his office at the UN in Geneva during the 9th session of the Human Rights Council - the president of HRC strongly condemned targeted attacks against journalists as "crimes against humanity" (photo PEC)

Press conference at the Swiss Press Club: from left to right, Guy Mettan, director of the Swiss Press Club, Alexandre Curchod, PEC vice-president and legal adviser of the Swiss Federation of Journalists (Impressum) and Zviad Pochkhua, president of the Independent Association of Georgian Journalists (photo PEC) 

PEC – ICPJ joint statement - Human Rights Council President:
targeting journalists is a crime against humanity - The Independent Association of Georgian Journalists joins the PEC and the ICPJ, calls for free access in conflict zone 
 
GENEVA, September 18 (PEC-ICPJ) President of the Human Rights Council Ambassador Martin Ihoeghian Uhomohbhi of Nigeria said Wednesday that it is appalling, condemnable and undeserving that journalists be targeted when covering conflict situations.

   He added, in a meeting on Wednesday 17 September 2008 with the President of the Independent Association of Georgian Journalists Zviad Pochkhua, that this targeting is a crime against humanity, it is terrible and unacceptable. On his part Zviad Pockhkhua called upon the Council President to issue a presidential statement on the killing of journalists and requested a special event of the Council devoted to this tragedy.

   Zviad Pochkhua held two press conferences in Geneva in which he called upon the international community to exert pressure on Russia and Georgia to allow free and unhindered access to Georgian and foreign journalists in the conflict zone including Abkazia and South Ossetia, and stressed the importance of providing protection for journalists in the conflict zone. 

   He noted that there is a need to ensure that journalists work freely in conflict zones and must be able to move across check points and that special accreditation by the Russian ministry of foreign affairs must be lifted immediately. 

    Zviad Pochkhua announced that the Independent Association of Georgian Journalists and each member of the association supports the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) and requests that the UN member States discuss the needs for the legal protection of journalists in conflict zones. 

   Mr. Pochkhua accepted to represent the PEC and the ICPJ in the Caucasus and East Europe and will be engaged in mobilizing support for the new draft convention presented by the two organizations to UN member states on 7 December 2007.

   At the conclusion of the visit, the President of the Independent Association of Georgian Journalists, PEC President Hedayat Abdel Nabi and PEC Secretary-General Blaise Lempen met with a dozen representatives of UN member states and have agreed to meet informally at the end of October to discuss ways and means of moving forward on this important issue.

   Zviad Pochkhua was invited to Geneva following the killing of four journalists in the August/Russia/Georgian war by the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the International Covenant for the Protection of Journalists (ICPJ) and the Swiss journalists (IMPRESSUM). The aim of the visit was to mobilize all UN member States to pick up this important issue among their priorities.

Invited by the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), ICPJ and Impressum (Swiss Journalists' Federation), the president of the Independent Association of Georgian Journalists Zviad Pochkhua, also editor-in-chief of "The Financial" (Tbilissi) met in Geneva with the press, UN officials, the president of the Human Rights Council and diplomats. Extracts of his public report delivered in Geneva:

"Media in Conflict Zones, World media and Propaganda

Four journalists have been killed in the conflict zone (one foreigner and three Georgians), six journalists were wounded (three foreigners and three Georgians). Klimchuk, 27, who ran Caucasus Images, an independent photography agency in Tbilisi and was freelancing for Russian news agency ITAR-TASS at the time of his death; and Chikhladze, who was freelancing for Russian Newsweek, were both shot dead in the same incident on August 9 in South Ossetia - two days after fighting broke out in the area. Dutch journalist Stan Storimans, 39, (RTL) was killed wnhen Russian warplanes bombed Gori. Georgian reporter Tamar URushadze was shot and wounded when reporting on live TV from Gori.

Our association and each member of our staff support the Press Emblem Campaign, requests the Human Rights Council to discuss the needs for the legal protection of journalists in conflict zones. 
 
Georgian newspapers, which couldn’t get delivered to their destinations during August 2008, also saw losses. 

“As for the concrete number of our losses, we just presume that on the one day when we didn’t sell a thing, the loss suffered was GEL 142,500 (USD    ). Because of all these problems we reduced the circulation in 24 Hours to 500 pieces,” said Irakli Lejava, Marketing and Advertisement General Director of 24 Hours. 
 
Many companies in Georgia canceled planned ads in newspapers and TV's that resulted serious losses for media organizations. Some companies cut the jobs and fired journalists. 
 
Financing difficulties can deeper the problems in Local Media. We see a need of establishing new programs for assisting media in Georgia.

Russia's Prime Minister Putin told journalists last week he was surprised at “how powerful the propaganda machine of the so-called West is”. He has difficulty to understand how media can be free from the Kremlin. So, why western media supported Georgia? 
 
“Georgia was the only place from which the front line of the war was accessible”, Financial Times says. “Russia did not let any western journalists through the Russian border and into South Ossetia until August 12. If one was attempting to cover the war one could only do so from Gori”.
 
After the invasion foreign reporters in Gori were asked by Russian militants to get accreditation issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia. Journalists with national press-cards were not allowed to enter some villages.

On September 8 Polish reporters were detained by Russian troops. David Labadze, a Georgian correspondent for TVP, the Polish public broadcaster, said the crew was traveling to Karaleti in the Russian-controlled buffer zone between South Ossetia and Georgia. He said Russian troops at a checkpoint denied entry to the village after the crew members could not produce press accreditation issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry. When the crew tried an alternate route into Karaleti, he said, they were stopped and detained. 
 
Alyosha Beguluri, Georgian origin said on 14 September, he was beaten by Ossetians with their rifle butts and kicked them while leading them to a deserted area. 
 
Verifying the account was difficult in part because Russian soldiers at a checkpoint restricted movement on a main road from Georgian-controlled territory into South Ossetia and the surrounding area, Associated Press reported.
 
According to AP, “Journalists are not allowed through without advance permission, and there is no clear process for obtaining it. Diplomats and representatives of numerous aid organizations, including U.N. agencies, have been turned back several times in recent weeks”. 

I believe further restrictions in a conflict zone can lead to escalation of tension. Independent Association of Georgian Journalists calls for immediate action on that issue. Russia must respect rights of journalists to access conflict zones and work freely. Safety of journalists must be guaranteed. I would like to ask the President of the Human Rights Council to make a statement condemning attacks against journalists.   

Since the Russian invasion into Georgia, Georgian government blocked Russian internet resources. As officials stated decision was conditioned by Russian propaganda. CPJ, IFJ protested the internet ban. Independent Association of Georgian Journalists has joined other press freedom groups in calling for all restrictions to be lifted.
 
But in some cases ban on Russian news was imposed by companies itself. “We shut down only Russian news channels first, but soon when the Russian government started to use cultural channels for spreading it’s disinformation we blocked them too,” Nana Namoradze, Program Director of Ayety TV channel, told us.
 
The IFJ said it was worried that much of the Russian media coverage, in particular that of that main television networks, are under the political guidance of the Kremlin".
Zviad Pochkhua, President, Independent Association of Georgian Journalists, e-mail: editor@finchannel.com 

***14.09.08. FOUR TV JOURNALISTS KILLED IN IRAQ. PEC-ICPJ welcome announcement by Iraqi Foreign Minister for more protection for Journalists (for details, read the AFP and Reuters stories on our page PRESS)

GENEVA, September 14 - The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) and the
International Covenant for the Protection of Journalists (ICPJ) welcomed
today statements made by the Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari that the
Iraqi government will take steps to provide more protection for Iraqi
journalists and correspondents reporting from the country.

The PEC and the ICPJ join Zebari's strong condemnation of the killing of
four correspondents working with the Iraqi Al-Sharqiya channel, and those of
Al-Arabiya and other newspapers and news networks.

Zebari said that terrorists were targeting journalists to "murder the
truth."

Asked precisely whether he would support an International Convention for
the Protection of Journalists in conflict zones and other dangerous
situations, Zebari said he would support any measures that would help the
protection of journalists and that would help them to perform their job in a
better environment.

The PEC and the ICPJ also welcomed Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki
initiative to form a committee to investigate the murder of the four
journalists working with the local Al-Sharqiya channel.
On Saturday gunmen abducted and killed in cold blood four journalists of
the Iraqi Al-Sharqiya television station while they were shooting a Ramadan
program in Mosul, the largest city in the northern province of Nineveh.

Up to date for this month 6 journalists were killed in situations
where they were carrying their job and 68 since January.

***08.09.08. Letter addressed by the PEC to the President of the Human Rights Council Ambassador Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi (Nigeria) on the occasion of the opening of the 9th Session of the HRC. 

"Dear Ambassador Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi, 

Reference to our conversation following your press conference on 5 September 2008 on the extremely important issue of freedom of opinion and expression, please allow me to suggest that the important issue of the protection of journalists in conflict zones and in other dangerous situations shall be discussed during the current session of the Human Rights Council which has started today. 

When you have a look at the PEC-ICPJ report attached you will see the need to devote part of the session to the mentioned topic with relation to the need for legal protection of journalists in conflict zones and other dangerous situations. 

In addition, on behalf of the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) and the International Covenant for the Protection of Journalists, the two organizations believe that what more important to discuss in relation of freedom of opinion and expression than the protection of those freedoms on the 60th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights. 

It is again for those arguments that I and my colleagues in both campaigns are calling on the Human Rights Council to devote a special event during the December session for this important topic. 

A quick overview of the current situation of journalists show that 13 journalists have been killed during the month of August, a record high since October 2007.

Other examples of curbing of freedom of opinion and expression is the recent termination of the visa of al-Arabiya TV bureau chief Hassan Fahs to force him out of the country because Iran was unhappy with his reporting.

As I have asked you, do journalists count? My personal feeling is that if member states do not act to move the issue of their protection to the floor of the Council, then the answer is loud and clear: they don’t count.

However, I hope that the Council deals positively with the PEC-ICPJ request so that we do not draw the unnecessary conclusions.

Please find attached the PEC-ICPJ monthly report for August for the tally and situation of journalists in a snap shot.   

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of our highest consideration, 
                                         
Hedayat Abdel Nabi - PEC President - ICPJ Coordinator

Blaise Lempen - PEC Secretary-General"

***01.09.08. PEC monthly report - August 2008: 15 Journalists killed in August, highest tally since the beginning of the year (texte en français après l'anglais) (Consult also our pages PRESS, MEDIA TICKING CLOCK and OTHER NEWS)

 GENEVA , September 1 (PEC) The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) has registered 15 journalists killed during the month of August. This is the highest tally of victims in the media profession from the beginning of the year and since October 2007.

 The Georgia-Russia conflict, the situation in the Philippines and others, have brought the total of media victims since the beginning of the year to 63.

 From January to August 2007 the figures stood at 84 journalists killed (117 for the whole year). One of the reasons for the reduction in the 2008 tally up to date is due to an improvement in the situation in Iraq.

 Nevertheless, the situation has worsened in other places including Somalia where 3 journalists were kidnapped on 23 August, in the Kashmir region of India in Senegal where newspapers offices have been ransacked and journalists physically attacked.

   The PEC is outraged and strongly condemns the death of Magomed Yevloyev founder of the independent Ingush news website Ingushetia.ru in Nazran (Russia) on Sunday.

 During the month of August, four journalists were killed in the Georgian-Russian conflict, two in the South of the Philippines, one of the most dangerous places for journalists. Two were killed in Thailand and two in Pakistan, one in the Dominican Republic, one in Nigeria, one in Russia (Ingushetia), one in India (Kashmir) and one executed in Iran.

  Iraq remains the deadliest country for media coverage with 10 media workers killed since the beginning of the year, Pakistan 6, Mexico 5, the Philippines 4, Georgia 4, Russia 3, India 3, Thailand 2, Colombia 2, Venezuela 2, Afghanistan 2, Somalia 2.

 One journalist was killed since the beginning of the year in the following countries: Iran, Nigeria, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Panama, Gaza, Bolivia, Uganda, Honduras, Brazil, Niger, Nepal, Guatemala, Burundi, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Cambodia and Zimbabwe.

 The PEC reminds governments of the need to have added protection to journalists in conflict zones and other dangerous situations by entering in a serious exercise to develop a new convention.

 The recent decision by the Israeli army to drop the case of a Reuters cameraman who was killed during filming of an Israeli incursion into Gaza in April is proof that current legal provisions for the protection of journalists are lacking.

 The PEC has launched in December 2007 a global consultation process with governments in order to start deliberations on a new convention to protect journalists in zones of conflict and other dangerous situations.

 The Geneva based NGO welcomes the reaction of several governments who have responded in writing to the PEC initiative.

 However, other governments have not yet responded. The Geneva based NGO believes that this silent attitude to this important initiative raises serious questions about those governments dedication to freedom of expression.   

   Août, mois le plus tragique depuis le début de l'année: 15 journalistes tués

 Genève, 1er septembre (PEC) Quinze journalistes ont été tués pendant le mois d'août, a déploré lundi la Presse Emblème Campagne (PEC) dans son rapport mensuel. Il s'agit du bilan le plus élevé en un mois depuis le début de l'année et depuis octobre 2007.

 Le conflit entre la Russie et la Géorgie, mais aussi dans le sud des Philippines et ailleurs, a alourdi le bilan des victimes depuis le mois de janvier en le portant à 63 morts parmi les journalistes pour cette année.

 Comparativement, entre janvier et août 2007, 84 journalistes avaient été tués (117 sur toute l'année). La baisse du nombre des victimes par rapport à l'an dernier est due principalement à une amélioration en Irak. La situation ne s'est par contre pas améliorée dans d'autres régions, comme en Somalie où trois journalistes ont été enlevés le 23 août, au Cachemire indien et au Sénégal, où des journalistes ont été agressés et des bureaux de journaux attaqués. 

 La PEC est choquée et condamne fermement la mort de Magomed Yevloyev, fondateur du site web indépendant Ingushetia.ru, dimanche 31 août à Nazran (république russe d’Ingouchie).

 En août, quatre journalistes ont été tués dans le contexte du conflit en Géorgie, les 11 et 12 août. Au début du mois, deux journalistes ont été la victime d'attentats dans le sud des Philippines, en relation avec le conflit sur l'île de Mindanao, ce qui fait de ce pays l'un des plus dangereux.

 Deux journalistes ont également été assassinés en Thaïlande et deux au Pakistan. Un a été exécuté le 4 août en Iran, dans le Balutchistan. Un journaliste a été tué en République dominicaine, un au Nigéria, un en Inde (Cachemire).

  L'Irak reste le pays le plus dangereux, avec 10 employés des medias tués depuis janvier. Il est suivi par le Pakistan (6 tués), le Mexique (5 tués), les Philippines (4), la Géorgie (4), l'Inde (3), la Thaïlande (2), la Russie (2), la Colombie (2), le Venezuela (2), l'Afghanistan (2) et la Somalie (2).

 Une victime a également été recensée dans chacun de ces pays depuis janvier: Iran, Nigéria, République dominicaine, Equateur, Panama, Gaza, Bolivie, Ouganda, Honduras, Brésil, Niger, Népal, Guatemala, Burundi, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Cambodge et Zimbabwe.

 La PEC rappelle aux gouvernements la nécessité de renforcer la protection des journalistes dans les zones de conflit en élaborant une nouvelle convention internationale. La récente décision de l'armée israélienne de laisser sans suites l'affaire du char israélien qui a tué en avril à Gaza un cameraman de Reuters, clairement identifié, prouve la nécessité de compléter le droit existant et de le clarifier par des mesures spécifiques.

 La PEC a lancé en décembre dernier une consultation mondiale auprès des gouvernements afin de commencer les délibérations sur une nouvelle convention pour renforcer la protection des journalistes dans les zones de conflit et autres situations dangereuses. L'ONG basée à Genève salue la réaction de plusieurs gouvernements qui ont répondu à cette initiative.

 Cependant, d'autres Etats n'ont pas encore répondu. La PEC regrette ce silence qui pose de sérieuses questions sur l'attachement de ces gouvernements à la liberté de la presse.

***24.08.08. PEC-ICPJ call for special legal protection for journalists in the wake of
the Somalia abductions

GENEVA, August 24 (PEC-ICPJ) – The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) and the International Covenant for the Protection of Journalists (ICPJ) condemned today the abduction of Canadian journalist Amanda Lindhout and Australian photojournalist Nigel Brenan at KM13, western suburb of Mogadishu between Afgoye district and the capital city on Saturday 23 August 2008.

A Somali photojournalist Abdifatah Mohammed Elmi, who was helping the Canadian and Australian journalists as their translator and to take photos from places where the two journalists cannot go for security reasons, was also abducted as well as their driver Mahad.

The two foreign journalists arrived in Mogadishu on Wednesday 20 August 2008. Amanda, who is Baghdad based journalist, is freelance journalist France 24 and a Canadian broadcaster Global National News.

The PEC-ICPJ flag the need for a specialized convention for the protection of journalists in war zones and dangerous situations and calls upon the member-states parties to the Geneva convention to respond to the PEC-ICPJ call that journalism is a dangerous profession and to ensure for its members added legal protection.

***15.08.2008. 4 months after Shana's death, media community unable to bring the perpetrators to justice (for other reactions, click left on OTHER NEWS and PRESS)

    GENEVA, August 15 (PEC) – The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) alerts the media community to the fact that the Israeli Army investigation clearing a tank crew of any wrong-doing in the killing of Reuters' cameraman Fadel Shana in April in the Gaza Strip leaves several serious points open.

   The killed journalist Mr. Shana was wearing the commonly used press badge, another one was flagged on his car and camera.

   This case opens the file of what to do when a journalist is killed and the killers are exonerated from the charge.

   Many questions remain unresolved, that of compensation, that of impunity and the emotional and financial losses incurred on Mr. Shana's family.

   If impunity prevails then who will be tasked to take action against the killers?

   It is in this context that the PEC reiterates its call to join the PEC's 4-year campaign to put in place legal provisions that would be the guarantor of rights in such cases of outright impunity.

   This case, as well as others, lately in the Georgia-Russia conflict, shows that the path of words is over and further delay in acting collectively means more lives lost among the media community.

   Reuters, the employer of Shana, said it was told by the Israeli Defence Forces' Military Advocate-General that "troops could not see whether Shana was operating a camera or a weapon but were nonetheless justified in firing a shell packed with darts that killed him and eight other Palestinians aged between 12 and 20."

   Looking back, the Shana case today flags again a similar one that of Mazan Dana, another Reuters cameraman, whose camera was mistaken for a rocket launcher in front of Abu-Ghraib prison on 17 August 2003.

   Five years after Dana's death, shot by US soldiers in Iraq, the media community stands idle and impotent, unable to bring the perpetrators of their colleagues to justice.

   The PEC holds the responsibility of this injustice on the shoulders of those who still oppose a legal instrument to protect journalists in war zones and in other dangerous situations.

***12.08.2008. The PEC and the ICPJ strongly condemn the killing of journalists in the
Georgia/Russia conflict (Spanish after English) (go also to page: "Other news")

 The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) and the International Covenant of Journalists (ICPJ) condemn in the strongest possible manner the killing of journalists in the Caucasus conflict between
Georgia and Russia.

According to reports circulating a Dutch cameraman has been killed in Georgia, Dutch news agency ANP reported Tuesday citing foreign media sources.

In addition the same reports indicate a total of four journalists that are confirmed as having been killed in South Ossetia since start of the conflict between Georgia and Russia last week.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said that there are also reports of two journalists killed and at least two others wounded in South Ossetia.

According to those reports Georgian Alexander Klimchuk, a photojournalist working for Russian news agency Itar-Tass, and Grigol Chikhladze, a reporter for Russian *Newsweek*, were reportedly killed while covering fighting between the Russian and Georgian forces in the separatist
region.

Two other journalists travelling in the same car, Teymuraz Kikuradze and Winston Federly, were wounded. Other media reports have said that at least eight journalists have been injured while covering the conflict.

Thought the exact number of journalists killed and wounded is not yet clear, the PEC and the ICPJ join all media defending journalists to call upon Russian, Georgian and any other combat forces involved in the conflict in the region to respect the rights of media and protect their safety.

Though the PEC and the ICPJ believe that United Nations Security Council Resolution 1738 which says that media workers are classified as civilians in armed conflict and targeting journalists is considered a war crime, is an important stop forward, yet it is insufficient.

The current developments in the Caucuses call upon the International Community to look seriously into a new international convention to protect journalists in zones of conflict and elsewhere in dangerous situations.

This call has been flagged time and again by the PEC and the ICPJ and the current bloody conflict in the Caucuses is an important reminder of the urgency of the call.

PEC y el ICPJ condenan severamente el asesinato de periodistas en el
conflicto Georgia/Rusia

La Campaña Emblema de Prensa (PEC) y el Convenio Internacional de Periodistas (ICPJ)
condenan en los términos más enérgivcos el asesinato de periodistas en el conflicto del Cáucaso entre Georgia y Rusia.

La agencia de noticias holandesa ANP, que cita fuentes extranjeras, reportó el martes que un camarógrafo holandes había sido asesinado en Georgia. Asimismo, indicó que se había confirmado
que cuatro periodistas han sido asesinados en Osetia del Sur, desde que se iniciaron los enfrentamientos armados entre Georgia y Rusia la semana pasada.

La Federación Internacional de Periodistas (IFP) por su parte también ha dicho que hay informaciones de dos periodistas muertos y otros dos heridos en el Oestia del Sur.

De acuerdo con ambas informaciones, el georgiano Alexander Klimchuk, un fotoreportero que trabajaba para la agencia rusa Itar-Tass, y Grigol Chikhladze, reportero de la edición en ruso de
Newsweek, fueron reportados muertos mientras cubrian los enfrentamientos armados entre las fuerzas rusas y georgianas en la separatista región.

Otros dos periodistas, Teymuraz Kikuradze y Winston Federly, quienes viajaban en un mismo auto, resultaron heridos. Otros reportes de prensa señalan que por lo menos hay ocho periodistas que
han resultado heridos mientras cubrían el conflicto.

Aún cuando la cifra exacta de periodistas asesinados o heridos no está muy clara, las organizaciones PEC y ICPJ se suman a todas los medios que defienden a los periodistas para hacer un llamado a rusos y georgianos, asi como a otras fuerzas involucradas en el conflicto en esta región del Cáucaso, para que respeten los derechos de los medios de comunicación y proteger su seguridad.

Aunque PEC y el ICPJ consideran que la Resolución 1738 del Consejo de Seguridad de Naciones Unidas que afirma que los trabajadores de los medios de comunicación están clasificados como civiles en situaciones de conflicto armado, y que convertirlos en un objetivo es un crimen de guerra, es un importante paso hacia adelante, pero todavía es insuficiente.

Los acontecimientos en curso en el Cáucaso instan a la Comunidad Internacional a analizar seriamente hacia una nueva convención internacional para proteger a los periodistas en las zonas en conflicto y dondequiera que estén en situaciones peligrosas.

El presente llamamiento ha sido hecho en repetidas ocasiones, una y otra vez, por la PEC y el ICPJ y el actual conflicto sangriento en el Cáucaso constituye un importante recordatorio de
la urgencia del llamado hecho por ambas organizaciones no gubernamentales.

***31.07.2008. Moins de journalistes tués en juillet: les campagnes pour la protection des journalistes portent leurs fruits - (English and Spanish texts after French) (For more info go to MEDIA TICKING CLOCK, PRESS, OTHER NEWS)

 Genève (PEC), 31 juillet - Le nombre de victimes parmi les journalistes a baissé en juillet, a annoncé la Presse Emblème Campagne (PEC). Trois journalistes ont été tués dans l'exercice de leurs fonctions, un au Cambodge, un en Irak et un au Zimbabwe, ce qui porte à 48 le
nombre de victimes en sept mois depuis le début de cette année.

 "Les campagnes des organisations de défense des journalistes commencent à porter leurs fruits, afin que les employés des medias, en première ligne pour témoigner, soient mieux protégés ", a déclaré la présidente de la PEC Hedayat Abdelnabi.

 "C'est une bonne nouvelle pour la première fois depuis des mois. Il faut espérer que cette décrue se confirme dans les prochains mois", a affirmé le secrétaire général de la PEC Blaise Lempen.

 Comparativement, entre janvier et juillet 2007, 76 journalistes avaient été tués (117 sur toute l'année). Le mois de juillet est cependant habituellement plus calme: ainsi en juillet 2007, cinq
journalistes avaient été tués, contre 15 en juin 2007.

 La baisse du nombre de victimes résulte de la baisse d'intensité de certains conflits, notamment en Irak. L'Irak reste toutefois le pays le plus dangereux, avec 10 employés des medias tués depuis janvier.

 Il est suivi par le Mexique (5 tués), le Pakistan (4), la Russie (2), l'Inde (2), la Colombie (2), le Venezuela (2), les Philippines (2), l'Afghanistan (2) et la Somalie (2). Une victime a également été recensée dans chacun de ces pays depuis janvier: Equateur, Panama, Gaza (Israël), Bolivie, Ouganda, Honduras, Brésil, Niger, Népal, Guatemala, Burundi, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Cambodge et Zimbabwe.

  A quelques jours de l'ouverture des Jeux olympiques, la PEC rappelle en outre les autorités chinoises à leurs obligations pour un accès libre et sans entraves des journalistes à tout le
territoire chinois. La PEC regrette que l'accès reste très difficile au Tibet, ce qui y empêche une évaluation indépendante et impartiale de la situation. La PEC soutient l’appel de la Fédération internationale des journalistes (FIJ) aux autorités chinoises pour qu’elles garantissent le libre accès à Internet.

Fewer journalists killed in July: Campaigns for journalists' protection showing results

   GENEVA, 31 July (PEC) – According to the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) three journalists have lost their lives in the line of duty during the month of July, one in Cambodia, one in Iraq and one in Zimbabwe. The new figures step up the number of journalists killed since the beginning of the year to 48.
 
   PEC President Hedayat Abdel Nabi said that this reduction is part of the pressure mounted by press campaigners all over the world to spare journalists the brunt of conflict.

   According to the PEC Secretary-General Blaise Lempen this is good news that there is a reduction in the number of journalists killed this month, this is the first time in months that the tally among journalists has gone down. 

   Lempen expressed hope that this trend would be reinforced in the coming months. 

   Between January and July last year 76 journalists were killed (a total of 117 for 2007 as a whole). However July is a low intensity month in conflicts: last year 5 journalists were killed in July as against 15 in June 2007.

   The reduction in numbers is partly due to the decline in the intensity of conflicts notably in Iraq which remains the deadliest place for media work where 10 journalists have been killed from the beginning of the year. 

   The tally registered by the PEC shows that the deadliest countries after Iraq are: Mexico: 5 killed, Pakistan: 4, Russia: 2, India: 2, Colombia: 2, Venezuela: 2, the Philippines: 2, Afghanistan: 2, Somalia: 2.

   One journalist was killed since the beginning of the year in the following countries:
Ecuador, Panama, Gaza, Bolivia, Uganda, Honduras, Brazil, Niger, Nepal, Guatemala, Burundi, Sri-Lanka, Kenya, Cambodia and Zimbabwe.

   Ahead of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing, the PEC reminds the Chinese authorities of their obligation to guarantee free access for journalists in all parts of China.

   The PEC regrets that access to Tibet remains very difficult for journalists, which hinders an independent and impartial assessment of the situation. The PEC supports the International Federation of Journalists’ call on the Chinese authorities to grant journalists free access to Internet.

Menos periodistas asesinados en julio
La Campaña para la protección de los periodistas muestra resultados

GINEBRA, 31 jul (PEC) El número de periodistas víctimas descendió durante el mes de julio, anunció a la Campaña Emblema de Prensa (PEC), al dar a conocer su informe correspondiente a ese mes. Tres periodistas fueron asesinados en el ejercicio de sus funciones, uno en Camboya, otro en Iraq y uno en Zimbabwe, lo que significa que la cifra de víctimas en los siete primeros meses del año se eleva a 48.
 
           “Las campañas de las organizaciones de defensa de los periodistas comienzan a dar sus frutos, a fin de que el personal de los medios, que están en primer línea para testimoniar, sean mejor protegidos”, ha declarado aquí la Presidenta de PEC, Hedayat Abdel Nabi.
 
           Por su parte, el secretario general de PEC, Blaise Lempen, ha puesto el acento en que “es una buena noticia el hecho de que por primera vez en muchos meses, el número de víctimas haya bajado”. Sin embargo, apuntó “habrá que esperar si esta disminución se confirma en los próximos meses”.
 
           Comparativamente, entre enero y julio de 2007, 76 periodistas habían sido asesinados (117 sobre el conjunto del año). El mes de julio sin embargo es habitualmente de menor intensidad en los conflictos. Es así que en julio del pasado año se reportaron cinco periodistas asesinados, contra 15 en el mes precedente de ese mismo año.
 
           La reducción en el número de victimas puede haber estado asociada justamente a una disminución de la intensidad en algunos conflictos, particularmente el de Iraq. De todas maneras, Iraq sigue siendo el país de mayor nivel de peligrosidad, con 10 periodistas asesinados desde enero del año en curso.

           En peligrosidad, según los datos de PEC, le siguen México con cinco periodistas asesinados, Pakistán (4), Rusia (2), India (2), Colombia (2), Venezuela (2), Filipinas (2), Afganistán (2) y Somalia (2). El sistema de monitoreo de PEC ha censado desde enero una víctima moral en cada uno de los siguientes países: Ecuador, Panamá, Bolivia, Uganda, Honduras, Brasil, Níger, Nepal, Guatemala, Burundi, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Zimbabwe y Camboya, así como en la ocupada Franja de Gaza.
 
           A escasos días de la apertura de los Juegos Olimpicos en Pekin, la organización no gubernamental PEC ha recordado a las autoridades chinas sus obligaciones de facilitar un acceso libre y sin obstáculos a los periodistas sobre todo el territorio chino. PEC lamenta que el acceso se mantenga difícil al Tibet, lo que impide una evaluación independiente e imparcial de la situación.

***30.06.08. PEC June monthly report: 7 journalists killed in June, 45 in six months

GENEVA, June 30 – According to the Press Emblem Campaign Ticking
Clock (PECTC) 45 journalists were killed during the first 6 months of 2008
which brings the total tally from January 2006 to 256.

During this month 7 journalists were killed, 2 in Venezuela, one in
Somalia, one in Afghanistan, one in Iraq, one in Ecuador and one in the Philippines.

This tally for June steps up the number of journalists killed from the
beginning of the year to 45 as compared to 115 for the whole of 2007 and 221
in two years since June 2006.

The media casualties this month have decreased in Iraq, however they
continue to take place in other parts of the world.

The PEC welcomes the new monument unveiled in London by the UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon this month.

The new monument pays tribute to journalists and media workers killed in
the course of their jobs.

It is a 10-metre-high glass sculpture "Breathing" atop the BBC's
headquarters in London .

Ban Ki-Moon marked the light that shines 900 metres into the sky that it
is a "a solemn reminder of those who have lost their lives giving voice to the voiceless".

***12.06.08. La PEC dénonce l'obstruction de Cuba à l'ONU - The PEC denounces Cuba's obstruction at the UN - PEC denuncia obstruccion de Cuba en la ONU (Spanish and English text after French)

 Genève, 12 juin (PEC) La Presse Emblème Campagne (PEC), une ONG
enregistrée à Genève, a dénoncé aujourd'hui l'obstruction de Cuba à
l'obtention de son statut consultatif au sein de l'ONU.

 Lors de la session du comité des ONG du Conseil économique et
social (ECOSOC), réuni du 29 mai au 6 juin à New York, le délégué
cubain a demandé des éclaircissements sur les activités de la PEC.
La PEC a été dans l'impossibilité d'y répondre, puisque Cuba s'est
manifesté uniquement le dernier jour de la session, ce qui n'a pas
permis d'adopter la décision sur le statut consultatif de la PEC à
l'ONU à cette session (voir ECOSOC/6341/ONG/643).

 "Nous soupçonnons Cuba d'avoir voulu faire obstacle à la
participation aux travaux des organes de l'ONU d'une ONG qui se bat
pour la protection des journalistes" a déclaré le secrétaire
général de la PEC Blaise Lempen.

 "Le vrai visage de Cuba n'a pas changé, celui d'un régime
hostile à la liberté de la presse", a-t-il ajouté. Au moins 216
journalistes ont été tués dans plus de 30 pays depuis la création
du Conseil des droits de l'homme il y a deux ans en juin 2006.

 Maria Simon Rodriguez, vice-présidente de la PEC responsable
pour l'Amérique latine, appuyant les déclarations du secrétaire
général, a déclaré que l'attitude de Cuba ne l'a pas surprise. La
Havane rejette totalement l'existence d'une presse indépendante
ainsi que l'idée d'un contrôle extérieur, comme il l'a démontré
pendant des années vis-à-vis des mécanismes des droits de l'homme
de l'ONU.

 La PEC critique le fait que des Etats décident de la
participation des ONG aux travaux de l'ONU. Celle-ci devrait être
décidée de manière indépendante selon des critères techniques, par
le secrétariat de l'organisation des Nations Unies, et non selon
des critères politiques par un comité composé uniquement de
quelques Etats membres de l'ONU. 

 PEC DENUNCIA OBSTRUCCION DE CUBA EN LA ONU

 GINEBRA, 12 jun (PEC) La Campaña Emblema de Prensa (PEC por sus
siglas en inglés), una organización no gubernamental radicada en
Ginebra, Suiza, denunció la obstrucción de Cuba a que esta ONG
obtuviese un estatuto consultivo en las Naciones Unidas.

 Durante la sesión del Comité del Consejo Económico y Social
(ECOSOC) encargado de las ONG efectuada en Nueva York entre el 29
de mayo y el 6 de junio pasados, el delegado de Cuba presentó
preguntas sólo en el último día de la reunión, lo que hizo
imposible seguir adelante con la aplicación de la PEC (ver
ECOSOC/6341/NGO/643).

 El Secretario General de PEC, Blaise Lempen, dijo que la PEC
teme que la obstrucción de Cuba es el resultado de su posición en
contra de la participación de una ONG con un mandato para la
protección de los periodistas en las deliberaciones de la ONU.

 Lempen agregó que Cuba ha mostrado su cara de un régimen que es
hostil a la libertad de prensa. Al menos 216 periodistas han sido
asesinados en servicio desde la creación del Consejo de Derechos
Humanos hace dos años, subrayó.

 La Vicepresidenta de la PEC para América Latina, María Simón
Rodríguez, apoyó las declaraciones del Secretario General y dijo
que no le sorprendía la posición adoptada por Cuba, un país
totalmente negado a la existencia de una prensa independiente, y a
cualquier tipo de control o supervisiones, tal como lo ha
demostrado durante los largos años que estuvo sometida a relatoría
en los mecanismos de derechos humanos de la ONU.

 La PEC rechaza el que un pequeño grupo de Estados miembros
decida el destino de la participación de las organizaciones no
gubernamentales en la labor de las Naciones Unidas. Estas
decisiones deberán ser el resultado de una evaluación independiente
sobre la base de criterios técnicos y debe dejarse a la Secretaría
de la ONU el tomar las decisiones para impedir maniobras políticas.

   The PEC denounces Cuba's obstruction at the UN

 GENEVA, June 12 (PEC) The Press Emblem Campaign (PCE) a
registered non-governmental organization in Geneva, Switzerland,
denounces the obstruction of Cuba for obtaining consultative status
at the United Nations.

 During the session of the NGO Committee of the Economic and
Social Council (ECOSOC) in New York which met between 29 May and 6
June, Cuba's delegate presented questions only on the final day of
the meeting which made it impossible to proceed at this session
with the application of the PEC (see ECOSOC/6341/NGO/643). 

 PEC Secretary-General Blaise Lempen said that the PEC fears that
Cuba's obstruction is a result of its stand against the
participation of an NGO with a mandate for the protection of
journalists in the deliberations of the UN.

 Lempen added that Cuba has shown its face of a regime which is
hostile to press freedom. At least 216 journalists has been killed
in the line of duty in more than 30 countries since the creation of the Human
Rights Council two years ago, he stressed.

 PEC Vice-President in charge of Latin America Maria Simon
Rodriguez supported the statement of the PEC Secretary-General. She
said she was not surprised by the position adopted by Cuba, a
country hostile to independant media and to any external
monitoring, a common practice which Cuba has demonstrated for many                               years in relation to UN Human rights mechanisms.

 The PEC objects that a small group of member states decide the
fate of the participation of NGOs in the work of the UN. Such
decisions must result from an independent assessment based on
technical criteria and must be left to the UN secretariat to
prevent political manoeuvring.

***09.06.08. Deeply shocked, the PEC condemns the killing of two BBC correspondents in Somalia and Afghanistan (see also on page: other news) Spanish text below

 GENEVA, 9 June (PEC) -- Deeply shocked, the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) condemns in the strongest possible manner the targeted assassination of two journalists, National Union of Somali Journalists' (NUSOJ) Vice President Nasteh Dahir Farah, who was gunned down by gunmen southern town of Kismayu (Somalia) on Saturday 7 June, and Afghan journalist Abdul Samad Rohani. Both were correspondents for the BBC.   Abdul Samad Rohani was kidnapped on Saturday in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province and his body was found on Sunday in Lashkar Gah.   
 
  While Nasteh Dahir Farah was on his way back home, he was attacked by armed men who shattered bullets at his stomach and chesty. Nasteh, who works for BBC Somali Service and also as a Freelancer for Reuters News Agency, died at the hospital 10 minutes after he was admitted. Nasteh was elected NUSOJ Vice President in 2005 at the General Assembly of the union in Mogadishu. NUSOJ is a PEC member.

  Jim Boumelha, IFJ President commented on the targeted killing of the Vice President of the NUSOJ by saying "it's time for action not words from governments to address the crisis in Somalia". "There could not be more brutal nor convincing evidence of the need for an urgent international response," added Boumelha. 

  "It has been a horrifying weekend for journalists. Their deaths must inspire us to practical action to help protect journalists", he stressed.

  The PEC welcomes the statement of the IFJ President and hopes that his position would lead the IFJ to support the current movement of the Geneva based NGO for an international convention to protect journalists in conflict zones. 

  The Geneva based NGO presents its sincere condolences to the families of the fallen victims, to the NUSOJ's Secretary-General Omar Faruk Osman and to the BBC chairman Sir Michael Lyons. 

  The weekend casualties among journalists steps up the number of journalists killed since the beginning of 2008 to 41 and 216 since the creation of the PEC Media Ticking Clock at the occasion of the creation of the Human Rights Council in June 2006 two years ago. For governments, it is not too late to participate in the PEC's global consultation on a new draft convention.

PEC declaración - Profundamente choqueada, PEC condena el asesinato de dos corresponsales de la BBC en Somalia y Afganistan

   GINEBRA, jun 9 (PEC) – Profundamente choqueada, la Campaña Emblema de Prensa (PEC por sus siglas en inglés) condena fuertemente el asesinato de dos periodistas, respectivamente el Vicepresidente e la Unión Somalí de Periodistas (NUSOJ), Nasteh Dahir Farah, quien fue balaceado por un individuo en el pueblo somalí de Kismayu el sábado 7 de junio, y el periodista afgano Abdul Samad Rohami. Ambos eran corresponsales de la BBC de Londres.

  Abdul Samad Rohani fue secuestrado el sábado en la provincia sureña de Helmand, en Afganistán, y su cuerpo fue encontrado el domingo en Lashkar Gah.

  Nasteh Dahir Farah fue atacado en el camino de regreso por un hombre armado cuando regresaba a su casa. Su estómago y su pecho quedaron destrozados por los impactos de bala. Nasteh, quien trabajaba para el servicio somalí de la BBC, también colaboraba como independiente (freelancer) para la Agencia de Noticias Reuters, murió en el hospital 10 minutos después de haber sido admitido. Nasteh fue elegido Vicepresidente de NUSOJ en 2005 durante la Asamblea General de la Union en Mogadiscio.

  El Presidente de la FIP, Jim Boumelha, al comentar el asesinato dirigido del Vicepresidente de NUSOJ, dijo “Es tiempo para la acción, no para las palabras que los gobiernos dirigen sobre la crisis en Somalia”. “No debe haber mayor brutalidad ni evidencias más convincentes de la necesidad de una respuesta internacional urgente”, agrego Boumelha.

  Asimismo, subrayó “Ha sido un horroroso fin de semana para los periodistas. Sus muertes deben inspirarnos a realizar acciones prácticas para ayudar a proteger a los periodistas”.   

    PEC agradece la declaración del presidente de la FIP y espera que su posición pueda conducir a la FIP a respaldar el movimiento que desarrolla PEC en Ginebra, donde radica la sede de esta ONG, destinado a obtener una convención internacional para la protección de los periodistas en zonas de conflicto.   

  La ONG basada en Ginebra presenta sus más sinceras condolencias a las familias de las victimas caídas, al Secretario General de N USOJ, Omar Faruk Osman, y al Presidente de la BBC, Sir Michael Lyons.

  Las víctimas de fin de semana entre periodistas elevan el número de periodistas asesinados desde el inicio de 2008 a 41, y a 216 desde la creación del sistema de monitoreo de PEC, conocido como Media Ticking Clock, establecido hace dos años en ocasión de la creación del Consejo de Derechos Humanos, en junio de 2006.

***31.05.2008. PEC statement - May monthly report: 214 journalists killed since the creation of the Human Rights Council, says the PEC, calls upon the Council to organize a special event on the protection of journalists  (FRENCH and SPANISH texts after English)   

    The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) expresses its extreme worry at the number of journalists killed since the first session of the current Human Rights Council June 2006 to May 2008 - reaching 214 journalists killed in two years because of the nature of their work. 

   From the beginning of the year 38 journalists were killed and in May, 10 were killed: 3 in Iraq, one in Guatemala, one in India, one in Burundi, one in Pakistan, one in Sri Lanka, one in Colombia and one in Kenya.
    Iraq remains the most deadly working arena for journalists where 8 journalists were killed since January, followed by Mexico 6, Pakistan 4, Russia 2, India 2, Colombia 2. 

   Attacks against journalists and media installations continue unabated in Iraq , Somalia and Sri Lanka . In Zimbabwe the independent media are intimidated and the PEC fears that more acts of violence would evolve before the next elections at the end of June. 

   In Burma , the PEC has condemned the lack of timely access to information in the disaster zones as gross human rights violation affecting the right of thousands to receive humanitarian aid. In Lebanon , the PEC condemns the attacks against media installations during the recent internal unrest. 

 Journalists are a fundamental element towards ensuring press freedoms and they require appropriate protection and security in order to adequately perform their work.

   The PEC, supported by the International Covenant to Protect Journalists (ICPJ), believes that the international community must continue to discuss ways and means to enhance the protection of journalists not only to prevent further casualties in the future, but also to put an end to impunity.

   The two organizations call upon the Human Rights Council to act in organizing soon, during the year of the 60 th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a special event on the protection of journalists marking the remarkable contribution journalists have made toward democratic rule, towards unveiling the gross human rights violations and towards enhancing freedom of expression.

    The PEC and the ICPJ believe that such an event must send a message to the media community and the world that underscores that the defenders of human rights do care for the well being and protection of journalists across the globe and in all circumstances.

   The PEC reminds States who have not done so until now to expedite their responses to its global consultation on a draft convention to protect journalists in zones of conflict and unrest sent out on 7 December 2007 . 

   The Geneva based NGO rejoices at the conclusion of the treaty to ban cluster munitions which puts in place an additional mechanism to enforce international law.

   The PEC believes that such a successful endeavor was made possible because of the political will of the participants and further stresses that this will could be applied in other circumstances where there are existing gaps in IHL.

   "If there is a will there is a way forward," says the PEC. 

VERSION FRANçAISE

 214 journalistes tués depuis la création du Conseil des droits de l’homme il y a deux ans, selon la PEC, qui demande au Conseil d’organiser une réunion spéciale sur la protection des journalistes

  La Presse Emblème Campagne (PEC) est extrêmement préoccupée par le grand nombre de journalistes tués depuis la première session du Conseil des droits de l’homme en juin 2006. Jusqu’à la fin mai 2008, 214 journalistes ont été tués en deux ans dans l’exercice de leur métier.

  Depuis le début de cette année, 38 journalistes sont morts, dont 10 au mois de mai : trois en Irak, un au Guatemala, un en Inde, un au Burundi, un au Pakistan, un au Sri Lanka, un en Colombie et un au Kenya.

  L’Irak reste le pays le plus dangereux, avec 8 employés des medias tués depuis janvier. Il est suivi par le Mexique (6 tués), le Pakistan (4), la Russie (2), l’Inde (2), la Colombie (2).

  Les attaques contre les journalistes et les installations des medias se poursuivent sans interruption en Irak, en Somalie et au Sri Lanka. Au Zimbabwe, les medias indépendants sont intimidés : la PEC redoute davantage d’actes de violence d’ici aux prochaines élections fin juin. 

  En Birmanie, la PEC a condamné le manque d’accès, en temps opportun, à l’information dans les zones touchées par le cyclone Nargis. Il s’agit d’une grave violation des droits de l’homme remettant en question le droit de milliers de personnes à recevoir une aide humanitaire. Au Liban, la PEC a condamné les attaques visant des installations de medias pendant les récentes violences.

  Les journalistes sont un élément fondamental de la liberté de la presse et ils nécessitent une protection adéquate de manière à pouvoir accomplir leur travail.

  La PEC, soutenue par l’International Covenant to Protect Journalists (ICPJ), invite la communauté internationale à continuer de discuter les moyens de renforcer la protection des journalistes non seulement afin de prévenir de futures victimes, mais aussi afin de mettre un terme à l’impunité.

  Les deux organisations demandent au Conseil des droits de l’homme d’organiser rapidement, pendant l’année du 60e anniversaire de la Déclaration universelle des droits de l’homme, une réunion spéciale consacrée à la protection des journalistes pour souligner leur contribution remarquable à la démocratie, à la lutte contre les violations des droits de l’homme et à la défense de la liberté d’expression.

  La PEC et l’ICPJ affirment qu’un tel événement enverra un message fort à la communauté médiatique et au monde soulignant que les défenseurs des droits humains se préoccupent de la sécurité des journalistes à travers le monde en toutes circonstances.

  La PEC demande aux Etats qui ne l’ont pas encore fait de répondre rapidement à la consultation mondiale qu’elle a lancée sur un avant-projet de convention internationale dans les zones de conflit et de violences internes, envoyé le 7 décembre 2007.

  L’ONG basée à Genève se félicite de l’adoption à Dublin d’un traité interdisant les armes à sous-munitions, un mécanisme additionnel assurant un meilleur respect du droit international humanitaire.

  La PEC estime qu’un tel succès a été possible grâce à la volonté politique des participants. Elle souligne que dans d’autres contextes, il est également possible de compléter le droit international humanitaire par des mécanismes d’application efficaces.

  «Lorsqu’il y a une volonté politique, il est toujours possible de progresser», déclare la PEC.

SPANISH VERSION

PEC comunicado – Informe del mes de mayo

214 periodistas asesinados desde la creación del Consejo de Derechos Humanos, asegura la PEC. Pide al Consejo que organice una sesión especial sobre la protección de los periodistas.

  La Campaña Emblema de Prensa (PEC por sus siglas en ingles) expresa su extrema preocupación por el número de periodistas asesinados desde el primer periodo de sesiones del actual Consejo de Derechos Humanos, de junio de 2006 a mayo de 2008: 214 periodistas han sido asesinados en esos dos años debido a la naturaleza de su trabajo.

   Desde el inicio de este año, 38 periodistas han sido asesinados. Durante el mes de mayo 10 fueron asesinados, 3 en Iraq, uno en Guatemala, uno en la India, uno en Burundi, uno en Pakistán, uno en Sri Lanka, uno en Colombia y uno in Kenya.
 
 Iraq sigue siendo el escenario de trabajo más mortífero para los periodistas. Desde enero, 8 periodistas perdieron la vida en Iraq. Le siguen México con 6, Pakistan (4), Rusia (2), India (2) y Colombia (2).

   Los ataques contra los periodistas y las instalaciones de los medios de comunicación no cesan en Iraq, Somalia y Sri Lanka. En Zimbabwe, los medios de comunicación independientes son objeto de intimidaciones y la PEC teme de que se produzcan más actos de violencia antes de las próximas elecciones a finales de junio.
 
  En Birmania, la PEC ha condenado la falta de acceso oportuno a la información en las zonas de desastre como una grave violación de los derechos humanos que afectan al derecho de miles de personas a recibir ayuda humanitaria. En el Líbano, la PEC condena los ataques contra las instalaciones de los medios de comunicación durante los recientes disturbios internos.
 
  Los periodistas son un elemento fundamental para garantizar la libertad de prensa y por ello requieren de protección y seguridad apropiadas para realizar adecuadamente su labor.

    La PEC, apoyada por el Pacto Internacional para la Protección de los Periodistas (ICPJ por sus siglas en inglés), cree que la comunidad internacional debe seguir examinando las formas y medios para aumentar la protección de los periodistas no sólo para evitar nuevas víctimas en el futuro, sino también para poner fin a la impunidad.

    Las dos organizaciones piden al Consejo de Derechos Humanos que reaccione pronto, durante este año del 60 º aniversario de la Declaración Universal de Derechos Humanos, y organice una sesión especial sobre la protección de los periodistas, marcando así la notable contribución que los periodistas han hecho hacia el establecimiento de reglas democráticas, la revelación de graves violaciones de los derechos humanos y para aumentar las libertades de prensa.

   La PEC y el ICPJ creen que tal evento debe enviar un mensaje a los medios de comunicación y la comunidad mundial que ponga de relieve que los defensores de los derechos humanos hacen lo mejor por el bienestar y la protección de los periodistas en todo el mundo y en todas las circunstancias.

   La PEC recuerda a los Estados que hasta ahora no se han pronunciado que expidan sus respuestas a la consulta global sobre un proyecto de convención para proteger a los periodistas en zonas de conflicto y disturbios enviado el 7 de diciembre de 2007.

    La ONG con sede en Ginebra se regocija de la conclusión del tratado para prohibir las municiones de racimo, el cual introduce un mecanismo adicional para hacer cumplir el derecho internacional.

   La PEC considera que tal éxito fue posible debido a la voluntad política de los participantes (en las negociaciones) y señala, además, que esto podría aplicarse en otras circunstancias donde hay lagunas existentes en derecho internacional humanitario.
 
 “Si hay una voluntad hay un camino a seguir," afirma la PEC. (fin)
 

***15.05.08. IRAQ. The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) worried by new findings: a US military source claimed that the US army deliberately targeted Hotel Palestine in Baghdad leading to the death of two journalists at the start of the war in 2003.

The attack by a US tank on the Palestine Hotel in central Baghdad on April 8th 2003, the day before Baghdad fell, led to the killing of Spanish journalist Jose Couso, a cameraman for the network Telecinco, and Ukraine-born Reuters cameraman Taras Protsyuk. A number of others were injured in the hotel which was home to around 150 journalists and media staff at the time.

This week in a revelation to the internet news and current affairs broadcaster Democracy Now! former army Sgt. Adrienne Kinne reveals she saw secret US military documents that listed the hotel as a possible target, exposing as a cover-up the United States claim that the attack on the hotel was an accident. She also claims she was personally ordered to eavesdrop on Americans working for news media and NGOs working in Iraq.

The PEC joined the International Federation of journalists (IFJ) stating that: "This latest information adds to our concern that the failure to properly investigate and report on this attack is covering up the reality that the United States was recklessly putting media lives at risk". The need for full disclosure is further reinforced, says the IFJ, by the decision of a Spanish court on Tuesday to throw out murder charges against three US soldiers accused of killing Jose Couso at the Palestine Hotel, citing grounds of "insufficient evidence." The National Court in Madrid scrapped the charges laid by Judge Santiago Pedraz in April 2007 against US Sergeant Thomas Gibson, Captain Philip Wolford and Lieutenant Colonel Philip de Camp ordering the case to be definitively dismissed. "Efforts to achieve justice have been actively thwarted by the scandalous refusal of the United States to co-operate with the courts in providing information," said Aidan White. 

The IFJ also says that the US airstrike attack on the offices of the Arab satellite channel Aljazeera on the morning of the same day which led to the death of reporter Tareq Ayyoub has never been properly explained. The US is also under fire over the killing of the UK television journalist Terry Lloyd in Basra at the start of the war. Three members of an ITN news team, including cameraman Fred Nerac and Hussein Osman, were killed. But a British court says that in Lloyd's case the US military were culpable.

"There has been an intolerable denial of justice in all of these cases," said White. PEC supports IFJ call for "a comprehensive, independent and inclusive investigation that clears the air, dispenses with lies and deception and tells the truth about American involvement in these tragic incidents."   

Click here for the Democracy Now! report:
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/5/13/fmr_military_intelligence_officer_reveals_us

***13.05.08. The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) strongly condemns the recent wave of attacks on the Lebanese media (for more reports go to: Other News)

According to information gathered by the PEC and other groups, the recent eruption of armed clashes between pro-government and opposition militiamen in Lebanon have included several attacks on both journalists and media outlet offices.

During the early morning of 9 May, mortar rockets were fired at the headquarters of the pro-government Future Media Group, which houses Future TV, the Future News channel, and Radio Orient. Soon thereafter, gunmen loyal to the main opposition group, Hezbollah, surrounded the building and threatened to open fire if employees did not immediately stop broadcasting.

On the same day, Hezbollah gunmen set fire to the offices of the Al-Mustaqbal daily in Beirut’s Ramlet al-Bayda district. Al-Mustaqbal also belongs to the Future Media Group, owned by the parliamentarian Saad Hariri, son of slain Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. 

Wadi Shlink and Asad Ahmed, photographers working for newspaper Sada al Balad, and photographer Mahmmoud Al-Tawil were also reported to have been injured in attacks while covering clashes. In addition, Sada al Balad reporters Diana Skeni and Ali Halawa were injured in other attacks.

Moreover, in a separate incident on 12 May, two Al-Jazeera cameramen, Ayman Al-Mawla and Mahir Al-Murr, were injured while filming clashes close to the Al-Jazeera offices in the Clementau district of Beirut.

***08.05.08. The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) denounces in the strongest possible manner denial of access to journalists in Burma and joined Article 19 call on the Burmese authorities. A new dimension has been added with the absence of medias from covering natural disasters like that of the Myanmar Cyclone Narges catastrophe. Access to information must be enabled to ensure effective relief in aftermath of cyclone. 

  The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) denounces in the strongest possible manner the Burmese government's denial of access to media and humanitarian workers to cover the aftermath of the Cyclone Narges catastrophe in Myanmar.

   Reports indicate that more than 80,000 people have perished in the catastrophe and that if humanitarian aid is not received promptly the spread of disease could lead to more casualties.

   The issue of freedom of access to information is now taking a new dimension, it is not only an issue in conflict zones, civil unrest and other situations but is becoming a crucial issue in Burma facing a natural disaster of unprecedented proportions.

   PEC president Hedayat Abdel Nabi says that this is only one facet of the media crisis worldwide.

   Abdel Nabi added that natural disasters as that of Burma have compounded the crisis because in this case the lives of thousand of people are at stake if access continues to be denied to journalists and humanitarian aid workers.

   The Human Rights Council, she said, will hold a special session on the Food Crisis on May 23, it is time now for a special event in the council on the media crisis in June.   

   "Timely access to information can save many lives", added PEC Secretary-General Blaise Lempen. "The question of access to information in disaster zones must be addressed in an urgent manner by the Human Rights Council", he stressed. 

   The PEC aligns itself with the position of Article 19 issued Wednesday that says that the longstanding failure of the Burmese authorities to protect and respect the right of its people to freedom of expression and access to information had resulted in last September's Saffron Revolution wherein according to the Democratic Voice of Burma, 138 were killed and several thousand were arrested and detained for participating in the protests. Many more have since been prevented from imparting or receiving information.

   On the current crisis of access to information, Dr. Agnes Callamard, Executive Director of ARTICLE 19, said censorship and the absence of credible and accurate information takes many forms in Burma from the banning of newspapers and radio and TV programs, to the imprisonment of journalists.

    "Legitimate cries for help are suppressed and actors are denied the information that could enable them to help those in need. This is a most pervasive and insidious abuse, which has now resulted in a tragedy of enormous proportion , " she added.

Article 19 statement: The cyclone that hit Burma has resulted in the estimated death of at least 100,000 people. Many more have seen their homes and livelihoods destroyed. The response of the Burmese junta has been at best incompetent, at worse negligent and criminal.
The Burmese authorities have failed to issue effective early warning to the population even though the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre is reported to have warned the Burmese government about the impending storm several days in advance.
Visas for relief agencies workers are being distributed on a piecemeal basis.
Ongoing negotiations to open the border to full disaster relief are delaying the distribution of much needed relief.

"How many people will die as a result of these delays? How many people will suffer, having lost everything and everybody, because of the Burmese authorities' failure to ensure the free flow of information to and from those most in need?" asked Dr. Agnes Callamard, Executive Director of ARTICLE 19

The longstanding failure of the Burmese authorities to protect and respect the right of its people to freedom of expression and access to information had resulted in last September's Saffron Revolution wherein according to the Democratic Voice of Burma, 138 were killed and several thousand were arrested and detained for participating in the protests. Many more have since been prevented from imparting or receiving information.

This has now resulted, overnight, in tens of thousands of deaths.

The rights to information and expression are fundamental human rights. They underpin all human rights and are central to human development. In the context of a large-scale natural disaster, fulfilling these rights takes on particular importance: Appropriately targeted information cannot only ensure that assistance is effective and locally relevant, but it can also save lives and preserve human dignity.

Access to information is of particular importance in the aftermath of a disaster to:
- Mitigate the loss of life;
- Reduce panic;
- Direct people on how and where to get essential services;
- Facilitate contact with relatives and friends;
- Assist in the discovery of the missing and dead;
- Provide an outlet for grief and counseling;
- Provide watchdog oversight over assistance activities and help guard against corruption; and
- Ensure two-way communication between assistance providers and the affected communities.

Recommendations:
ARTICLE 19 calls on the Burmese authorities to respect and fulfill the free flow of information and put an immediate end to the current delays in delivering assistance. A strong information regime must be implemented immediately. In particular:
- Survivors must have access to the information they need to make the most of relief and reconstruction efforts.
- Relief agencies must be given free access to devastated areas so as to conduct much needed assessment and deliver appropriate and relevant assistance.
- Relief agencies must be able to gather all required information and data freely, and have access to the people and information they require in order to put in place effective targeted and required assistance.
- International and local media must be given free access to the country and devastated areas. They must be allowed to report globally on the scale and impact of the disaster, and act as the necessary watchdog of the effective delivery of assistance.
- Authorities involved in relief, reconstruction or rehabilitation should make all possible efforts to ensure that survivors have access to key information including information on the provision of food, water, shelter, and medical and other services.
- Effective measures to trace those missing, to identify the dead and to inform relatives should be put in place.
- No undue restrictions on freedom of expression should be imposed.              In February 2005, ARTICLE 19 published a report on humanitarian disasters and information rights available at: http://www.article19.org/pdfs/publications/freedom-of-information-humanitarian-disasters.pdf. The report illustrates the importance of information in disaster relief operations, in some cases based on binding legal standards. It sets out the legal, ethical and policy basis and arguments for the protection and fulfillment of freedom of expression and access to information in disaster situations, from the pre-disaster phase or early warning, to the reconstruction efforts.

***30.04.2008. Journée de la liberté de la presse 2008 : pas de progrès dans le monde, déplore la PEC - 28 journalistes tués depuis le début de l’année, dont 8 en avril (ENGLISH and SPANISH text after FRENCH) - For other statements, please go to our page "Other News" 

    Genève, 30 avril (PEC) A l’occasion de la Journée mondiale de la liberté de la presse 2008, le 3 mai, la Presse Emblème Campagne (PEC) ne constate aucune amélioration de la liberté de la presse dans le monde. L'ONG basée à Genève déplore le refus de la communauté internationale de prendre des mesures supplémentaires pour protéger les journalistes et améliorer le droit à l'information.

  La présidente de la PEC Hedayat Abdel Nabi a affirmé que l’appel lancé ä l’ONU par l’Association libanaise des photographes, quelques jours après la mort du cameraman de Reuters Fadel Shana à Gaza, pour renforcer la protection des photographes dans les zones de conflit, est un message clair.

  Pour Hedayat Abdel Nabi, le mécanisme approprié pour adopter de telles mesures serait le Conseil des droits de l’homme, mais les pays membres du Conseil sont occupés depuis deux ans par le fonctionnement du nouveau système et ont ignoré jusqu’ici les appels répétés à une session ou une réunion spéciale sur cette tragédie. 

 Depuis le début de l'année, au moins 28 journalistes ont été tués dans l'exercice de leur fonction dans 17 pays différents, contre 34 pour la même période de l'an dernier. Le Mexique a été le pays le plus dangereux pendant cette période (6 journalistes tués), devant l'Irak (5), le Pakistan (3), la Russie (2).

 Un journaliste a été tué depuis le début de l'année également en Inde, aux Philippines, au Panama, à Gaza par Israël, en Bolivie, en Colombie, en Ouganda, au Honduras, au Brésil, au Niger, au Népal, en Afghanistan et en Somalie.

 L'an dernier, un nombre record de 115 journalistes, contre 96 en 2006, avaient payé de leur vie l'exercice de leur profession, rappelle le secrétaire général de la PEC, Blaise Lempen. "Si les causes sont différentes, il apparaît que les journalistes manquent cruellement d’une protection suffisante sur le plan juridique dans de nombreux contextes", commente Blaise Lempen.

 En avril, huit journalistes sont morts, dont deux au Mexique, un en Irak, un aux Philippines, un au Panama, un au Pakistan, un en Inde et un cameraman de l’agence Reuters le 16 avril à Gaza. La PEC a condamné avec vigueur la mort du cameraman Fadel Chanaa, alors que son véhicule était clairement signalé avec les inscriptions Press et TV. Ce décès coïncide avec une détérioration des conditions d'exercice de la profession dans les territoires palestiniens tout au long de ces derniers mois.

 En Irak, la PEC regrette que les autorités de Bagdad n'aient pas encore donné suite à leur promesse de diligenter des enquêtes sur le grand nombre d'assassinats perpétrés depuis mars 2003 dans ce pays. "L'absence d'enquêtes au niveau national rend d'autant plus urgent l'élaboration de mécanismes contraignants au niveau international", affirme Blaise Lempen. Hedayat Abdel Nabi a demandé aux autorités de Bagdad d’adopter la nouvelle législation sur la protection des journalistes.

 En même temps, la PEC regrette que les autorités chinoises continuent de refuser l'accès des journalistes indépendants au Tibet pour clarifier la situation dans cette province. Elle déplore aussi les restrictions mises au travail des journalistes à l'occasion des élections au Zimbabwe ainsi que dans la campagne pour le référendum en Birmanie.

 La PEC a lancé une consultation mondiale sur un avant-projet de convention internationale destiné à renforcer la protection des journalistes dans les zones de conflit armé et de violences internes. Un petit nombre de gouvernements seulement ont réagi à cet avant-projet jusqu'ici.

 La PEC déplore le désintérêt des gouvernements, notamment démocratiques, pour la question fondamentale de l'accès à l'information et de la liberté de la presse, alors que la communauté internationale célèbre cette année le 60e anniversaire de la Déclaration universelle des droits de l'homme. Elle appelle instamment tous les gouvernements à répondre d'ici le 31 mai à cette consultation, soutenue par 32 organisations représentant plus de 100.000 journalistes dans le monde.

World Press Freedom Day 2008: no progress, according to the PEC
28 journalists killed since the beginning of the year
8 journalists killed in April alone

    GENEVA, April 30 (PEC) Marking World Press Freedom Day on 3 May, the
Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) deplores the absence of progress and the current stand of the International Community for not taking measures that would protect journalists in conflict zones and elsewhere and re-enforce the access to information.

   The PEC President Hedayat Abdel Nabi said that the call of the Lebanese Photographers Association to the United Nations to enforce measures to protect photographers in zones of conflict, days after the killing of Reuters cameraman Fadl Shana in Gaza, is a clear and telling message.

    Abdel Nabi added that though the appropriate mechanism to deal with such measures is the Human Rights Council, yet member states of the council are busy putting their act together, and ignoring repeated calls for convening a special session or sitting on this tragedy.

    According to the PEC ticking clock, 28 journalists were killed since the beginning of the year in 17 countries against 34 during 2007.

    Mexico flags as the most dangerous country for media work with 6 journalists killed, Iraq 5, Pakistan 3, Russia 2.

    Since the beginning of the year one journalist was killed in the following countries: India, Philippines, Panama, Brazil, Niger, Nepal, Gaza by Israel, Afghanistan and Somalia.

    PEC Secretary-General Blaise Lempen reminds that in 2007, a record year, 115 journalists were killed (against 96 in 2006).

    Lempen adds that if the reasons are different then it is clear that on the legal level sufficient protection is notably absent in different situations where such crimes have been committed.

    During April, 8 journalists were killed, 2 in Mexico, one in the Philippines, one in Panama, one in Pakistan, and the Reuters cameraman in Gaza.

    The PEC has strongly condemned the killing of the Reuters cameraman Fadl Shana. The killing of Shana coincides with an increased deterioration in conditions of media work in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (oPt).

   In Iraq, the PEC regrets that the authorities have not undertaken an investigation into the killings of Iraqi journalists which exceeds 270 since March 2003.

    Lempen said that the absence of national enquiries makes the need more urgent for developing an international instrument for the protection of journalists.

    Abdel Nabi called upon the Iraqi government to endorse the new national law for the protection of Iraqi journalists.

    The PEC regrets the absence of foreign coverage in Tibet/China as well as the restrictions in Zimbabwe imposed on media coverage and that on the coverage of the referendum campaign in Myanmar.

    The Geneva based NGO launched a global consultation process on a draft convention for the protection of journalists in zones of conflict and elsewhere. A handful of governments have reacted so far.

    The PEC deplores the disinterest by some governments, notably the democracies, to respond to the PEC call, as the issue is integrally related to freedom of opinion and expression and access to information in a year when the world is approaching in December the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

    The Geneva based NGO seizes this occasion to remind UN member states that the deadline to send their responses has been extended to May 31.

    The PEC consultation is supported by 32 press associations and syndicates representing more than 100,000 journalists.

DIA DE LA LIBERTAD DE LA PRENSA 2008, NINGUN PROGRESO
28 periodistas asesinados desde el inicio del año
8 periodistas asesinados solamente en el mes de abril

GINEBRA, 30 abril (PEC) En ocasión del Día Mundial de la Libertad de Prensa, el 3 de mayo, la Campaña Emblema de Prensa (PEC por sus siglas en inglés) deplora la falta de progresos y la posición actual de la Comunidad Internacional de no tomar las medidas que protegerían a periodistas en zonas de conflicto y en cualquier parte del mundo y reforzarían el acceso a la información.

La Presidenta de PEC, Hedayat Abdel Nabi, afirmó que el llamamiento reciente de la Asociación libanesa de Fotógrafos a las Naciones Unidas para hacer cumplir medidas para proteger a fotógrafos en las zonas de conflicto, días después de la matanza de fotógrafo de la agencia REUTERS, Fadl Shana, en la Franja de Gaza, es un mensaje claro.

Abdel Nabi añadió que aunque el mecanismo adecuado para tratar con tales medidas sea el Consejo de Derechos humanos, aún los Estados miembros del consejo están ocupados en poner en marcha su forma de actuar juntos, y han hecho caso omiso a los repetidos llamamientos de convocar a una sesión especial o sentarse a reflexionar sobre esta tragedia.

De acuerdo con el mecanismo de monitoreo de PEC, 28 periodistas han sido asesinados desde el inicio del año en 17 países contra 34 durante el pasado 2007.

México abandera ahora la lista de los países más peligrosos para el trabajo de los periodistas, con seis periodistas asesinados, seguido de Iraq (5), Pakistán (3), Rusia (2).

Desde el inicio del año, un periodista ha sido asesinado en los siguientes países: India, Filipinas, Panamá, Brasil, Níger, Nepal, Gaza e Israel, así como en Afganistán y Somalia.

El Secretario General de PEC, Blaise Lempen, ha recordado que en 2007, un año record, 115 periodistas fueron asesinados (contra 96 en 2006).

Lempen estima que si los motivos son diferentes, entonces, está claro que sobre el nivel legal, la protección es insuficiente, o absolutamente ausente, en diferentes situaciones donde tales crímenes han sido cometidos.

Durante el mes de abril, 8 periodistas fueron asesinados, dos de ellos en México, uno en Filipinas, uno en Pakistán, y el camarógrafo de REUTERS en Gaza.

La Campaña (PEC) ha condenado severamente la matanza del camarógrafo de REUTERS, Fadl Shana. El asesinato de Shana coincide con un incremento en el deterioro de la condiciones de trabajo de los media en los Territorios Palestinos Ocupados (TPO).

PEC lamenta que las autoridades iraquíes no hayan iniciado una investigación sobre los asesinatos de periodistas iraquíes, que sobrepasan la cifra de 270 desde marzo de 2003.

Según Lempen, la ausencia de informaciones nacionales hace más urgente la necesidad de desarrollar un instrumento internacional para la protección de periodistas.

Abdel Nabi, por su parte, ha hecho un llamamiento al Gobierno iraquí para que apruebe la nueva ley nacional para la protección de los periodistas iraquíes.

Asimismo, PEC lamenta la ausencia de cobertura internacional en el Tibet, China, así como las restricciones impuestas a la cobertura de los medios en Zimbabwe y en la campaña por el referendo en Myanmar.

La ONG basada en Ginebra lanzó un proceso de consulta sobre la base de un proyecto de convención para la protección de los periodistas en zonas de conflicto, y en cualquier otra parte. Pero solo un puñado de gobiernos ha reaccionado hasta ahora.

PEC deplora el desinterés reflejado por algunos gobiernos, en particular las democracias, en responder al llamamiento hecho por PEC, de una cuestión que está íntegramente vinculada con la libertad de opinión y de expresión y al acceso a la información, en un año en el que el mundo se acerca en diciembre a las celebraciones del 60 aniversario de la Declaración Universal de Derechos humanos.

La ONG con sede en Ginebra aprovecha esta ocasión para recordar a los estados miembros de las Naciones Unidas que la fecha límite para enviar sus respuestas ha sido extendida al 31 de mayo.

El proceso de consultas iniciado por la PEC ha sido respaldado por 32 asociaciones y sindicatos que representan a más de 100.000 periodistas.
 

***17.04.08. Reuters cameraman killed after filming in Gaza, PEC and ICPJ condemn strongly (go to our page PRESS for details)

   GENEVA, April 17 (PEC-ICPJ) – For the second consecutive time in less than 72 hours one journalist is released, the other killed, both in different countries.

   The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) and the International Covenant for the Protection of Journalists (ICPJ) while welcoming the release of Associated Press photographer Bilal Hussein (36 years old), more than two years after he was detained by U.S. Marines on suspicions of links to insurgents, condemns in the strongest possible manner the killing of Reuters cameraman during the Israeli attack against Gaza Wednesday.

   The Reuters cameraman 24-year-old Fadal Shanaa was killed while filming the Israeli tank attack in central Gaza.

   According to Al Jazeera Satellite channel Shanaa was killed when he finished filming and was taking his car to send his footage about the brutal attack.

   The two Geneva based organizations presents their sincere condolences to the family of the young cameraman and his loved ones as well as to Reuters.

    Shanaa is the 7 th journalist killed in April, thus stepping up the number of killed journalists since the beginning of the year to 27 among them three women journalists.   

 ***16.04.08. PEC and ICPJ statement: A specialized legal instrument could have helped Bilal Hussein during his two-year detention in Iraq by US forces

   GENEVA, April 16 (PEC-ICPJ) – The Press Emblem Campaign and the International Covenant for the Protection of Journalists welcome the release of Associated Press photographer Bilal Hussein (36 years old), more than two years after he was detained by U.S. Marines on suspicions of links to insurgents. 

   The release today of Bilal Hussein, which is long overdue, shows the importance of having a special legal instrument to defend dangerous jobs when the situation is marked by armed conflict as well as in other situations when journalists are arrested under different allegations. 

    In the past week, Iraqi judicial committees dismissed all allegations against Hussein and ordered his release. The last allegations were dropped Sunday - a day after Hussein marked his second full year in custody. 

   The PEC and the ICPJ wish Bilal Hussein well when reuniting with his family and congratulates the AP for his release.   

    Hussein - who had been held since April, 12, 2006 - was never brought to trial. 

    The Iraqi photographer Hussein was a member of an AP team that won a Pulitzer Prize for photography in 2005. 

   The PEC and the ICPJ wish Hussein a long and productive career to come.

SPANISH PEC y el ICPJ condenan fuertemente la muerte del camarógrafo de Reuters, fallecido poco después de filmar en Gaza - Un instrumento legal podría haber ayudado a Bilal Hussein durante los dos años que estuvo detenido en Iraq por fuerzas de EEUU
GINEBRA, 17 abr (PEC-ICPJ) – Por segunda vez consecutiva en menos de 72 horas un periodista es liberado, otro muerto, ambos en diferentes países.
  La Campaña Emblema de Prensa (PEC) y la Convención Internacional para la Protección de los Periodistas (ICPJ) al tiempo de regocijarse de la liberación del fotógrafo Bilal Hussein (36 años), luego de más de dos años de detención
por la Marina de EEUU bajo sospechas de vínculos con los insurgentes, ha condenado en los términos más severos posibles el asesinato del camarógrafo de Reuters durante el ataque efectuado contra Gaza el miércoles por Israel.
  El camarógrafo de Reuters Fadal Shanaa, de 24 años de edad, fue asesinado mientras filmaba el ataque con tanques perpetrado por israelíes en el centro de Gaza.
  Según el satélite de la cadena Al Jazeera, Shanaa fue muerto cuando terminaba de filmar y estaba a punto de tomar su auto para enviar las imágenes del brutal ataque.
  Las dos organizaciones basadas en Ginebra presentan sus más sinceras condolencias a la familia del joven camarógrafo y a sus allegados, así como a la agencia Reuters.
  Shanaa es el séptimo periodista muerto durante el mes de abril, con lo que el número de periodistas asesinados desde el inicio del año asciende a 27, entre los cuales se encuentran tres mujeres periodistas.
  En un comunicado del 15 de abril último, la PEC mantuvo también un sentimiento similar de regocijo por la liberación de un periodista británico y de condena ante el asesinato del reportero Khadim Hussain Sheikh en la
provincia paquistaní de Beluchistán.
  La liberación el miércoles de Bilal Hussein, por cierto bien demorada, muestra la importancia de tener un instrumento legal especial para defender a quienes trabajan bajo condiciones de peligro, en situaciones marcadas por
conflictos armados, así como en otras situaciones en que los reporteros son arrestados bajo diferentes alegatos.
  La PEC y el ICPJ desean a Bilal Hussein un buen encuentro con sus familiares y felicita al AP por esta liberación.
  Hussein – quien estuvo detenido desde el 12 de abril de 2006 – jamás fue procesado.
  El fotógrafo iraquí Hussein fue uno de los miembros del equipo de AP que obtuvo el Premio Pulitzer de fotografía en 2005. La PEC y el ICPJ le desean una larga y productiva en el futuro. 

***15.04.08. PEC rejoices at the safe release of CBS' Richard Butler, condemns the killing of Khadim Hussain Sheikh in Pakistan 

GENEVA April 15 (PEC) – The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) welcomes the safe release of CBS' journalist Richard Butler after more than two months in captivity in Basra, Iraq. 

   More than 25 journalists or their Iraqi assistants were abducted in 2007 in Iraq and more than 270 journalists have been killed since March 2003. 

    The PEC while rejoicing the safe release of the British journalist condemns the killing of journalist Khadim Hussain Sheikh in Pakistan's Baluchistan province. 

   The Pakistani journalist was killed in a shooting attack and his brother seriously injured. 

   Up to date 26 journalists were killed since the beginning of 2008 (see Media ticking clock). 

  The Geneva based NGO reminds the media community that up to date the journalists are left without a specialized legal instrument to protect them and their work in conflict zones and other dangerous situations. 

   As the world approaches the celebrations of World Press Freedom Day, attacks on journalists continue with impunity and highlights the absence of a protection instrument. 

   This PEC statement is supported by the International Covenant for the Protection of Journalists (ICPJ).

SPANISH VERSION PEC se regocija de la liberación de Richard Butler, reporter de CBS, y condena el asesinato de Khadim Hussain Sheikh en Pakistan

GINEBRA, 15 abr (PEC) La Campaña Emblema de Prensa Saluda la liberación de Richard Butler, reportero de CBS, después de mas de dos meses de cautiverio en Basora, Iraq.

  Más de 25 periodistas o sus asistentes fueron secuestrados en 2007 en Iraq, y mas de 270 periodistas iraquíes han sido asesinados en ese país desde marzo de 2003.
Al mismo tiempo que se regocija de la liberación del periodista británico, la PEC condena el asesinato del periodista Khadim Hussain Sheikh en la provincia paquistaní de Beluchistán. El periodista paquistaní fue asesinado en un ataque armado, durante el cual su hermano fue seriamente herido.
Hasta la fecha, 26 periodistas han sido asesinados desde el inicio de 2008.
La Campaña (PEC por sus siglas en inglés), organización no gubernamental basada de Ginebra, recuerda que hasta la fecha la comunidad de medios de comunicación carece de un instrumento especializado legal para proteger a los
periodistas que realizan su trabajo en zonas de conflicto y en otras situaciones peligrosas.
Como el mundo se acerca a las celebraciones por el Día Mundial de la Libertad de Prensa, es bueno recordar que se siguen perpetrando ataques contra periodistas en toda impunidad y subraya, justamente, la ausencia de un instrumento de protección.

***10.04.2008. - TIBET-CHINA The Press emblem campaign (PEC) welcomes UN human rights experts call for greater and unfettered access to Tibet and surrounding areas for journalists and guarantees for the free flow of information. The PEC supports the UN experts calling upon Government of China "to lift restrictions imposed on the media, including Internet websites, that limit access thoughout China to information concerning the Tibetan Autonomous Region" (go to page OTHER NEWS for the full UN statement)

***08.04.2008. IRAQ - Five years after the fall of Baghdad and the attack against Palestine Hotel and Al-Jazeera, the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) asks for a new mechanism of enquiry to clarify incidents in war zones.

Nor the US military nor the Iraqi authorities have demonstrate their willingness to investigate. The PEC joins CPJ call on the U.S. military to implement procedures to address the presence of journalists on the battlefield.

On April 8, 2003, a U.S. tank fired a single shell on the Palestine Hotel, the main base for dozens of international journalists covering the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, killing Spanish cameraman José Couso of Telecinco and veteran Reuters cameraman Taras Protsyuk, and wounding three other reporters. Earlier that morning, U.S. air strikes hit the Baghdad bureau of the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera satellite news channel, killing correspondent Tareq Ayyoub and injuring a station cameraman. Moments later, the nearby offices of Abu Dhabi TV came under fire in a separate attack. While both stations were operating in a combat area, they had been there for weeks and Al-Jazeera had provided its coordinates to the Pentagon.

“We feel acutely that more needs to be done to make the battlefield as safe as possible for non-combatants like journalists”, told to CPJ David Schlesinger, editor-in-chief of Reuters. US officials need to answer the longstanding questions of why U.S. troops on the ground were not made aware of the Palestine Hotel, and what steps the military has taken to avoid such tragedies in the future.

The PEC also calls the government of Iraq to issue investigations into the killing of journalists. At least 275 medias employees have been killed in Iraq since the beginning of the war in march 2003. "We need a new mechanism to investigate properly the killings of journalists in conflict zones and to bring the killers to justice. We cannot accept impunity. Since of the beginning of this year, we note less casualties among journalists in Iraq. Why ? Because less and less journalists are willing to take risks to cover this awful conflict ?" said PEC Secretary-General Blaise Lempen.

Go to page “Other News” to read IFJ and CPJ statements

***01.04.2008. PEC-ICPJ MONTHLY REPORT: 20 journalists killed since the beginning of the year - PEC reminds UN member States to react to the draft convention - deadline extended till May 31 (SPANISH version after English text)

  GENEVA, April 1 (PEC-ICPJ) -- The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) and the International Covenant for the Protection of Journalists (ICPJ) warn that the month of March has witnessed a marked deterioration in press freedoms, flagged by the recent developments in Tibet, China.

 The two organizations deplore the absence of media, Internet and Satellite coverage of the Tibet events.

 They call upon the Chinese authorities to allow free and independent access to the media to shed light on the Tibet developments as well as allowing an international mission of enquiry.

 In addition, the two organizations call upon the Chinese authorities to allow foreign media to move freely in whole China at the occasion of the Olympic year. 

   While also denouncing the events in Zimbabwe, the two organizations urgently call on the Zimbabwean government to allow free and fair coverage internally and by foreign media of the results of the March 29 elections.

 In this respect both organizations believe that it is of paramount importance that UN member states start discussions on ways and means for the protection of media coverage, Internet and Satellite transmissions.

 In March according to the PEC media ticking clock 3 journalists were killed. PEC and ICPJ strongly condemned one murder in Iraq and two in Russia (7 last year during the same month). Since the beginning of the year, 20 journalists were killed in the line of duty as opposed to 22 during the first three months of 2007.

 So far for this month the number of journalists killed in Iraq has gone down compared to the first quarter of 2007. But still Iraq remains the most dangerous country in the world for media work. Second to Iraq comes Somalia.

 The number of journalists killed in Iraq since March 2003 stand today at 275 journalists.

 Calls for releasing Cuban journalists jailed on Black Spring of 2003 took place on March 18 by a group of Cuban demonstrators in front of the UN in Geneva. The group supported by the PEC and the ICPJ called upon the High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour to interfere in favour of 27 imprisoned journalists four years ago.

 As far as the situation in Sri-Lanka is concerned, the two organizations support the letter launched by the International Federation of Journalists and signed by more than 30 organizations, to the President of Sri Lanka voicing the concerns for the safety of journalists there.

   During the month of March and on the sidelines of the Human Rights Council the PEC and the ICPJ organized a parallel event on the protection of Journalists in conflict zones and civil unrest.

 During this event, the two organizations unveiled a draft convention which aims at re-enforcing the protection of journalists. Member states had to react to the draft by 31 March, a project which was sent out by the PEC on 7 December 2007.

  The PEC and the ICPJ remind UN member states of the urgency to react to this draft. The deadline is now extended till May 31.

 Mexican ambassador Luis Alfonso de Alba, who took part in the event, announced the beginning of consultations on the level of concerned ambassadors in Geneva on the issue of journalists protection.

   In view of this serious deterioration of media coverage of major events and the assault on freedom of Opinion and Expression, the PEC and the ICPJ call upon member states to start deliberations on a special sitting on that issue in the context of the Human Rights Council.

SPANISH VERSION: CEP-ICPJ INFORME MENSUAL: 20 periodistas asesinados desde el inicio del año. Marzo de 2008.

GINEBRA, 1 de abril (PEC-ICPJ) La Campaña Emblema de Prensa (PEC) y el Pacto Internacional para la Protección de los Periodistas (ICPJ) advierte que el mes de marzo fue testigo de un notable deterioro de la libertad de prensa, marcado por los recientes acontecimientos en el Tibet, China.

Ambas organizaciones deploran la ausencia de cobertura de los sucesos del Tibet por los medios de comunicación, Internet o vía Satélite.

Las dos organizaciones piden a las autoridades chinas que permitan el acceso libre e independiente a los medios de comunicación, para sacar a la luz los hechos en el Tibet, así como permitan la realización de una misión internacional de investigación.

Asimismo, PEC y el ICPJ han hecho un llamamiento a las autoridades chinas a fin de que permitan el libre movimiento dentro de toda China a los medios de comunicación en ocasión de las Olimpiadas este año.

Por otra parte, ambas organizaciones denuncian los sucesos en Zimbabwe, al tiempo que lanzan un llamamiento urgente al Gobierno de Zimbabwe para que permitan una cobertura libre e imparcial tanto internamente como por medios extranjeros de los resultados de las elecciones del 29 de marzo.

 Al respecto, ambas organizaciones estiman que es de una importancia capital para los estados miembros de las Naciones Unidas el iniciar discusiones sobre vías y medios para la protección del trabajo de cobertura de los medios de comunicación, y las trasmisiones vía Satélite y de Internet. 

En marzo, de acuerdo con el sistema de monitoreo de PEC (media ticking clock) tres periodistas fueron asesinados. PEC y el ICPJ condenan fuertemente el asesinato de un periodista en Iraq y de dos en Rusia (7 el pasado año durante el mismo mes).

Desde el inicio del año, 20 periodistas han sido asesinados en el ejercicio del deber a diferencia de 22 durante los tres primeros meses de 2007.

Hasta la fecha, el número de periodistas asesinados en Iraq ha sido menor si se compara con el primer trimestre de 2007. Pero Iraq sigue siendo el país de mayor riesgo en el mundo para el trabajo de los medios de comunicación. Seguido de Iraq, viene Somalia.

El número de periodistas asesinados en Iraq desde marzo de 2003 alcanza la cifra de 275.

Un llamamiento al gobierno cubano para que libere a los periodistas encarcelados desde la llamada primavera negra de 2003, tuvo lugar el 18 de marzo último, por un grupo de manifestantes frente a la sede de la ONU en Ginebra. El grupo, respaldado por PEC y el ICPJ, pidió a la Alta Comisionada para Derechos Humanos, Louise Arbour, que intercede a favor de los 27 periodistas encarcelados hace cuatro años.

En lo que se refiere a la situación en Sri Lanka, las dos organizaciones han respaldado la carta enviada por la Federación Internacional de Periodistas y firmada por más de 30 organizaciones al Presidente de Sri Lanka expresando la preocupación por la seguridad de los periodistas en ese país.

En el mes de marzo y al margen del Consejo de Derechos Humanos, PEC y la ICPJ organizaron un evento paralelo sobre la protección de los periodistas en las zonas en conflicto y en disturbios internos entre civiles.

Durante ese evento, las dos organizaciones revelaron el proyecto preliminar de una Convención cuyo objetivo es reforzar la protección de los periodistas. A los estados miembros de la ONU se les concedió hasta el 31 de marzo, como plazo inicial para expresar sus consideraciones al proyecto que les fuera enviado por PEC el 7 de diciembre de 2007.

PEC y la ICPJ reiteran a los estados miembros de la ONU la urgencia de reaccionar a este proyecto. La fecha límite se ha extendido ahora hasta el 31 de mayo.

El Embajador de México, Luis Alfonso de Alba, quien participó en este encuentro, ha anunciado el inicio consultas al nivel de embajadores en Ginebra sobre el tema de la protección a los periodistas.

En vista de esta seria deterioración de las posibilidades de cobertura de medios de comunicación de acontecimientos importantes y el asalto a la libertad de Opinión y Expresión, PEC y la ICPJ exhortan a todos los estados miembros a iniciar deliberaciones sobre una sesión especial de este asunto en el contexto del Consejo de Derechos Humanos.

***19.03.2008. TIBET: PEC Supports Call for International Investigation into Reported Human Rights Violations - protests sealing Tibet off from the world, asks for free access to information in Tibet - Go to OTHER NEWS for other statements on Tibet

The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) called for an international investigation into serious allegations that the Chinese security forces have carried out human rights violations during the recent protests in Lhasa and other locations.
The Government is seeking to seal Tibet off from the world, and there is considerable confusion about the truth surrounding recent events. It is essential that China permit full access to independant media and allow foreign journalists to investigate the situation, including allegations that peaceful protestors have been killed and that other excessive force has been used by the security forces, and that protestors have been arbitrarily arrested and detained. It is in everyone's interest to swiftly clarify exactly what is happening in Tibet.

An international investigation could include a role for existing human rights experts of the United Nations Human Rights Council, such as the Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Freedom of Expression.

*********SPECIAL: SESSION HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL***********

***18.03.2008. PEC – ICPJ report: side event – 7 th session – Human Rights Council (17 March 2008) - Possible measures for the protection of journalists in conflict zones

   GENEVA, 18 March (PEC-ICPJ) – In a side event related to the protection of Journalists in conflict zones and civil unrest, organized by the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) and the International Covenant for the Protection of Journalists (ICPJ), the idea of a draft convention which aims at re-enforcing the protection of journalists was unveiled and discussed. PEC and ICPJ reminded UN member states to respond to the draft by 31 March, a project which was sent out by the PEC on December 2007.

Mexican ambassador Luis Alfonso de Alba unveiled the beginning of consultations on the level of concerned ambassadors in Geneva whose aim could unfold in creating a group of friends of the initiative.

Meeting at the United Nations in Geneva. From left to right: Hedayat Abdel Nabi, Omar Faruk Osman, amb. Alfonso de Alba, Blaise Lempen, Alexandre Curchod (photo tamer)

Stressing the importance of the debate, PEC President and ICPJ coordinator Hedayat Abdel Nabi told that the growing numbers of fallen journalists has not been instrumental enough to move to a serious consideration of the issue by the Human Rights Council.

"The fallen journalists have remained numbers in a tapestry of tragedy, feeding the press statements of media associations, and others. However, those numbers are human tragedies, victims of serious violations of human rights," she said.

Abdel Nabi stressed that this tragedy is part and parcel of Human Rights: first the sacred right of life is violated, followed by an earth shattering impact of multiple violations of rights when it concerns families of fallen journalists.

"Those multiple violations include the right to Housing, to Health, to Food, to Clothing, to Education, to name a few," she said.

Then stressed that in the ongoing debate on the issue of media protection, those multiple rights are overlooked, in order to keep the issue in the domain of the Geneva Convention which states that journalists are protected as civilians in armed conflicts.

The Secretary-General of the National Union of Somali Journalists Omar Faruk Osman said that Somali journalists are at high physical risk, as their 'impartiality' is not respected and protected, especially those in south-central regions of the country.

He stated that in the ongoing levels of conflict, all sides are seeking to control, stifle and manipulate information.

"The media houses and journalists are being targeted as part of conflict, their professional activities obstructed, abuse of authority is widespread and largely unchallenged" said Omar Faruk Osman.

He stressed that Somali journalists who are reaching out to any side in conflict sources are threatened and pressurized by the other opposing side because of their impartial, fair and accurate reporting.

Alexandre Curchod, lawyer (the Swiss journalists - IMPRESSUM) and PEC Vice President told the meeting that access to information is crucial in order to implement International Humanitarian Law. "It s increasingly accepted under international law that the right to information imposes on governments a positive duty to provide information. The new convention, by saying for instance that internet services must be guaranted full operation at any time by the relevant authorities or by providing means for investigation and enforcement, can be seen as a text which takes place in this recent developent of the legal notion of right to information towards more effectiveness", said Alexandre Curchod.


Secretary-General of the PEC Blaise Lempen stressed that an international convention is the best and quickest way to obtain concrete results.

 He added that the draft text entails new provisions such as mechanisms of enquiry, sanctions, advance warning, identification, training, compensation, and follow-up.

 "It would be wonderful if all together we will be able to launch this process this year on the occasion of the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It would be a very strong signal from the international community in order to stop impunity", added Lempen. 

Wrapping up the meeting and responding to questions, Mexican ambassador Luis Alfonso de Alba said that being in Geneva, and working in the context of the Human Rights Council, it is important to put together different initiatives and different approaches and working on parallel tracks, this could be done along a process of different chapters.

 De Alba who was entrusted with the presidency of the Human Rights Council during its first year June 2006 to June 2007, said that a process of consultation among some interested member states has already started in order to have a common agenda to move forward.

"Those are processes that take a lot of initiative, time, a lot of patience and creative imagination. The process is on its way because several parties showed interest from developed and developing countries, but not necessarily behind one single project or idea and a convention would not be the first option of any government, it needs certain time before governments commit themselves," he said.

De Alba added that member states of the Human Rights Council can look into the resolution of the Special Rapporteur of the Freedom of Opinion and Expression.

"In this particular case I see the question of the complimentarity of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law. And we have to see whether we are talking about new rights or means to enforce existing rights, and this is the kind of debate that needs to be developed. Consensus is not a must, it does not make one convention better than the other, lets look for the widest possible consensus and move on. The process must be inclusive," De Alba stressed.

He added that introducing guidelines could be helpful, but the most important thing is not the methodology but the clarity of the ideas, guidelines very much along the lines of the convention would help in disseminating the ideas of a convention, having the draft itself is important, and presenting guidelines is a way of answering the concerns of some.   

De Alba also noted that to create a group of friends of the process is important in order to embark on a calendar of events in favor of the initiative and the purpose of the campaign.     

*NUSOJ report on the same event - NUSOJ says "Somali Journalists and Media Houses are being targeted as part of conflict, their professional activities obstructed"

In an event held today at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, with the help of Ambassador Luis Alfonso de Alba, Head of the Mexican Mission, First President of the UN Human Rights Council, the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) joined forces with the International Covenant for Protection of Journalists, Press Emblem Campaign and Swiss Federation of Journalists (IMPRESSUM) discussing “Possible Measures for the Protection of Journalists in Conflict Zones and Civil Unrest”.

Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General, talked about Press Freedom and Journalists’ Safety in Somalia. “Somali Media professionals are at high physical risk, as their ‘impartiality’ is not respected and protected, especially those in south-central regions of the country” he said.

He stated that in ongoing levels of conflict, all sides are seeking to control, stifle and manipulate information. “The media houses and journalists are being targeted as part of conflict, their professional activities obstructed, abuse of authority is widespread and largely unchallenged” he said.

“Somali journalists who are reaching out to any side in conflict sources are threatened and pressurized by the other opposing side because of their impartial, fair and accurate reporting” Omar Faruk declared.

Stating that Killed journalists are victims of serious violations of Human Rights, Hedayat Abdelnabi Coordinator of International Covenant for the Protection of Journalists and the President of the Press Emblem Campaign said “The tragedy is part and parcel of Human rights, because the sacred right of life is violated, followed by an earth shattering impact of multiple violations of rights when it concerns families of fallen journalists”.

“An international convention is the best and quickest way to obtain concrete results. We can put in a text a lot of new provisions on mechanisms of enquiry, sanctions, advance warning, identification, training, compensation, follow-up. It would be wonderful if all together we will be able to launch this process this year at the occasion of the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It would be a very strong signal from the international community in order to stop impunity”, said Press Emblem Campaign’s Secretary-General, Blaise Lempen.

Alexandre Curchod, Central secretary Swiss Federation of Journalists
(IMPRESSUM) also spoke at the event and insisted the protection of journalists in conflict through the implementation of international laws.

NUSOJ together with the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network, Amnesty International and Human Rights will be addressing tomorrow, Tuesday, 18 March an event on Human Rights and Human Rights Defenders in Crisis in Somalia at UN Human Rights Council with the focus of problems facing Somali Journalists.

For other reports on this event, please go to: www.aljazeera.net, www.mediacovenant.org, www.appablog.wordpress.com

Speeches delivered by PEC Secretary-General Blaise Lempen and PEC president Hedayat Albel Nabi at the occasion of the 7th session of the Human Rights Council

Blaise Lempen: La question qui se pose maintenant est donc de savoir:
que faire ? Que faire pour remédier à une situation dramatique ?

 La première chose à faire, c'est évidemment d'en parler et
d'élargir le débat au plus grand nombre d'acteurs possibles. Nous
proposons donc comme mesure urgente la création d'un groupe de
travail qui discute à fond de tous les aspects de cette
problématique avec tous les acteurs intéressés, sans préjuger du
résultat des discussions.

 Ce groupe de travail pourrait discuter de l'opportunité
d'élaborer une nouvelle convention internationale. Comme première
étape, nous avons donc lancé à la fin de l'an dernier une
consultation sur un avant-projet de convention, car il est plus
facile de discuter sur la base d'un texte que dans le vide.

 Pourquoi une nouvelle convention ? Le droit existant n'est-il
pas suffisant ? Nous pensons qu'un nouvel instrument juridique
serait le moyen le plus efficace, le plus direct, le plus simple
aussi pour parvenir à des résultats concrets.

 Chacun est d'accord pour constater que le droit existant est
malheureusement violé dans de nombreux contextes. Il est interdit
de tuer des civils, il est donc interdit de tuer des journalistes. Mais
plus de 200 d'entre eux sont morts en faisant leur travail au cours
de ces deux dernières années, les trois quarts dans des zones de
conflit. En Irak, depuis mars 2003, en cinq ans, plus de 250
journalistes sont morts.

 Une future convention ne remplacerait pas le droit existant. Il
le réaffirmerait et le complèterait. La convention doit avoir des
buts pratiques et concrets. Il s'agit de mettre en place des
mécanismes d'enquête, de suivi, d'assistance et de formation,
d'identification, d'avertissement, qui renforcent dans les faits la
protection des journalistes dans les zones de conflit.

 Nous différencions à cet égard la question de la protection des
journalistes et des installations des medias dans les zones de
conflit armé et de violences internes de celle, beaucoup plus
vaste, de la liberté d'expression.

 Mais la liberté de la presse est essentielle dans le cadre du
respect des droits de l'homme et du droit humanitaire. Il s'agit de
mieux documenter les violations des droits de l'homme et du droit
humanitaire. Qui peut le faire? Les rapporteurs spéciaux de l'ONU,
les ONG et les medias. C'est leur rôle.

 Nous pensons que la protection accordée de manière générale par
le droit international humanitaire à la population civile serait
renforcée par la plus grande fréquence de journalistes sur le
terrain des conflits aux côtés des victimes. La liberté des medias
et l'exercice libre et sans entraves du journalisme sont essentiels
pour assurer le droit du public à être informé en toutes
circonstances.

 Notre avant-projet de convention a été distribué. Ce n'est
évidemment qu'un projet, mais il vaut mieux partir d'un texte pour
canaliser la discussion. Je voudrais juste souligner quelques
points importants.

 Le préambule rappelle les textes pertinents en la matière, comme
l'article 19 de la Déclaration universelle des droits de l'homme,
mais aussi le Pacte relatif aux droits civils et politiques, ainsi
que la résolution 1738 adoptée le 23 décembre 2006 par le Conseil
de sécurité de l'ONU qui condamne les attaques délibérément
perpétrées contre des journalistes, des professionnels des medias
et le personnel associé et demande à toutes les parties de mettre
fin à ces pratiques.

 Le préambule rappelle aussi les Conventions de Genève de 1948 et
les protocoles additionnels de juin 1977 qui interdisent les
attaques dirigées intentionnellement contre des civils. Les
dispositions générales réaffirment la pertinence des Conventions de
Genève.

 J'attire votre attention sur le paragraphe 4 de l'article 2
(dispositions générales): "Le fonctionnement des services Internet
doit être garanti par les autorités concernées en tout temps".

 J'attire aussi votre attention sur l'article 5. Il prévoit des
dispositions pour l'enquête et la répression des crimes commis
contre les représentants des medias. Le problème contre lequel les
associations de journalistes luttent sans succès est celui de
l'impunité. Dans 90% des cas au cours des 12 dernières années, les
crimes commis contre des journalistes n'ont pas été poursuivis.

 Le paragraphe 1 de larticle 5 affirme donc que chaque Etat doit
prendre immédiatement toutes les mesures appropriées pour enquêter
sans délai de manière approfondie et impartiale sur les attaques
visant des journalistes et pour traduire les responsables en
justice.

 Le paragraphe 3 ajoute que lorsqu'il est établi qu'un Etat, même
non partie à la présente convention, n'est pas en mesure de
diligenter une enquête impartiale, dans un délai maximum d'un an,
puis de traduire les responsables en justice, une commission
d'enquête internationale indépendante sera automatiquement créée.

 L'article 6 porte sur l'obligation d'avertissement des civils,
et en particulier des médias, qui dans le cas de divers conflits
récents, n'a souvent pas été respectée. Pour faciliter l'accès des
médias aux victimes, il prévoit la possibilité de créer des
couloirs pour les médias, de manière à assurer la sécurité de leurs
mouvements.

 L'article 7 prévoit la création d'un emblème de presse reconnu
sur le plan international. Cet emblème permettrait de réduire la
prolifération actuelle des emblèmes sur le terrain, car les
journalistes utilisent jusqu'ici, pour se distinguer des
combattants dans les zones de conflit, une multitude de signes
différents qui nont aucune valeur en droit international.

 L'article 8 porte sur des mesures pour la formation du personnel
militaire et civil engagé dans un conflit armé ainsi que pour les
professionnels des médias participant à des missions dangereuses.   

 L'article 9 prévoit des mesures de réparation et de
dédommagements qui n'existent pas à l'heure actuelle pour les
victimes et leurs familles.

 Le paragraphe 3 de l'article 9 met le doigt sur une question
importante: l'absence d'assurances pour les journalistes
travaillant dans les pays en développement et aussi les
journalistes free-lance. Il y a de très grandes inégalités de
traitement entre les medias.

 L'article 10 instaure des mesures de suivi permettant de
contrôler l'application des dispositions précédentes et de les
faire respecter. Il est créé un Comité international des medias
(CIM), dont le secrétariat serait basé à Genève en collaboration
avec le Haut Commissariat aux droits de l'homme.

 Le rapporteur spécial sur la liberté d'expression n'a
actuellement pas les moyens de suivre la situation dans tous les
pays. Un comité d'experts nous paraît à cet égard s'imposer.

 Enfin, l'article 11 prévoit une conférence des Etats parties
tous les deux ans, ce qui permettrait de suivre la mise en oeuvre
pratique sur le terrain de la convention, et une entrée en vigueur
après cinq ratifications.

 Dernière remarque: faut-il négocier la convention dans le cadre
de l'ONU en en dehors ? Dans le cadre de l'ONU, ce serait par
exemple dans le cadre du Conseil des droits de l'homme, qui a une
fonction normative. En dehors de l'ONU, ce pourrait être une
conférence internationale convoquée avec les Etats qui le désirent.
Pour l'efficacité future de la convention, il faut évidemment
l'adhésion la plus large possible des Etats, mais une adhésion qui
ne doit pas affaiblir le contenu des dispositions de la convention.

 Une convention est une boîte vide dans laquelle on peut mettre
tout ce qu'on veut. Il faut faire preuve d'imagination. L'essentiel
est pour nous d'avoir un débat approfondi sur les possibilités
concrètes de renforcer la protection des journalistes dans les
zones de conflit et de violences et de poursuivre dans la pratique
les auteurs de crimes de guerre à l'encontre des journalistes.

 Il serait formidable que l'on lance ce processus à l'occasion du
60e anniversaire de la Déclaration universelle des droits de
l'homme. Ce serait un signal fort de la communauté internationale.

 It would be wonderful if all together we are able to launch this
process at the occasion of the sixtieth anniversary of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It would be a very strong
signal from the international communauty. (B.L.)

Hedayat Abdel Nabi: Assault on the Media, an escalating dimension
PEC-ICPJ presentation Human Rights Council side event
Some four years ago, in a side event parallel to the Human Rights Commission at the time, the Campaign for an Emblem to protect journalists was launched. 
 
Since then the number of fallen journalists has increased. However, that number has not been instrumental enough to move to a serious consideration of the issue by the Human Rights Council. 
 
The fallen journalists have remained numbers in a tapestry of tragedy, feeding the press statements of media associations, and others. 
 
However, those numbers are human tragedies, victims of serious violations of human rights. 
 
The tragedy is part and parcel of Human Rights: first the sacred right of life is violated, followed by an earth shattering impact of multiple violations of rights when it concerns families of fallen journalists. 
 
Those multiple violations include the right to Housing, to Health, to Food, to Clothing, to Education, to name a few. 
 
In the ongoing debate on the issue of media protection, those multiple rights are overlooked, in order to keep the issue in the domain of the Geneva Conventions which state that journalists are protected as civilians in armed conflicts. 
 
The question is: do not such multiple violations of rights warrant a new approach to the issue and whether the Human Rights Council would be the appropriate mechanism to deal with it? 
 
Secondly, the Council has inherited from the Human Rights Commission the larger title of the Issue of Freedom of Opinion and Expression entrusted to a Special Rapportuer. 
 
The second question is whether this item should be enlarged to deal with the protection of media in zones of conflict and elsewhere or specify a particular item for that escalating issue and have a group of countries entrusted with a resolution on this issue? 
 
This is because the first issue is integrally linked to the second, and ignoring the pressing issue of the second is no longer feasible with the growing number of fallen journalists, more than 200 in two years with Iraq reaming the highest tally of fallen journalists: more than 250 since the beginning of the war five years ago. 
 
Can this unfolding tragedy of multiple violations of rights call upon the Council to establish a working group to find ways and means to deal with it. 
 
Then we are left with another question do we accept the argument that the multiple violations of rights, as in the case of a specific dangerous profession, that is the media profession, do not warrant attention because the Geneva Conventions cover those rights while lacking the mechanism to apply them? 
 
Well, then if so, where are the mechanisms, to date no killings of a media professional or associate has been brought to justice except for the latest assault on a French journalist in Erbil in Northern Iraq this March. 
 
One mechanism that could be discussed is a compensation fund that would be in place after a conflict is over, but then the argument against such a fund would be how will it be financed, who will benefit from it, etc…
 
This brings me to the escalating dimension in attacks against journalists. 
 
The situation on the ground has aggravated with new dimensions, one such assault was against Ugandan 32 year-old journalist Rebecca Wilbrod Kasujja who was raped and brutally killed. 
 
A French Journalist Cecile Hennion working for Le Monde was stabbed in her hotel in Erbil on Tuesday. 
 
The President of the Iraqi Syndicate of Journalists Shihab El Tamimi died in hospital on 27 February 2008 following an attack on his car. 
 
The killing of Shihab El Tamimi is a strong reflection of the plight of Iraqi journalists, more than 250 have been killed since the war in Iraq of March 2003. 
 
However, there has been a change in the past four years on the issue and here I am gratified with the statements made by the Norwegian Foreign Minister Joans Gahr Sore who declared on 3 March to the Human Rights Council (HRC) that his country cannot accept the killing of journalists. 
 
Another gratifying statement was that of the French Minister of State Rama Yade who told the HRC on the same day that there will be no democracies without media or independent journalists.   
 
Journalists in the field whether it be that of armed conflict or civil unrest could be described as the commandos of bringing the truth to the public, but not equipped with arms or training for their protection. 
 
The Convention of Disabilities, and that of Enforced Disappearances, which are two features of journalists when fallen, Disabilities and Disappearances: are they both not applicable to journalists when killed?
 
Therefore my simple question is whether journalists deserve a similar instrument to provide them with rights when they are on the font line in defense of freedom of opinion and expression and the transmission of the truth.   
 
The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), established in June 2004 and in response to the growing and intensified assault on the media in Iraq since March 2003, has adjusted its position with great flexibility in order to reach a common denominator uniting all journalists. 
 
Re-enforced by the establishment of the International Covenant for the Protection of Journalists (ICPJ), which came into existence in September 2007, as a direct inspiration from the work of the PEC, the PEC board and the ICPJ secretariat in Geneva embarked on a draft convention which both organizations believe would be the common denominator that would eventually unite all journalists. 
 
Taking into account all the questions posed at the outset, both NGOs believe that a new convention would respond to all kind of assaults against journalists and responds to the developments in the field such as calling for the protection of the Internet and Satellite transmissions in zones of civil unrest, following the events in Burma in 2007 and others, and in Tibet in March 2008, when both Internet and Satellite transmissions were knocked off.
 
Hong Kong cable TV sent the first images of the situation in Tibet on the morning of 16 March 2008. 

It is our belief that the concerns of the media in developed countries do not correspond to the concerns of the media in developing countries or those in conflict zones, hence the new draft instrument when negotiated could come out with a common denominator uniting all the media. 

Now, the time is ripe to start serious discussions on a draft instrument presented by the PEC and the ICPJ to cover all situations including compensation which is a factor that could respond to the concerns of journalists from the developing world as well as free lance journalists across the globe. (HAN)                       

*13.03.2008. INVITATION:  The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) and the International Covenant for the Protection of Journalists (ICPJ), are pleased to invite you to a side event at the 7th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. 

Topic: Possible measures for the protection of journalists in conflict zones and civil unrest 

Monday 17 March 2008, Room 24 Palais des Nations, 13:00-15:00 hrs
Speakers:   
Hedayat Abdel Nabi, Journalist, PEC President, ICPJ coordinator
"Assault on the Media, an escalating dimension"   
Omar Faruk Osman, Secretary-General of the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ)
" Media In Crisis: Press Freedom and Journalists' Safety in Somalia"
Blaise Lempen , Journalist, PEC Secretary-General
"Main provisions of an international convention to strengthen the protection of journalists"
Alexandre Curchod, lawyer, Swiss Federation of Journalists (Impressum)
"The right to information - legal developments"
Ambassador Luis Alfonso de Alba, Head of the Mexican Mission, First President of the Human Rights Council "Final remarks"

THE PEC THANKS THE MEXICAN MISSION FOR ITS SUPPORT

********END SPECIAL: SESSION HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL*******

**29.02.2008. PEC Monthly Report - 8 journalists killed in February
Stepping up the number of casualties in 2008 to 15 - A new dimension in attacks against journalists  (FRENCH and SPANISH versions after English) 
 
GENEVA, February 29 (PEC) – The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) noted with alarm the new dimension of targeting journalists during February 2008.
   The PEC, in a statement issued today, marking its monthly report on press casualties in the second month of the year, calls upon the Human Rights Council (HRC) to move ahead with the issue of finding appropriate ways and means for the protection of journalists. The HRC will meet Monday in Geneva for a 4 weeks session. 
   The Geneva based NGO has launched a global consultation process in December 2007 on a draft convention and reminds UN member states to respond to the draft in an attempt to gear efforts to reinforce International Humanitarian Law. 
   According to the PEC ticking clock, eight journalists were killed during February in 5 countries: three in Mexico, one in Pakistan, one in Columbia, two in Iraq and a woman journalist in Uganda.
If there are no apparent reasons for those killings in Mexico, the reasons for other killings are clear which is the direct targeting of journalists. 
A new dimension is added to the issue. The brutal killing of Ugandan 32 year-old journalist Rebecca Wilbrod Kasujja involved also rape, a deadly new dimension in attacks against journalists. 
  On Wednesday the President of the Iraqi Syndicate of Journalists (ISJ) Shehab El Tamimi died from deadly wounds following a gun attack on his car on Saturday 23 February 2008. 
 The attack and subsequent death of El Tamimi is an attack on a symbol, the highest ranking journalist in Iraq and the representative of its journalists. 
  In an earlier development a CBS correspondent was kidnapped in Basrah and up to date there is no indication of his whereabouts. 
  Since the beginning of the year 15 journalists were killed, a number equal to that of the same period in 2007, and journalists from 11 countries were targeted to death. 
  The PEC is also worried by the ongoing deterioration in Sri Lanka, Burma, the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt), Nepal, Somalia and Afghanistan.
   In 2007 a record number of journalists were killed, 115, while carrying out their work. 

   En février, les attaques contre des journalistes ont pris une
nouvelle dimension. Huit journalistes ont été tués dans l'exercice
de leur fonction, ce qui porte à 15 le nombre de victimes depuis le
début de l'année.

 Genève (PEC), 29 Fevrier 2008 - Les attaques contre les journalistes
se poursuivent dans le monde à un rythme soutenu et ont pris une
nouvelle dimension en février, s'est alarmée la Presse Emblème
Campagne (PEC).
Elle lance un nouvel appel au Conseil des droits de l'homme,
réuni à Genève jusqu'au 28 mars, pour qu'il étudie les moyens de
renforcer la protection des journalistes.
La PEC a lancé en décembre 2007 une consultation mondiale sur un
projet de convention internationale et demande instamment aux Etats
d'apporter leur contribution au renforcement du droit
international.
En février, huit journalistes ont été tués dans cinq pays: trois
au Mexique, deux en Irak, un au Pakistan, un en Colombie et un en
Ouganda. Si les circonstances des crimes commis au Mexique ne sont
pas claires, les journalistes tués en Irak, au Pakistan, en
Colombie et en Ouganda ont été clairement visés. Nouveau degré dans
l'horreur: la journaliste ougandaise retrouvée morte a été violée.
De plus, le président du syndicat irakien des journalistes et
son fils ont été grièvement blessés lors d'une attaque par des
hommes masqués à Bagdad le 23 février. Shihab al-Tamimi (75 ans)
est décédé des suites de ses blessures le 27 février à Bagdad. En
visant le plus haut représentant des journalistes irakiens, les
agresseurs ont attaqué un symbole dans le but de terroriser l'ensemble
des médias dans ce pays. Un correspondant de la chaîne de
télévision américaine CBS a été en outre enlevé dans la région de
Bassorah et son sort reste inconnu.
Pour les deux premiers mois de l'année, 15 journalistes sont
morts, le même nombre qu'au cours des deux premiers mois de 2007.
Des journalistes ont été visés dans onze pays différents. Les
conditions d'exercice de la profession ont en outre continué à se
dégrader au Sri Lanka, en Birmanie, dans les territoires
palestiniens, en Somalie, au Népal et en Afghanistan, ce qui préoccupe fortement la PEC.
L'an dernier, 115 journalistes ont été tués dans l'exercice de
leurs fonctions, un record absolu.

PEC Informe mensual. 8 periodistas asesinados en febrero
Aumenta a 15 el numero de asesinados en 2008
Una nueva dimensión en los ataques contra reporteros

GINEBRA, 29 febrero (PEC) La Campaña Emblema de Prensa (PEC por sus siglas en inglés) observa alarmada la nueva dimensión de los ataques contra periodistas acaecida durante febrero de 2008.
En un comunicado difundido hoy, PEC, ofrece su informe mensual sobre las víctimas de la prensa en el segundo mes del año, y pide al Consejo de Derechos Humanos (CDH) que avance en la búsqueda de vías y medios apropiados para la protección de los periodistas.
La ONG basada en Ginebra que hubo de lanzar en diciembre de 2007 un proceso global de consulta sobre un proyecto de convención, recuerda a los Estados miembros de la ONU que respondan a ese texto en una tentativa de engranar esfuerzos para reforzar el Derecho Internacional.
De acuerdo con el sistema de monitoreo de PEC (conocido como Media Ticking Clock), ocho periodistas fueron asesinados durante el mes de febrero en 5 países: tres en México, uno en Pakistán, uno en Colombia, dos en Iraq y una mujer reportera en Uganda.
Si bien no existen razones aparentes acerca de los asesinatos en México, en los otros asesinatos los motivos han quedado bien claros: el ataque directo de periodistas.
La matanza brutal de la periodista Rebecca Wilbrod Kasujja, de 32 años, que implicó también un acto de violación, refleja una nueva dimensión en los ataques contra periodistas.
El miércoles, el presidente del Sindicato Iraquí de Prensa (SIP), Shehab El Tamimi, falleció a causa de las heridas sufridas durante un ataque armado efectuado contra su vehículo el sábado 23 de febrero de 2008.
Ese ataque y la subsecuente muerte de El Tamimi es una agresión contra un símbolo, el más alto rango en la jerarquía de prensa en Iraq, y el representante de sus periodistas.
Con anterioridad, un corresponsal de la cadena CBS fue secuestrado en Basora (Basrah) y hasta la fecha no se ha tenido indicios de su paradero.
Desde el inicio del año, 15 periodistas de 11 países han sido asesinados, una misma cifra de víctimas igual a la reportada en el mismo periodo de 2007.
PEC considera que la situación sigue deteriorándose en Sri Lanka, Burma, los Territorios Ocupados Palestinos, Nepal, Somalia y Afganistán.
En 2007 un número récord de 115 periodistas fueron asesinados en el ejercicio de su labor profesional.

Para mayor información, sírvase consultar el sistema de monitoreo de PEC (PEC Media Ticking Clock) en : www.pressemblem.ch

***27.02.2008. PEC and ICPJ announced three days of mourning following the death of Iraqi Syndicate of Journalists President Shehab El Tamimi (Go also to: Other News, Press)

GENEVA, February 27 (PEC) – The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) and the International Covenant for the Protection of Journalists (ICPJ) announced today a three-day mourning period at the brutal death of President of the Iraqi Syndicate of Journalists Shehab El Tamimi, a core founding member of the PEC and the ICPJ.
 
In a communiqué from Baghdad Tuesday, Secretary-General of the ISJ Moaid El Lamy and Vice President of the ICPJ announced that the health of El Tamimi was in a critical phase following the brutal attack against his life Saturday.
 
The perpetrators achieved their goal by killing an honest voice, defender of our colleagues in Iraq and around the world, but they will not kill his memory or dedication and work for the Iraqi journalists.
 
Again the PEC and the ICPJ stress that this killing of El Tamimi will pass without bringing the perpetrators to justice.
 
It is now or never to act, both organizations, while condemning those attacks from unidentified gunmen, present their sincere condolences to the family of Mr. El Tamimi and the Iraqi Syndicate of Journalists, a PEC founding member.
 
According to the PEC media ticking clock, 15 journalists were killed since the beginning of 2008 across the globe, which is up to date the same figure as that of the first two months of 2007. At least 250 journalists were killed in Iraq since the beginning of the war in march 2003.

***23.02.2008. PEC and ICPJ shocked, condemn the gun attack against Chairman of the Iraqi Syndicate of Journalists

    GENEVA, (PEC-ICPJ) -- The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) and the International Covenant for the Protection of Journalists (ICPJ) express their shock at the gun attack that targeted the Chairman of the Iraqi Syndicate of Journalists Shehab El Tamimi and his son.

   Founding member of the PEC and Vice President of the ICPJ Moaid El Lamy informed the PEC President and ICPJ coordinator Abdel Nabi in a telephoner Saturday that the medical situation of both Mr. El Tamimi and his son is stabilizing after both received gun shots by unidentified men that penetrated Mr. El Tamimi's car.

   He was moved immediately to hospital and is currently undergoing medical treatment.

   In September 2004, Mr. El Tamimi designated Mr. El Lamy to attend in Geneva the first PEC consultation process for the defense of media in zones of conflict.

   Since the inception of the PEC in June 2004 Mr. El Tamimi, as chairman of the ISJ, remained a staunch supporter of the PEC efforts and later the ICPJ efforts.

***21.02.2008. The PEC and the ICPJ strongly condemn the brutal killing of Ugandan 32 year-old journalist Rebecca Wilbrod Kasujja, and highlight a new dimension in the attacks against journalists, Rebecca's killing steps up the number of journalists killed to 14 since the beginning of 2008 
 
Geneva, February 21 (PEC-ICPJ) -- The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) and the International Covenant for the Protection of Journalists (ICPJ) strongly condemns the brutal killing of Ugandan journalist Rebecca Wilbrod Kasujja which brings a new dimension to the media tragedy when she was raped and killed by unknown men on Sunday.   
 
The two Geneva based organizations welcome the call of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) on the Ugandan government to investigate the brutal killing of Ugandan journalist Rebecca Wilbrod Kasujja.

"We condemn this shocking attack on Rebecca, which underscores the danger that journalists face in Africa," said Gabriel Baglo, Director of the IFJ Africa Office. "We are calling on authorities to conduct a full investigation and bring her attackers to justice."

Kasujja, 32, was raped and killed by unknown men on Sunday morning as she was on her way to work at Buwama FM Radio station, a community radio station at about 62 km south of Kampala.

"This incident once again highlights the dangers facing journalists who work odd hours," said Ugandan Journalists' Union President, Michael Wakabi. "Female journalists, who form the bulk of newscasters, are particularly vulnerable as has been demonstrated by the latest incident."

According to reports, residents of the village discovered her body in a nearby bush and reported the incident to Buwama police station.
 
The reason behind her killing remains unknown, but fellow journalists believe it has relations with her journalistic work.
 
The brutal killing of Rebecca steps up the number of journalists killed in 2008 to 14, seven in January and another seven in February so far. 

***31.01.2008. The PEC and the ICPJ condemn the Killing of on Iraqi journalist Wednesday and 6 others from the beginning of the year in several countries as well as the spiral of attacks against others in Sri-Lanka, Macedonia and Somalia 

GENEVA, January 31 (PEC-ICPJ) The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) and the International Covenant for the Protection of Journalists (ICPJ) announces that the tally at the end of January in media casualties is 7 journalists killed, the latest in Iraq Wednesday with his driver, another in Somalia on Monday in a landmine explosion.

 The PEC and the ICPJ will be announcing at the end of each month during 2008 the tally against journalists in an attempt to mobilize the public and the media and human rights community and others to the importance of developing a Convention for the Protection of Journalists.
  Since the beginning of 2008, 7 journalists have been killed in the line of duty in seven countries: Honduras, Brazil, Niger, Nepal, Afghanistan, Somalia and Iraq.
   The attacks against journalists in January 2007 stood also at 7 journalists: 4 in Iraq, one in Eritrea, one in Turkey, and one in Haïti.
   In addition, since the beginning of 2008, three other journalists were attacked, on January 28 the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) announced that Puntland Ministry attacked journalist Abdihakim Yusuf Moalim of Somali Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), a privately owned Radio Station in Bossaso town of Bari Region.
Security guard of Deputy Minister of Security of Puntland Ibrahim Artan (Haji Bakin) had violently beaten Abdihakim Yusuf Moalim after Haji Bakin slapped the journalist on Saturday morning January 26, 2008.
On Wednesday, the Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists from South East Europe and an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), strongly condemned the attempted murder of Goran Gavrilov, General Manager of the Stip-based Channel 77, a private radio station network with national coverage in Macedonia.
According to information before SEEMO, Gavrilov was attacked by two armed persons in the night between 25 and 26 January in front of his home in Stip, eastern Macedonia. The masked assailants shot at him, but missed, and then violently beat him with metal rods.
Five media associations in Sri-Lanka, the Working Journalists Association (SLWJA), the Federation of Media Employees Trade Union (FMETU), the Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum (SLMMF), the Sri Lanka Tamil Journalists Alliance (SLTJA) and the Free Media Movement (FMM), announced during the past weekend the knife attack against Sri-Lankan journalist Lal Hemantha Mawalage on Friday night at Athurigiriya, a suburb of Colombo.

***19.01.2008. REMEMBER HRANT DINK. Turkey: on first anniversary of editor’s murder, PEC pays tribute to his courage and urges authorities to prosecute all those involved and to protect freedom of expression in Turkey

The editor of the Armenian weekly Agos, Hrant Dink was gunned outside the newspaper’s office in Istanbul on 19 January 2007, in a murder that caused an outcry in Turkey and throughout the world (for more info on this anniversary, go to "Press" and "Other News").

Dink was the victim of an old conflict and of a state-endorsed nationalism that bans any mention of certain aspects of Turkish history such as the genocide of Armenians. This nationalism finds expression in article 301 of the criminal code. PEC calls for the complete repeal of article 301, as the proposed amendment offers no solution to the problem of freedom of expression in Turkey.

As Amnesty International stated, "The scope of the investigation must be widened to examine the full circumstances of the killing, including the role of law enforcement officials in failing to act on warnings that he was being targeted for assassination".

"The failure to prevent the murder of Hrant Dink and the subsequent flaws in the investigation must not be repeated. Hrant Dink's case is not an exception. Many in Turkey continue to be prosecuted for the peaceful expression of their non-violent opinions. This is due both to the existence of flawed legislation and the arbitrary implementation of the law by judges and prosecutors", said Amnesty. For the PEC an old conflict like the one with Armenians must not be the cause of a targeted killing, a century after the events. The international community must act when national legislations do not protect minorities and dissent voices, as for Anna Politovskaïa in Russia.

***17.01.2008. Réunion du comité directeur de la PEC - meeting of the PEC board.  Lors de leur réunion au Club suisse de la presse, le 16 janvier à Genève, les membres du comité directeur de la Campagne ont réélu Hedayat Abdel Nabi comme présidente et Blaise Lempen comme secrétaire général. Ils ont aussi renforcé la structure dirigeante de la PEC en nommant trois vice-présidents: Daniel Favre vice-président pour les relations avec la Francophonie, Maria Simon Rodriguez vice-présidente pour les relations avec l'Amérique latine et Alexandre Curchod, avocat, vice-président pour les affaires juridiques. Angelica Roget a été désignée comme trésorière. Le comité de la PEC a approuvé les comptes 2007 et a discuté et adopté son plan d'action pour 2008.

***15.01.2008. PEC Condemns Killing of Norwegian Reporter as Taliban Suicide Killers Attack Kabul Hotel

The Press Emblem Campaign today condemned the killing of Norwegian journalist Carsten Thomassen, who was one of six victims in a Taliban suicide squad attack on a luxury Kabul hotel on Monday.

Thomassen, who worked for the Oslo newspaper Dagbladet, was in Afghanistan reporting on the visit of Jonas Gahr Støre, the Norwegian Foreign Minister. There were reports that he was shot in the back. He died later in hospital while undergoing surgery. He was shot when Taliban terrorists broke into the heavily-guarded Serena Hotel.

This attack once again shows that Afghanistan is one of the world’s most dangerous spots for journalists. It shows that journalists are more and more frequently victims of terrorists' attacks against civilians. Our norwegian colleague is already the fifth victim among journalists since the beginning of the year (see The Media ticking Clock).