2021-2020

26.12.2021. Afghanistan most dangerous country for scribes in 2021 - Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) expresses serious concern over the negative development to Afghan media

By PEC’s south Asia representative Nava Thakuria

Geneva: As the year 2021 sets to finish its cycle, Afghanistan emerges as the most dangerous country for scribes with 12 journo-casualties, followed by Mexico (10 dead), Pakistan (7), and India (6). The south Asian nation also lost at least 10 media workers to the Covid-19 complications till date, said Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body.

Since the Taliban take over the country in August, it also witnessed the collapse of over 150 print media outlets following new
restrictions and many opted for online news services. Thousands of professional journalists lost their jobs and many left their country for safer places to practice journalism. Afghan women journalists have to face the worst situation as they are restricted from various outdoor activities.

Financial crisis is looming large over the Afghan media as the newspapers lost readership and commercial advertisement revenues drastically in the last four months. Almost half of the media outlets including radio and televisions in Kabul had closed down their operations leaving thousands of media workers jobless that put them in acute crisis with no or little hope of revival.

“PEC expresses serious concern over the negative development to Afghan media. Lately a young reporter (Javid Yousufi) was stabbed in Kabul by the miscreants. Other localities like Balk, Takhar and Kunduz also witnessed physical attacks on journalists in the last few days. The regime in Kabul must protect the journalists as they are doing their duties,” said Blaise Lempen, secretary-general of PEC.

He also appreciated the management of TOLO news, the country’s first recognized news channel presenting news in Dari and Pashto languages since August 2010, for continuing to engage female reporter-news anchors defying the Taliban restrictions. Speaking to PEC’s south Asia representative Nava Thakuria, an Afghan lady reporter expressed optimism that other media outlets would also follow the same principle of not bowing down to the Taliban regime.

16.12.2021. MYANMAR. Burmese photojournalist dies in military custody, PEC deplores

by Nava Thakuria, PEC South-East Asia Representative

Geneva: Freelance photojournalist Ko Soe Naing died lately under the Myanmar military custody and thus the young scribe becomes the first media-victims in the country (also known as Burma or Brahmadesh) after the 1 February 2021 military coup that deposed the democratically elected Aung San Suu Kyi led government in Naypietaw.

Naing, who used to contribute for various media outlets of the south-east Asian country, was arrested from Yangon while he was
covering an anti-junta demonstration on 10 December (Human Rights Day) in the former capital of Myanmar. Later he was sent to a military interrogation centre, where he died probably on 14 December. Naing left behind his wife, a minor son and other relatives.

“Unconfirmed reports suggest that nearly 90 Burmese citizens died during interrogation since the coup day. With the ground input, we claim that Ko Soe Naing is the first media worker died in Myanmar military custody since 1 February. We reiterate our demand to Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing for releasing all prisoners including the journalists,” said Blaise Lempen, secretary-general of PEC.

Speaking to Nava Thakuria, PEC’s south-east Asia representative, a Yangon (formerly Rangoon)-based journalist informed that the Burmese photojournalist was initially trained as a graphic designer and later he started taking photographs of various anti-military demonstrations.

In some occasions, his photographs were also used by a number of outside agencies, which gave Naing instant visibility inside the
country.

Ethnic Shan journalists jailed in Myanmar, PEC deplores sentences

Geneva: Three ethnic Shan journalists along with a civilian were imprisoned for three years recently by a military court in Myanmar for
spreading misinformation about the regime in Naypyidaw. Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body, deplores the
sentences and urges the military junta to respect the freedom of press.

Editor Nann Nann Tai (also known as Nann Nway Nway Hlaing), publisher Ko Tin Aung Kyaw and female reporter Nan Win Yi of Kanbawza Tai News
along with Ko Sai Sithu, who were detained by the security forces from Hopong locality of Shan State on 24 March, continued to be in
Nyaungshwe prison and incidentally the verdict came on Human Rights Day.

Quoting Ko Zay Tai, chief editor of the independent news portal with the focus on Shan State, The Irrawaddy reported that the junta forces
detained Ko Sai Sithu just as a hostage. Moreover, the military personnel claim that he is also a professional reporter. Since the 1
February military coup, the south-east Asian nation continues to witness unrelented harassment of media workers.

“Journalism must not be identified as a crime and they should be allowed to perform their duties by the military rulers of Myanmar. We
urge the Min Aung Hlaing led military regime to sanction an unconditional release of all imprisoned media workers,” said Blaise
Lempen, secretary-general of PEC.

Various organizations of Myanmar (also known as Burma) claim that over 1,300 people have been killed by the security forces since the coup
deposing Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratically elected government. More than 10,000 anti-junta demonstrators were arrested from various parts
of the country, where over 120 media persons also faced detention and among them 25 are still behind bars.

A few days back, video journalist Ma Hmu Yadanar Khet Moh Moh Tun and photojournalist Ko Kaung Sett Lin sustained serious injuries during an
anti-junta protest march in Yangon as it was rammed by a military vehicle. Speaking to Nava Thakuria, PEC’s south-east Asia representative, a Yangon-based journalist informed that both of them are now recovering in the hospital, however they still remain under detention.

09.12.2021. PEC annual report. Afghanistan and Mexico most dangerous countries in 2021 for journalists -

French, Spanish and Arabic after English - List of victims on our page Casualties

Geneva, December 9, 2021 (PEC) Afghanistan and Mexico are the most dangerous countries for media work this year, the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) said in its annual report in Geneva on Thursday in view of Human Rights Day. Since January, 77 media workers have been killed in 28 countries around the world.

Afghanistan leads with 12 assassinations, ahead of Mexico where 10 journalists were killed. Among the most dangerous countries are Pakistan (7), India (6), the Philippines (4), Yemen (4), and Democratic Republic of Congo (3).

Two deaths were recorded in Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Burkina-Faso, Colombia, as well as in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia and Turkey.

Finally, one victim has been identified in the following countries: Ecuador, Gaza, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Lebanon, Netherlands, Syria, and United States of America.

Improvement in Latin America

By region, Asia, with 40 dead (+7), is ahead of Latin America 17 (-10), Africa 14 (+5), Europe 5 (+2) and North America 1 (+1).

“The number of journalists killed decreased by 8% compared to the same period of last year, a slight improvement. Improvement has taken place in Latin America outside of Mexico, deterioration is observed in Africa and Europe. Mexico and Afghanistan are among the most dangerous countries for journalists for many years, but the rise in Africa is particularly worrying”, commented PEC Secretary General Blaise Lempen.

In Europe, the targeted killings of 3 journalists, in Greece, Georgia and the Netherlands is a very sad development. In Burma (Myanmar) after the coup and in Afghanistan after the departure of the NATO troops, press freedom has registered a very serious setback.

Of the 77 journalists murdered, 29 were in war zones (Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Burkina Faso, DRC, Ethiopia, Gaza, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen). Terrorist groups were responsible of at least 20 murders (Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen), an increase compared to previous years.

The PEC strongly condemns these attacks and calls for those responsible for these crimes to be brought to justice.

Over the last 5 years, Mexico has recorded the highest victims (66), ahead of Afghanistan (53), then India (40), Pakistan (35), Syria (29), the Philippines (22), Iraq (18), Yemen (17), and Somalia (16).

In ten years, from 2012 to 2021, 1150 journalists were killed, or 115 per year, 2.2 per week, according to figures from the PEC.

One positive development, says PEC President Hedayat Abdel Nabi is that the awareness across the globe has become more widespread due to the impressive engagement of media colleagues spreading the message of media protection and the safety of journalists as well as press freedom.

More than 1900 journalists have also died from Covid-19 since March 2020, among them at least 1300 since January this year. The PEC will make a special report at a later stage.

The PEC lists all killed media workers, whether or not their deaths are related to their professional activity. It is indeed difficult to prove that a crime takes place connected to the work of a journalist without independent and comprehensive investigations which are often lacking.

L’Afghanistan et le Mexique pays les plus dangereux pour les journalistes en 2021

Genève, 9 Décembre 2021 (PEC) L’Afghanistan et le Mexique ont été les pays les plus dagereux pour les journalistes cette année, a indiqué jeudi à Genève la Presse Emblème Campagne (PEC) dans son rapport annuel en vue de la Journée des droits de l'Homme. Depuis janvier, 77 travailleurs des médias ont été tués dans 28 pays.

L’Afghanistan a recensé le plus de victimes, avec 12 tués, devant le Mexique où 10 journalistes ont été assassinés. Parmi les pays les plus dangereux viennent ensuite le Pakistan (7 tués), l’Inde (6), les Philippines (4), le Yemen (4), et la République démocratique du Congo (3).

Deux journalistes ont été tués en Azerbaïdjan, au Bangladesh, au Brésil, au Burkina Faso, en Colombie ainsi qu’en Ethiopie, au Kenya, au Nigeria, en Somalie et en Turquie.

Une victime a été recensée dans les pays suivants: Equateur, Etats-Unis d’Amérique, Gaza, Géorgie, Ghana, Grèce, Guatemala, Haïti, Liban, Pays-Bas, Syrie.

Amélioration en Amérique latine

Par région du monde, l’Asie est en tête avec 40 victimes (+7), devant l’Amérique latine 17 (-10), l’Afrique 14 (+5), l’Europe 5 (+2) et l’Amérique du Nord 1 (+1).

“Le nombre de journalistes tués a diminué de 8% par rapport à la même période de l’an dernier, une légère amélioration. Une amélioration a eu lieu en Amérique latine en dehors du Mexique, par contre une détérioration est observée en Afrique et en Europe. Le Mexique et l’Afghanistan sont parmi les pays les plus dangereux depuis plusieurs années, mais l’augmentation en Afrique est particulièrement inquiétante”, a déclaré le secrétaire général de la PEC Blaise Lempen.

En Europe, les assassinats ciblés de trois journalistes, en Grèce, en Géorgie et aux Pays-Bas est un développement affligeant. En Birmanie (Myanmar) après le coup d’Etat militaire et en Afghanistan après le départ des troupes de l’OTAN, la liberté de la presse a enregistré un très grave revers.

Sur les 77 journalistes tués, 29 l’ont été dans des zones de guerre (Afghanistan, Azerbaïdjan, Burkina Faso, Ethiopie, Gaza, République démocratique du Congo, Somalie, Syrie et Yemen). Des groupes terroristes ont été responsables d’au moins 20 assassinats (Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Pakistan, Somalie, Yemen), en hausse par rapport aux années précédentes.

La PEC condamne fermement ces attaques et demande à ce que leurs responsables soient poursuivis et traduits en justice pour leurs crimes.

Sur les cinq dernières années, le Mexique a enregistré le plus grand nombre de victimes (66), devant l’Afghanistan (53), l’Inde (40), le Pakistan (35), la Syrie (29), les Philippines (22), l’Irak (18), le Yemen (17) et la Somalie (16).

En dix ans, de 2012 à 2021, 1150 journalistes ont été tués, ou 115 par année, soit 2,2 par semaine, selon les chiffres de la PEC.

Un développement positif, a souligné la présidente de la PEC Hedayat Abdel Nabi, est que la sensibilisation au problème s’est accrue autour du globe grâce à l’engagement impressionnant de professionnels des médias qui ont partagé le message de la protection des journalistes et de la liberté de la presse.

Plus de 1900 journalistes ont par ailleurs succombé au virus du Covid-19 depuis le début de la pandémie en mars 2020, dont 1300 depuis le début de cette année. La PEC fera un rapport spécial à un stade ultérieur.

La PEC recense tous les travailleurs des médias tués, que leur mort soit liée ou non à leur activité profesionnelle. Il est en effet difficile de prouver qu’un crime a eu lieu en raison du travail d’un journaliste sans des enquêtes complètes et indépendantes qui manquent le plus souvent.

Afganistán y México, los países más peligrosos para los periodistas en 2021

Ginebra, 9 de diciembre (PEC).- Afganistán y México son los países más peligrosos para el trabajo de los medios de comunicación este año, según ha declarado la Campaña del Emblema de la Prensa (PEC, por sus siglas en inglés) en su informe anual, presentado el jueves en Ginebra en vista del Dia de los Derechos Humanos. Desde enero de 2021, 77 trabajadores de los medios de comunicación han sido asesinados en 28 países del mundo.

Afganistán está a la cabeza, con 12 asesinatos, por delante de México, donde murieron 10 periodistas. Entre los países más peligrosos están Pakistán (7), India (6), Yemen (4), Filipinas (4) y República Democrática del Congo (3 asesinados).

Se registraron dos asesinatos en Azerbaiyán, Bangladesh, Brasil, Burkina-Faso y Colombia, así como en Etiopía, Kenia, Nigeria, Somalia y Turquía.

Por último, se ha identificado una víctima en los siguientes países: Ecuador, Gaza, Georgia, Ghana, Grecia, Guatemala, Haití, Líbano, Países Bajos, Siria y Estados Unidos de América.

Mejora en América Latina

Por regiones, Asia, con 40 muertos (+7), está por delante de América Latina 17 (-10), África 14 (+5), Europa 5 (+2) y América del Norte 1 (+1).

"El número de periodistas asesinados ha disminuido un 8% con respecto al mismo periodo del año pasado, lo que supone una ligera mejora. Esta se ha producido en América Latina, fuera de México ; y el deterioro se observa en África y Europa. México y Afganistán figuran, desde hace años, entre los países más peligrosos para los periodistas, pero el aumento en África es especialmente preocupante", ha comentado el Secretario General de la PEC, Blaise Lempen.

En Europa, el asesinato selectivo de tres periodistas, en Grecia, Georgia y Holanda, es un hecho muy triste. En Birmania, tras el golpe de Estado, y en Afganistán, tras la salida de las tropas de la OTAN, la libertad de prensa ha registrado un gravísimo retroceso.

De los 77 periodistas asesinados, 29 lo fueron en zonas de guerra (Afganistán, Azerbaiyán, Burkina Faso, RDC, Etiopía, Gaza, Somalia, Siria y Yemen). Los grupos terroristas fueron responsables de al menos 20 asesinatos (Afganistán, Burkina Faso, Pakistán, Somalia y Yemen), lo que supone un aumento con respecto a años anteriores.

El PEC condena enérgicamente estos ataques y pide que los responsables de estos crímenes sean llevados ante la justicia.

En los últimos 5 años, México es el país que más víctimas ha registrado (66), por delante de Afganistán (53), después de India (40), Pakistán (35), Siria (29), Filipinas (22), Irak (18), Yemen (17) y Somalia (16).

En diez años, de 2012 a 2021, fueron asesinados 1,150 periodistas, es decir, 115 por año ; 2,2 por semana, según las cifras de la PEC.

Según la Presidenta de la PEC, Hedayat Abdel Nabi, un hecho positivo es que la concientización en todo el mundo se ha extendido gracias al compromiso impresionante de los colegas de los medios de comunicación para difundir el mensaje relacionado con la seguridad de los periodistas, así como el respeto de la libertad de prensa.

Además, desde marzo de 2020 hasta la fecha, han muerto más de 1,900 periodistas por Covid-19, entre ellos al menos 1,300 desde enero de este año. La PEC hará un informe especial más adelante.

La PEC hace una lista de todos los trabajadores de los medios de comunicación muertos, estén o no relacionados con su actividad profesional. En efecto, es difícil demostrar que un crimen se debe al trabajo de un periodista sin la realización de investigaciones independientes y exhaustivas, que a menudo no existen.

1788 ضحايا كورونا من الصحفيين في 18 شهراً والعدد قابل للزيادة إلى 2000

جنيف في 2 سبتمبر 2021 (حملة الشارة) – أعلنت حملة الشارة الدولية من مقرها في جنيف أن عدد ضحايا كورونا من الصحفيين يرتفع إذ بلغ 1788 في 80 دولة خلال الأشهر الـ 18 الأخيرة منذ بداية الوباء.

وأضافت الحملة أنه خلال شهري يوليو وأغسطس راح ضحية الوباء 117 من الصحفيين أي أكثر من 2 في اليوم. كما زادت حالات الوفيات من الفلبين إلى الجزائر ومن إندونسيسا إلى روسيا ومن البرازيل إلى الولايات المتحدة ومن كوبا إلى بنجلاديش. 

وصرح سكرتير حملة الشارة الدولية بليز ليمبان أن الصحفيين من المهن أكثر تعرضا للوباء، في الوقت الذي انخفض فيه التسجيل لضحايا الوباء إلا أن برامج التطعيم ضده غير كافية في معظم الدول.

وأضاف ليمبان أن بعض السياسيين وبعض الإعلاميين ينشرون معلومات خاطئة عن الوباء وبصفة خاصة في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية حيث سقط ضحية للوباء في شهر أغسطس 3 من ألمع الإعلاميين لأنهم رفضوا التطعيم ضد الوباء 2 في فلوريدا وواحد في تنسي.

وحذرت الحملة من أن ظهور أنواع جديدة من الوباء يمكن أن تدفع بالأعداد من ضحايا الوباء إلى 2000 مع نهاية العام.

تأتي البرازيل في مقدمة الدول التي سقط فيها صحفيون من الوباء: 280 ثم تأتي الهند في المرتبة الثانية: 270، وقد عادت الأمور إلى طبيعتها خلال الصيف الحالي بعد تفاقم الحالات في الربيع. ثم تأتي بيرو: 198، المكسيك: 120، كولومبيا: 77، بنجلاديش: 65، إيطاليا: 59 والولايات المتحدة الأمريكية: 55.

ومن بين الدول الأكثر تضرراً: فنزويلا: 53، إكوادور: 51، الأرجنتين: 43، إندونيسيا: 41، روسيا: 33، إيران: 32، بريطانيا: 31، جمهورية الدومينكان: 28، باكستان: 27، تركيا 27، بوليفيا: 20، نيبال 19، هندوراس: 18، جنوب إفريقيا 18.

أكثر من نصف الضحايا توفوا في أمريكا اللاتينية 954، آسيا: 485، أوروبا: 206، إفريقيا 86، أمريكا الشمالية 57.

لمزيد من المعلومات رجاء تصفح موقع الحملة لقائمة الضحايا

21.08.2021. MYANMAR (BURMA): PEC expresses concern over continued harassment to Burmese journalists

by Nava Thakuria, PEC South Asia Representative

Geneva/Guwahati: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the Switzerland based global media rights body, expresses serious concern over the continued harassments to journalists and media workers in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma or Brahmadesh), by the Burmese junta which dethroned the democratically elected government with a military coup on 1 February 2021.

The military rulers have detained nearly one hundred journalists, who dared to question their credential to rule the south-east Asian nation, and over 40 are still behind the bars. The generals, led by Min Aung Hlaing, who has recently declared himself as the Premier of Myanmar, continue to target the media persons with arbitrary raid, detention and arrests. They have otherwise tried to destroy the entity of free press.

“Not only the Burmese journalists, the junta now wants to diktat the foreign media outlets with a proper way of describing the military regime, which grabbed the political power deposing Daw Aung San Suu Kyi led National League for Democracy (NLD) government in NayPieTaw,” said Blaise Lempen, general secretary of PEC.

Recently, the military officials expressed their resentments as the media outlets continue using the term ‘military junta’ to describe the regime and they warned not to repeat the mistake. Specifically indicating the foreign news agencies, which are reporting about
Myanmar, they asked the correspondents to stop using wrong terms and also spread ‘fake news’. Otherwise, the military generals threatened to take of necessary actions.

“This week, two more journalists were detained that increases the number of scribes and other media workers arrested up to 95 since the coup took place. Military personnel had recently arrested outspoken freelance journalist U Sithu Aung Myint and the foreign media contributor Ma Htet Htet Khine from Yangon,” said Aung Zaw, a senior Burmese journalist, while speaking to PEC’s India representative Nava Thakuria from an undisclosed location.

He also added that three women journalists were arrested in the month of July. Released media persons admitted that they were tortured in the name of interrogation during their detention. Families of journalists under detention including Han Thar Nyein, Min Nyo, Mya Wunn Yangon, Myo Myat Myat Pan, Thin Thin Aung, Tu Tu Tha, Than Htike Aung, etc are worried about their safety and security as the Covid-19 is also spreading across the poverty-stricken country.

For records, over one thousand Burmese nationals have lost their lives participating in various protest-demonstrations against the military regime. More than seven thousand people have been arrested and over five thousand individuals are either detained or sentenced, whereas nearly 230,000 ethnic minorities were displaced since the recent military takeover in the land of golden pagodas.

13.08.2021. INDIA. The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) demands probe into Bihar scribe’s death

by Nava Thakuria, PEC India Representative

Geneva/Guwahati: Expressing shock at the mysterious death of a television scribe in Bihar, the Switzerland based media rights body Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) demands an authentic probe into the incidents that led to Manish Kumar Singh’s untimely demise so that the probable culprits can be punished under the law.

It may be mentioned that Manish, who worked for Sudarshan news channel, was missing for some days and his semi-decomposed body was found in Champaran locality on 10 August 2021. Both of his eyes were reportedly removed. Hailed from Paharpur village, the victim’s father (Sanjay Kumar Singh) is also a journalist engaged with a Hindi newspaper.

Sudarshan channel editor Suresh Chavhanke claimed that Manish was kidnaped and murdered. He also added that two individuals namely Mohammad Arsad Alam and Amarendra Singh were arrested by the police in connection with the crime. The outspoken editor alleged that Bihar police was informed about his missing but did nothing as if they ‘waited passively for the murder’.

“After Andhra Pradesh scribe Chenna Keshav’s murder recently, it is the fourth incident of journo-deaths to assailants during 2021 in the populous country. Bihar government, led by Nitish Kumar, should do the needful to punish the culprits under relevant laws as there should be no impunity,” said Blaise Lempen, general secretary of PEC.

Last year, India recorded the highest number of journalists killed worldwide with 15 fatalities among 92 media persons killed in
different countries. PEC documents 48 journalists who lost their lives across the globe since 1st January this year, where Afghanistan tops the list with 6 journo-victims followed by Mexico & Pakistan (4 each), etc.

“India lost two journalists (Ashu Yadav and Sulabh Srivastava) to perpetrators in the first half of 2021. However, it witnessed more
than 270 journalists who fall victims of the Covid-19 pandemic since March 2020,” said Nava Thakuria, PEC’s country representative, adding that the country should consider formulating special protection laws for the media persons at the earliest.

10.08.2021. INDIA. The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) PEC demands thorough probe into journalist Keshav’s murder

by Nava Thakuria, PEC India Representative

Geneva/ Guwahati: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the Switzerland based global media rights body, expresses shock at the murder of journalist Ch. Keshav in Andhra Pradesh of central India and demanded a thorough probe into the incidents which led to his death, so that the culprits can be booked under the law. He is the third journalist to be killed in India this year.

Local media reports reveal that Keshav (35), who worked as a reporter with EV5 youtube channel, was stabbed to death by a suspended police constable with supports from another individual on 8 August 2021 at Nandyal locality of Kurnool district. It is suspected that Chennakeshavalu was targeted because of his reporting on corruptionand gambling issues.

The accused policeman Venkata Subbaiah faced the departmental suspension because of media reports on his illegal activities
including gambling. Hence it is assumed that he intentionally killed the young reporter while calling Keshav for some discussions. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital but he succumbed to injuries.

“Keshav’s murder is the third incident of journo-killings during 2021 in the populous democratic country. The State government, led by YS Jagan MohanReddy, must do the needful to punish the culprits under relevant laws. There must be no impunity,” said Blaise Lempen, general secretary of PEC.

Last year, India recorded the highest number of journalists killed worldwide with 15 fatalities among 92 media persons killed in different countries. According to the PEC, 45 journalists have lost their lives across the globe since 1rst January this year.

“India has slightly improved so far its media casualties to violence compared to last year, even though we have lost the
highest number of journalists to Covid-19 till date in the world,” said Nava Thakuria, PEC’s representative in India, adding that
in the first half of 2021 the south Asian nation lost journalists Ashu Yadav and Sulabh Srivastava to perpetrators.

05.08.2021. MYANMAR 6 MONTHS AFTER THE COUP - The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) demands relief to journalists, political prisoners, as the pandemic claims many victims in the country

by Nava Thakuria, PEC South-Asia Representative

Geneva/Guwahati: Expressing serious concerns over the latest crisis faced by the people of Myanmar (formerly Burma) due to Covid-19 pandemic under a military regime in NayPieTaw, the Switzerland based global media rights body ‘Press Emblem Campaign’ demands all political prisoners including the journalists to be released without any prerequisite.

It may be mentioned that military rulers of south-east Asian nation, have killed at least 945 people, arrested over 7,026, detained (or sentenced) nearly 5,474 and displaced more than 230,000 ethnic minorities since the coup on 1 February 2021, overthrowing the democratically elected Aung San Suu Kyi’s government (even putting the Nobel laureate behind bars).

“The Burmese junta has arrested no less than 98 journalists where 43 scribes are still behind the bars. Moreover, the military authority has crushed the free press compelling a number of media houses to lock their offices and even forced many journalists to go on hide to avoid the harassment (if not arrest) on a daily basis,” said Blaise Lempen, general secretary of PEC. "In times of pandemic it is of the utmost importance that journalists be able to inform freely about the evolution of the disease", he added.

Recently a group of Nobel peace laureates came out with the statement to call for release of Myanmar’s leading women rights defender Thin Thin Aung, who cofounded the Mizzima News group based in Yangon. Ms Aung is among hundreds who are facing imprisonments over materials (remain unpleasant to junta) published and broadcast by media outlets.

“Mizzima is outlawed and our offices are repeatedly raided. We are now operating from hideouts,” said Soe Myint, the chief editor of Mizzima group while speaking to PEC’s India representative Nava Thakuria, adding that despite all threats and troubles multiple media outlets of Mizzima continue to operate with primary aim to oppose the military coup and help restoring multi-party democracy in Myanmar.

Meanwhile, exile activists argued that the military chief Min Aung Hlaing is trying to legitimise the Burmese junta with asking
international community for offering humanitarian aids to Myanmar’s 60 million people. They pointed out that Myanmar is presently facing the pandemic with lesser number of vaccinated citizens and low-quality medical cares across the country.

“The human rights and humanitarian disasters have now been compounded in Myanmar following the latest wave of flood. The military junta has weaponized both the corona and flood for its own political gain,” said Khin Ohmar, chairperson of Progressive Voice, a participatory rights-based policy research and advocacy organization, while responding to PEC queries, adding that the junta is using relief efforts to the health disaster as a ploy to gain its much-needed legitimacy.

06.07.2021. PEC press release (French, Spanish and Arabic after English)

PEC: 35 journalists killed in first six months of 2021

Geneva, July 6, 2021 (PEC) In the first six months of the year, 35 journalists were killed in 21 countries around the world, the Emblem Campaign Press (PEC) reported on Tuesday. Afghanistan was the most dangerous country with five journalists killed.

The casualty figure is stable compared to the previous year: during the same period last year, also 35 media workers were killed (92 for the whole of 2020).

Five victims have been reported in Afghanistan since the start of the year, three in Mexico and three in Pakistan. Two victims were reported in the following countries: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, and India.

One victim in the following countries: Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Gaza, Greece, Haiti, Lebanon, Nigeria, Somalia, Turkey, United States of America, and Yemen.

Most of the victims were targeted intentionally. Almost half of the journalists were killed in an area of ​​armed conflict (Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Nagorno-Karabakh, Gaza, Tigray, North Kivu, tribal areas in Pakistan, Somalia). Terrorist groups are responsible for nearly a third of the casualties.

"The PEC strongly condemns these killings and urges the local authorities to shed light on the causes of these crimes in order to arrest and prosecute those responsible," said PEC General Secretary Blaise Lempen. "For the remainder of the year, we are particularly concerned about the situation of the media in Afghanistan, and in particular of women journalists in that country, due to the withdrawal of NATO troops," he added.

At least 1580 journalists dead from Covid-19

The Covid-19 pandemic also continues to claim many victims among media workers. Since March 2020, the PEC has identified more than 1580 journalists dead from Covid-19 in 78 countries.

The number of victims slowed during the month of June, especially in India, with around 60 dead, compared to more than 200 in the world
in May. Latin America witnessed the highest casualties, with more than half of the victims. During the month of June, the highest number of
journalists dead from Covid-19 was recorded in Brazil, one every 2 days.

Until June 30, 2021, the PEC counted the highest number of victims in 20 countries: India (259) ahead of Brazil (247), Peru (163) and Mexico (115).

Next in line are Colombia with 69 dead, Italy 58, Bangladesh 54, Ecuador 51, the United States 49, Venezuela 47, Argentina 36, Iran 32, Great Britain 30, the Dominican Republic 27, the Pakistan 27, Turkey 27 also, Russia 25, Nepal 19, Bolivia 18, and Panama 16.

The sources of the PEC are the national associations of journalists, the local media, the regional correspondents of the PEC and social networks.

PEC : 35 journalistes tués au cours des six premiers mois de 2021

Genève, le 6 juillet 2021 (PEC) Au cours des six premiers mois de l’année, 35 journalistes ont été tués dans 21 pays dans le monde, a indiqué mardi la Presse Emblème Campagne (PEC). L’Afghanistan a été le pays le plus dangereux avec cinq journalistes tués.

Le chiffre des victimes est stable d’une année sur l’autre : au cours de la même période de l’an dernier, également 35 travailleurs des médias avaient été tués (92 pour toute l’année 2020).

Cinq victimes sont à déplorer en Afghanistan depuis le début de l’année, trois au Mexique et trois au Pakistan. Viennent ensuite avec deux victimes dans chaque pays : l’Azerbaïdjan, le Bangladesh, le Brésil, le Burkina Faso, l’Inde, et l’Éthiopie.

Une victime est à déplorer dans les pays suivants : Colombie, Équateur, Grèce, États-Unis, Gaza, Haïti, Liban, Nigeria, République démocratique du Congo, Somalie, Turquie, Yémen.

La plupart des victimes ont été visées intentionnellement. Près de la moitié des journalistes ont été tués dans une zone de conflit armé (Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Haut-Karabakh, Gaza, Tigré, Nord Kivu, zones tribales au Pakistan, Somalie). Des groupes terroristes sont à l’origine de près d’un tiers des victimes.

« La PEC condamne fermement ces meurtres et exhorte les autorités locales à faire toute la lumière sur les causes de ces crimes afin d’en arrêter et juger les responsables», a déclaré le secrétaire général de la PEC Blaise Lempen. « Pour la suite de l’année, nous sommes particulièrement inquiets pour la situation des médias en Afghanistan, et en particulier des femmes journalistes dans ce pays, en raison du retrait des troupes de l’OTAN», a-t-il ajouté.

Au moins 1580 journalistes morts du Covid-19

La pandémie du Covid-19 continue par ailleurs de faire de nombreuses victimes parmi les travailleurs des médias. Depuis mars 2020, la PEC a recensé plus de 1580 journalistes morts du Covid-19 dans 78 pays.

Le nombre des victimes a ralenti au cours de mois de juin, en particulier en Inde, avec une soixantaine de morts, contre plus de 200 dans le monde en mai. Il reste le plus élevé en Amérique latine, avec plus de la moitié des victimes. Au cours du mois de juin le plus grand nombre de journalistes morts du Covid-19 a été enregistré au Brésil, un tous les 2 jours.

Jusqu’au 30 juin 2021, la PEC a dénombré le plus grand nombre de victimes en Inde (259) devant le Brésil (247), le Pérou (163) et le Mexique (115).

Viennent ensuite la Colombie avec 69 morts, l’Italie 58, le Bangladesh 54, l’Équateur 51, les États-Unis 49, le Venezuela 47, l’Argentine 36, l’Iran 32, la Grande-Bretagne 30, la République dominicaine 27, le Pakistan 27, la Turquie 27 également, la Russie 25, le Népal 19, la Bolivie 18, le Panama 16 pour les 20 premiers pays les plus touchés.

Les sources de la PEC sont les associations nationales de journalistes, les médias locaux, les correspondants régionaux de la PEC et les réseaux sociaux.

PEC: 35 periodistas asesinados en los primeros seis meses de 2021

Ginebra, 6 de julio de 2021 (PEC). - En los primeros seis meses del año, 35 periodistas fueron asesinados en 21 países de todo el mundo, informó este martes la Campaña Emblema de Prensa (PEC, por sus siglas en inglés).

Afganistán fue el país más peligroso con cinco periodistas muertos.

La cifra de víctimas es estable año tras año: durante el mismo período del año pasado, también murieron 35 trabajadores de los medios de comunicación (92 por todo el 2020).

Se han reportado cinco víctimas en Afganistán desde principios de año, tres en México y tres en Pakistán. Luego vienen con dos víctimas en cada país: Azerbaiyán, Bangladés, Brasil, Burkina Faso, India y Etiopía.

Una víctima debe ser deplorada en los siguientes países: Colombia, Ecuador, Grecia, Estados Unidos, Gaza, Haití, Líbano, Nigeria, República Democrática del Congo, Somalia, Turquía, Yemen.

La mayoría de las víctimas fueron atacadas intencionalmente. Casi la mitad de los periodistas murieron en una zona de conflicto armado (Afganistán, Burkina Faso, Nagorno-Karabaj, Gaza, Tigray, Kivu del Norte, áreas tribales en Pakistán, Somalia).

Los grupos terroristas son responsables de casi un tercio de las víctimas.

"La PEC condena enérgicamente estos asesinatos e insta a las autoridades locales a esclarecer las causas de estos crímenes para poder arrestar y llevar ante la justicia a los responsables", dijo el secretario general de la PEC, Blaise Lempen.

“Para el resto del año, estamos particularmente preocupados por la situación de los medios en Afganistán, y en particular por las mujeres periodistas en ese país, debido a la retirada de las tropas de la OTAN”, agregó.

Al menos 1.580 periodistas muertos por Covid-19

La pandemia de Covid-19 también continúa cobrando muchas víctimas entre los trabajadores de los medios. Desde marzo de 2020, la PEC ha identificado al menos a 1.580 periodistas muertos por Covid-19 en 78 países.

El número de víctimas disminuyó durante el mes de junio, especialmente en la India, con alrededor de 60 muertos, frente a más de 200 en
el mundo en mayo. Las cifras más altas se encuentran en América Latina, con más de la mitad de las víctimas. Durante el mes de junio se
registró en Brasil el mayor número de periodistas muertos por Covid-19, uno cada 2 días.

Hasta el 30 de junio de 2021, la PEC contabilizó el mayor número de víctimas en India (259) por delante de Brasil (247), Perú (163) y México (115).

Luego viene Colombia con 69 muertos, Italia 58, Bangladés 54, Ecuador 51, Estados Unidos 49, Venezuela 47, Argentina 36, Irán 32, Gran Bretaña 30, República Dominicana 27, Pakistán 27, Turquía 27 también, Rusia 25, Nepal 19, Bolivia 18, Panamá 16 para los primeros 20 países más afectados.

Las fuentes de la PEC son las asociaciones nacionales de periodistas, los medios locales, los corresponsales regionales de la PEC y las redes sociales.

بيان صحفي

حملة الشارة: 35 صحفياً قُتِلوا في النصف الأول من العام

جنيف في 6 يوليو (حملة الشارة الدولية) – أعلنت حملة الشارة الدولية أن 35 صحفياً قُتِلوا في النصف الأول من العام الحالي، وأن أفغانستان شهدت أسوأ هذه الحوادث بمقتل 5 صحفيين.

وأكدت حملة الشارة، في بيانها، أن رقم النصف الأول من العام الحالي هو نفس رقم النصف الأول من العام الماضي، في حين قُتِل 92 صحفياً في عام 2020 بأكمله.

وسجل 5 قتلى من الصحفيين في أفغانستان و3 في المكسيك و3 في باكستان، و2 في كلٍ من أذريبجان، بنجلاديش، البرازيل، بوركينا فاسو، إثيوبيا والهند.

وصحفي واحد قُتِل في كلٍ من كولومبيا وجمهورية الكونغو الديمقراطية وإكوادور وغزة واليونان وهايتي، ولبنان، ونيجيريا، والصومال، وتركيا، والولايات المتحدة الأمريكية واليمن.

وقد تم استهداف معظم الصحفيين الذين قُتِلوا عن عمد وقُتِل نصفهم على الأقل في مناطق النزاع المسلح: أفغانستان، بوركينا فاسو، ناجورنو كاراباخ، غزة، شمال كيفو، المناطق القبلية في باكستان والصومال، وقد كانت الجماعات الإرهابية مسئولة عن هذه الجرائم في ثلثي الضحايا.

وقد صرح سكرتير عام حملة الشارة بليز ليمبان بأن الحملة تدين بشدة هذه الجرائم، وتطالب السلطات المحلية بالتحقيق في أسباب هذه الجرائم من أجل إلقاء القبض على مرتكبيها وتقديمهم للمحاكمة. 

وأضاف ليمبان أن الحملة تظل قلقة للغاية من الآن وحتى نهاية العام عن حال الإعلام في أفغانستان، وبصفة خاصة وضع النساء من الصحفيين بسبب انسحاب قوات حلف الأطلنطي من هناك.

ضحايا كورونا من الصحفيين أكثر من 1580

وأوضحت حملة الشارة أنه منذ مارس 2020 قُتِل من وباء كورونا 1580 صحفياً في 78 دولة، وانخفضت أعداد الوفيات من كورونا في شهر يونيو بوفاة 60 صحفياً من الوباء بالمقارنة بأكثر من 200 في مايو. وشهدت أمريكا اللاتينية أعلى معدلات الوفيات من كورونا فقد تُوفِى نصف العدد الإجمالي بدول القارة.

وحتى 30 يونيو 2021 سجلت حملة الشارة أعلى أعداد للوفيات من كورونا في 20 دولة: الهند: 259، ثم البرازيل: 247، بيرو: 163، المكسيك: 115، كولومبيا: 69، إيطاليا: 58، إكوادور: 51، الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية: 49، فنزويلا 47، الأرجنتين: 36، إيران: 32، بريطانيا: 30، جمهورية الدومينكان: 27، باكستان: 27، تركيا: روسيا: 25، نيبال 19، بوليفيا: 18 وبنما: 16. 

لمزيد من المعلومات برجاء تصفح موقع الحملة:



بيان حملة الشارة الدولية

وباء كورونا يحصد أكثر من 1500 صحفي في العال

جنيف في 7 يونيو 2021 (حملة الشارة) – أعلنت حملة الشارة الدولية من جنيف أن وباء كورونا تسبب في وفاة أكثر من 1500 صحفي في العالم في 77 دولة، وأن شهر مايو شهد أعلى معدلات الوفيات بين الصحفيين بوفاة 200 صحفي.

صرح سكرتير عام الحملة بليز ليمبان أنه في المتوسط تُوفى 6 صحفيين يومياً من الوباء في مايو، وهو رقم قياسي، ومن بينهم على الأقل 95 بمعدل 3 وفيات يومياً في الهند، حيث انتشار الوباء بشكل كبير، و26 في البرازيل بمعدل وفاة واحدة في اليوم.

وأضاف ليمبان أنه للأسف فإن التطعيم غير كافٍ في الدول النامية لمعالجة الوباء، وتظل مهنة الصحافة خطرة في مواجهة الوباء.

ورحبت حملة الشارة الدولية بمواقف السلطات والنقابات الصحفية في بعض الدول التي تقوم بمساعدة أسر الصحفيين ضحايا الوباء، وهو اعتراف بعملهم في متابعة والتنبيه إلى خطورة الوباء. كما تحيى حملة الشارة الدول التي أدمجت الصحفيين في الصفوف الأولى للفئات التي تحتاج إلى تطعيم لمنع إصابات جديدة.

ويبدو أن عدد الضحايا بين الصحفيين أكبر من الأعداد المسجلة وبصفة خاصة في إفريقيا، ولا توجد معلومات موثقة في بعض الدول، وإن الأرقام مسجلة من خلال التغطية الإعلامية.

الهند قبل البرازيل

وطبقاً لأرقام حملة الشارة فإن الهند تأتي في المقدمة بوفاة 246 من الصحفيين منذ مارس 2020، مع الأخذ في الاعتبار أن بعض الأرقام تشير إلى وفاة أكثر من 400 صحفي في الهند، وأن عدداً كبيراً منهم في المناطق الريفية. 

ثم تأتي البرازيل في المرتبة الثانية بوفاة 239 صحفياً متقدمة على بيرو 163، ثم المكسيك: 112، ثم كولومبيا: 65، إيطاليا: 58، بنجلاديش: 53، إيكوادور: 51، الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية: 49، إيران: 32، فالأرجنتين: 30، بريطانيا: 30، جمهورية الدومينكان: 27، باكستان: 27، تركيا: 27، روسيا: 21، فنزويلا: 20، نيبال: 19، بوليفيا: 18، وبنما: 16.

كما تم تسجيل منذ مارس 2020 وفاة 15 صحفياً في مصر، و12 في هندوراس، و9 في أفغانستان و9 في فرنسا، و9 في جنوب إفريقيا، و8 في جواتيمالا، و8 في باراجواي، و7 في نيكاراجوا، و6 في أوروجواي، و5 في كينيا، و4 في كوبا، و4 في المغرب، و3 في الكاميرون و3 في إندونيسيا، و3 في الفلبين، و3 في السلفادور، و3 في السويد، و3 في زيمبابوي، ثم 2 في كلٍ من الجزائر والنمسا وبلجيكا وكندا وشيلي وكوستاريكا وغانا وجويانا وكازاخستان والعراق والبرتغال. وصحفي واحد في 25 دولة أخرى.

تأتي قارة أمريكا اللاتينية في المقدمة بـ 795 وفاة بين الصحفيين أي بزيادة 122 منذ أرقام 30 إبريل، فآسيا 406 بزيادة 152، فأوروبا 192 بزيادة 17، فإفريقيا 57 بزيادة 1، فأمريكا الشمالية 51 بزيادة 4. وتأتي الزيادة منذ 30 إبريل الماضي بعدد 296 التي تشمل وفيات من أشهر سابقة لم تسجل من قبل. 

تظل مصادر حملة الشارة هي النقابات الوطنية للصحفيين والإعلام المحلي ومراسلي حملة الشارة في العالم وشبكات التواصل الاجتماعي.

لمزيد من المعلومات برجاء تصفح موقع الشارة: 

05.06.2021. Myanmar Military Intensifies Crackdown on Journalists: The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) demands unconditional release of all scribes in Myanmar

by Nava Thakuria, PEC South Asia Representative

Geneva/Guwahati: As the imprisonment of scribes and other democratic activists under arbitrary laws becomes a new normal in Myanmar
(formerly known as Burma), the Switzerland based media rights body Press Emblem Campaign (https://pressemblem.ch/) urges the military
regime in NayPieTaw to release all media workers unreservedly.

The military junta led by general Min Aung Hlaing is presently trying its best to control the public outrages since the south-east Asian
nation faced the coup on 1 February throwing the elected government virtually led by Nobel laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi out of legitimate
power. The civil disobedient movement, called by NLD chief Suu Kyi has already resulted in the killing of over 840 demonstrators by the
security forces.

At least 85 journalists were arrested in the last four months where over 50 scribes are still behind the bars as they are facing a newly
revised law on spreading wrong information. Lately two reporters namely Ko Aung Kyaw (associated with Democratic Voice of Burma) and Ko
Zaw Zaw (working for Mizzima media group) were imprisoned by a military court for two years because of their coverages on public
unrests.

The military personnel targeted the news industries with cancelling their licences, slowing down the internet services and also physically assaulting the media workers in various occasions. Even foreign journalists are also not spared as Danny Fenster, who edits Frontier Myanmar magazine, was picked up by the armed forces recently while he was about to board a flight to his home in USA.

Mizzima chief editor Soe Myint informed PEC south & southeast Asia representative Nava Thakuria that Mr Zaw became the sixth Mizzima
staff to be detained by the militaries. Five of Mizzima members including its co-founder Thin Thin Aung are currently in jail facing
three years of imprisonment. They are sentenced under section 505(a) of the penal code, which makes it a crime to publish any alleged
rumour or misinformation with intent to cause alarm among the public or incite them to commit a crime against the government.

“We always believe and pursue that journalism can not be a crime. The media fraternity in Myanmar must get the freedom to work fearless,”
asserted PEC general secretary Blaise Lempen adding that three more journalists engaged with DVB were sentenced to seven months of
imprisonment by a Thai court as they fled Myanmar to enter Thailand recently. Lempen also demands their release and requested the Thai
government not to extradite them to Myanmar hurriedly.

04.06.2021. THE GENEVA CALL TO FREE JULIAN ASSANGE // APPEL DE GENEVE A LIBERER JULIAN ASSANGE. 

Read below the speech of PEC Secretary-General at the press conference (English and French) and the Geneva call to free Julian Assange (English and French)

To sign the GENEVA CALL, go to: https://pressclub.ch/gva-freeassange/

or: https://www.change.org/p/la-justice-du-royaume-uni-gen%C3%A8ve-lance-un-appel-pour-lib%C3%A9rer-assange

Watch the video ot the press conference on: https://pressclub.ch/gva-freeassange/

Speech of Blaise Lempen, PEC Secretary-General at the press conference (français ci-dessous):

"Just a few words to express our journalist association’s support of the Geneva Call to free Julian Assange.

Thanks first of all to David Dormino, to Anything to Say and to the Swiss Press Club. The worst thing of all to be erased from memory.

With the support of the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), David Dormino’s statues came to Geneva already in September 2015. They were then exhibited for a week at the place des Nations, in front of the headquarters of the United Nations.

We could not imagine at the time that, six years later, we would still be right where we were then.

The blind obstinacy of the judicial system and the arbitrary detention of which Julian Assange has been the victim for more than 10 years will remain, in my opinion, one of the great miscarriages of justice of the twenty-first century.

Before his detention, we received Julian Assange several times at press conferences in Geneva. I remember in particular his presentation at the Swiss Press Club on 4 November 2010, before some one hundred journalists. At the time he was denouncing the refusal of the United States to investigate the revelations published by WikiLeaks, and he spoke of a request for political asylum in Switzerland following the attacks of which he was the target.

Like other journalists, we have abundantly used the information published by Wikileaks, in particular regarding the wars in Iraq and in Afghanistan. The least we can do now is to mobilize to end the psychological torture that he is subjected to.

We are launching an appeal to the new United States administration and to President Joe Biden to rescind their request for extradition to the United States and to authorize the British judicial system to free Julian Assange immediately, for humanitarian reasons. It is time to close this case, which has already gone on far too long, and to allow Julian Assange to join his family and return to his country."

Geneva, 4 June 2021.

"Quelques mots pour exprimer le soutien de notre association de journalistes à l’Appel de Genève pour la libération de Julian Assange.

Merci d’abord à David Dormino, à Anything to Say et au Club suisse de la presse, car le pire de tout c’est l’oubli.

Avec le soutien de la Presse Emblème Campagne (PEC), les statues de David Dormino sont déjà venues à Genève, en septembre 2015. Elles avaient alors été exposées une semaine sur la place des Nations, devant le siège de l’ONU.

Nous n’imaginions pas à l’époque que près de six ans plus tard, nous en serions au même point.

L’acharnement juridique et la détention arbitraire dont Julian Assange est la victime depuis plus de 10 ans resteront à mon avis comme l’une des grandes erreurs judiciaires du XXIe siècle.

Avant sa détention, nous avions accueilli Julian Assange plusieurs fois pour des conférences de presse à Genève. Je me souviens en particulier de sa prestation au Club suisse de la presse le 4 novembre 2010, devant une centaine de journalistes. Il avait alors dénoncé le refus des États-Unis d’enquêter sur les révélations publiées par WikiLeaks et évoqué une demande d’asile politique en Suisse à la suite des attaques dont il était la cible.

Comme d’autres journalistes, nous avons largement utilisé les informations de WikiLeaks, en particulier sur le déroulement de la guerre en Irak et en Afghanistan. La moindre des choses est donc aujourd’hui de se mobiliser pour que la torture psychologique dont il est la victime prenne fin.

Nous lançons un appel à la nouvelle administration américaine et au président Joe Biden pour qu’ils mettent fin à leur demande d’extradition vers les États-Unis et autorisent la justice britannique à libérer Julian Assange dans les plus brefs délais pour des raisons humanitaires.

Il est temps de classer cette affaire qui a duré trop longtemps et de permettre à Julian Assange de retrouver sa famille et son pays."



Genève, le 4 juin 2021.

04.06.2021. THE GENEVA CALL TO FREE JULIAN ASSANGE (open for signature)

We, the citizens of Geneva and beyond, launch the "Geneva Call" to request the immediate release of Julian Assange. In severe isolation at the Belmarsh high security prison in London, the founder of WikiLeaks is threatened with extradition to the United States where he faces a prison sentence of 175 years. His only crime is to have told the truth!

In the name of respect for inalienable human rights and the values promoted by Geneva-based human rights organizations, we request:
- the British authorities to refuse the extradition of Julian Assange and to give him his freedom

- the U.S. government to drop the charges against Julian Assange without any further delay
- all democratic states, including Switzerland, to provide Julian Assange with a safe haven from further prosecution for the WikiLeaks publications
- International organizations and non-governmental organizations in Geneva to use their skills and authorities to help free Julian Assange.
- the media to continue to report courageously, independently and impartially on the Assange case and its implications for freedom of expression and freedom to investigate and publish.
- the people of Geneva, Switzerland and the world to support the Geneva Call for the immediate release of Julian Assange.

On January 4, the British judiciary refused to extradite Julian Assange on the grounds that his life would be at risk in the US prison system. Arguments about transparency and Julian Assange's right to publish, however, were dismissed. An appeal by the U.S. Department of Justice is pending and the risk of extradition remains, as does the threat of unprecedented restrictions on press freedom.

Julian Assange has been arbitrarily detained for more than ten years in conditions that, according to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer, fall under "psychological torture or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment". Julian Assange is being prosecuted in the United States on 17 charges (+ 1 other) under the Espionage Act, a law dating back more than 100 years, which can earn him 175 years in prison.

His fault? To have published some 700,000 classified documents, in particular on the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, often in collaboration with major media such as the New York Times, The Guardian, Le Monde or the ABC channel. In particular, he revealed a video of the American army showing the massacre of a dozen civilians including two journalists from a helicopter.

The documents published by WikiLeaks revealed acts and methods of operation in violation of the Geneva Conventions and
human rights. None of these violations and war crimes have been prosecuted, while the person who revealed them has been subjected to persecution for more than ten years. This is the ultimate paradox, a flagrant denial of justice, an insult to human dignity and a culpable disregard for the rule of law.

Julian Assange must be released immediately as there is no justification for holding him in near total isolation for so long. The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has been denouncing the illegal imprisonment of Julian Assange for more than five years. Today, his physical and mental health is seriously deteriorating according to witnesses who have been able to visit him.

In the name of respect for human rights and the traditions, norms and values promoted by Geneva-based humanitarian organizations, Julian Assange must be released without delay.

Julian Assange must be released immediately because his revelations serve a basic and essential public interest. Citizens not only have a right to know, they must know. The very notion of espionage induced by the reference to the Espionage Act is absurd. By making public proven information of obvious public interest, the founder of WikiLeaks is performing a salutary act of transparency in the exact opposite of an act of espionage. Julian Assange exercised his freedom of speech, which is guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution as well as in every democracy.

The editor of WikiLeaks revealed information of fundamental public interest that the state itself should have made public because of its obligation to inform the citizenry. Julian Assange has made a unique and remarkable contribution to public interest journalism, transparency and government accountability. His courageous and tenacious contribution has been widely recognized by the media
and freedom of expression community, which has honored Julian Assange with some of the most prestigious journalism awards.

Julian Assange must be released immediately because the case against him constitutes an intolerable threat and pressure on investigative journalists. The smear campaign against the Wikileaks founder and the heavy charges against him are a warning to any whistleblower or journalist about to publish classified material. It seriously hinders the search for the facts and the
truth.

A conviction of Julian Assange would be the ultimate validation of a long line of absolutely unprecedented abuses of power with devastating consequences for free speech and journalism. Any dissemination of secret documents by any journalist or whistleblower, in any country, would then be criminalized. The U.S. Espionage Act is so broad that, for example, it could be a violation of the law to even read a news article that the U.S. believes is harmful to the country's interests.

We, the citizens of Geneva and elsewhere, launch this Appeal to free Julian Assange on this day, June 4, 2021, in Geneva, a city of peace and negotiations, the cradle of humanitarian law and human rights, and the seat of countless international and non-governmental organizations that work for the respect of our fundamental freedoms.

APPEL DE GENÈVE À LIBÉRER JULIAN ASSANGE (ouvert à la signature)

Nous, citoyens de Genève et d’ailleurs, lançons “L’ Appel de Genève” pour demander la libération immédiate de Julian Assange. En isolement cellulaire à la prison de haute sécurité de Belmarsh à Londres, le fondateur de WikiLeaks est menacé d’extradition vers les Etats-Unis où il risque une peine de prison de 175 ans. Son seul crime est d’avoir dit la vérité!

Au nom du respect des droits de l’homme inaliénables et des valeurs promues par les organisations de défense des droits humains basées à Genève, nous demandons:
• aux autorités britanniques de refuser l’extradition de Julian Assange et de lui rendre sa liberté
• au gouvernement américain de renoncer aux poursuites engagées contre Julian Assange
• à tous les Etats démocratiques, dont la Suisse, d’assurer à Julian Assange un territoire de refuge où il peut se mettre à l'abri de nouvelles poursuites liées à la publication des WikiLeaks.
• aux organisations internationales et aux organisations non gouvernementales à Genève d’user de leurs compétences et autorités pour contribuer à libérer Julian Assange.
• aux médias de continuer d’informer avec courage, indépendance et impartialité sur le cas Assange et sur ses conséquences pour la liberté d’expression ainsi que pour la liberté d’enquêter et de publier.
• Aux peuples genevois, suisse et du monde à soutenir l’Appel de Genève pour la libération immédiate de Julian Assange.

Le 4 janvier dernier, la justice britannique a refusé l’extradition de Julian Assange au motif que sa vie serait à risque dans le système carcéral américain. Les arguments invoquant la transparence et le droit de publier de Julian Assange ont cependant été balayés. Un recours du département de justice américain est en cours et le risque d’extradition reste entier ainsi que la menace d’une restriction sans précédent de la liberté de la presse.

Julian Assange est en détention arbitraire depuis plus de dix ans dans des conditions qui, selon le rapporteur spécial de l’ONU sur la torture Nils Melzer, tombent sous le coup “de la torture psychologique ou de traitements cruels, inhumains et dégradants”.

Julian Assange est poursuivi aux Etats-Unis pour 17 chefs d’accusations (+ 1 autre) relevant de l’Espionnage Act, une loi datant de plus de 100 ans, qui peuvent lui valoir 175 ans de prison. Son tort? Avoir publié quelque 700.000 documents classifiés en particulier sur la guerre en Irak et en Afghanistan, souvent en collaboration avec de grands médias comme le New York Times, The Guardian, Le Monde ou la chaîne ABC. Il a notamment révélé une vidéo de l’armée américaine montrant le massacre d’une dizaine de civils dont deux journalistes depuis un hélicoptère.

Les documents publiés par WikiLeaks ont révélé des actes et modes opératoires en violation avec les Conventions de Genève et les droits humains. Aucune de ces violations et aucun de ces crimes de guerre n’a été poursuivi alors que celui qui les a révélés est soumis à persécution depuis plus de dix ans. Paradoxe ultime qui traduit un déni de justice flagrant, une insulte à la dignité humaine et un mépris coupable de l’Etat de droit.

Julian Assange doit être libéré immédiatement car rien ne peut justifier une détention préventive en isolement presque total d’une si longue durée. Le Groupe de travail des Nations Unies sur la détention arbitraire dénonce depuis plus de cinq ans l’emprisonnement illégal de Julian Assange.

Aujourd’hui, la santé physique et mentale de ce dernier est gravement détériorée selon les témoins qui ont pu lui rendre visite. Au nom du respect des droits humains, des traditions, normes et valeurs promues par les organisations humanitaires basées à Genève, Julian Assange doit être relâché sans délai.

Julian Assange doit être libéré immédiatement parce que ses révélations répondent à un intérêt public élémentaire et essentiel. Les citoyens ont non seulement le droit de savoir, ils doivent savoir.

La notion même d’espionnage induite par le recours à la loi sur l’espionnage est absurde. En rendant publique, une information éprouvée et d’un intérêt public évident, le fondateur de WikiLeaks accomplit un acte salutaire de transparence à l’exact contraire d’un acte d’espionnage. Julian Assange a exercé sa liberté d’expression (freedom of speech) qui est garantie par le premier
amendement de la constitution américaine ainsi qu’en toute démocratie. Le rédacteur en chef de WikiLeaks a révélé des informations d’un intérêt public fondamental que l’Etat aurait lui-même dû rendre public en raison de son obligation d’information envers le citoyen.

Julian Assange a apporté une contribution unique et remarquable au journalisme d’intérêt public, à la transparence et à
l’obligation des gouvernements de rendre des comptes. Sa contribution exigeant courage et ténacité a été très largement reconnue par le monde des médias et des défenseurs de la liberté d’expression qui ont récompensé Julian Assange de quelques-uns des plus prestigieux prix de journalisme.

Julian Assange doit être libéré immédiatement parce que les poursuites engagées contre lui constituent une intolérable menace et pression pour les journalistes pratiquant l’enquête. La campagne de dénigrement menée contre le fondateur de Wikileaks ainsi que les lourdes charges qui pèsent sur lui sont autant d'avertissements à tout lanceur d’alerte ou journaliste s’apprêtant à
publier des documents classifiés. Elle entrave gravement la recherche des faits et de la vérité.

Une condamnation de Julian Assange constituerait la validation ultime d’une longue série d’abus du pouvoir, absolument sans précédent, aux conséquences ravageuses pour la liberté d’expression et le journalisme. Toute diffusion de documents secrets par n’importe quel journaliste ou un lanceur d’alerte, dans n’importe quel pays, serait alors criminalisée. La loi américaine sur l’espionnage est d’une portée tellement large que, par extension, la simple lecture d’un article de presse qui, selon les
Etats-Unis nuirait aux intérêts du pays, pourrait alors constituer une violation de la loi.

Nous citoyens de Genève et d’ailleurs, nous lançons cet Appel à libérer Julian Assange en ce jour du 4 juin 2021 à Genève, cité de paix et de négociations, berceau du droit humanitaire et des droits humains, siège d’innombrables organisations internationales ou non gouvernementales qui oeuvrent pour le respect de nos libertés fondamentales.

For further information, please contact:

 Pierre Ruetschi, Executive Director of the Geneva Press Club/Club suisse de la presse:  info@pressclub.ch 

More informations on: www.pressclub.ch, www.bains-des-paquis.ch, www.anythingtosay.com

01.06.2021. INDIA. PEC lauds Indian authorities for corona compensation to scribes

by Nava Thakuria, PEC India Representative

Geneva/Guwahati: Press Emblem Campaign, the Switzerland based international media rights and safety body, appreciates the initiative
of Indian federal government along with many province authorities for sanctioning financial assistances to the families of Covid-19 victims
among journalists. As India continues to be a worst affected country with the highest number of scribes died of novel corona virus
infection aggravated aliments, PEC (https://pressemblem.ch/) also recommends for early vaccination to journalists along with other media
workers.

Mentionable is that the Union government in New Delhi recently announced that ₹ 5 hundred thousand (72 Indian rupees= 1 USD) each
would be offered to 67 families of journalists, who died because of Covid-19 since March 2020. Expressing grieves over the demise of
scribes in the pandemic, the federal information & broadcasting ministry approved the financial assistances to the affected families.
Many State governments also declared compensations to deceased journo-families because of Covid-19, where the Uttar Pradesh offers
the highest ( ₹10 lakh each).

PEC, while condoling the demise of over 1440 journalists around the world due to Covid-19 till date, urges all the governments to
vaccinate the journalists on a priority basis and offer aid to the victim families so that they can play their roles as frontline corona
warriors after the doctors, nurses, other health and sanitation workers, said PEC general secretary Blaise Lempen adding that safety
of media workers remains at risk in this crisis because they have to continue working on the ground.

According to PEC statistics, India remains at the top of the list of 76 corona affected countries, with 229 journo-casualties, followed by
Brazil (222 dead), Peru (161), Mexico (111), Colombia (64), Italy (56), Bangladesh (53), Ecuador (50), USA (49), Iran (32), United
Kingdom (30), Argentina (28), Dominican Republic, Pakistan, Turkey (27 each), Russia (21), Venezuela (19), Bolivia (18), Panama (16), Spain,
Ukraine (15 each), Egypt, Nepal (14 each), Honduras (11), Afghanistan, Nigeria, South Africa, France (9 each), etc.

"In May, at least 90 journalists succumbed to the virus infection in India, that is 3 per day. For the whole world, more than 180 journalists

passed away due to Covid-19 in the month of May, that is 6 per day, a record number,” said Nava Thakuria, the country
representative of PEC, adding that India lately lost journalists Sagolsem Hemant, Basant Das, Sushil Sharma, R Jawahar, Junagari
Ramesh, Prabudha Jagadev, Suresh Kumar Chaturvedi, HS Doreswamy, Vidyut P Mourya, Pradeep Kumar, Roshan Dias, Rajkumar Keswani,
Choppadandi Mohan, Prakash Biyani, L Ramesh, Shivani Dua, B Venkateswarlu, Sunil Abhimanyu, Diwakar Bhatta, etc to Covid-19 complications.

18.05.2021. India passes Brazil with more than 200 journalists dead from Covid-19

PEC press release (French and Spanish after English), list of fatalities on Covid-19

Geneva, May 18, 2021 (PEC) - India has overtaken Brazil in the number of journalists dead from Covid-19, the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC)

announced in Geneva on Tuesday. At least 1,356 journalists have died in 76 countries from the coronavirus since March 2020.

India has just passed the milestone of 200 journalists dead from Covid-19, just ahead of Brazil (194). In India, 68 journalists have died from

Covid since the beginning of May, an average of four a day, a majority of them in their 40s or 50s.

Outside India, the largest increases have been in recent weeks in Colombia, Argentina, Peru and Nepal.

"The pandemic continues to ravage the media community in South Asia and Latin America, as the death toll has declined elsewhere," said PEC

General Secretary Blaise Lempen. "Immunization remains insufficient in developing countries and journalists in these countries pay a very

high price for having to inform," he added.

The PEC deplores these unprecedented losses among the media and sends its condolences to the families and colleagues of the victims.

PEC India Representative Nava Thakuria added that "the actual number of Covid-19 victims is certainly higher, as many media houses avoid

reporting their own victims as well as corona-positive colleagues (not to speak of special patronages to them)."

After India and Brazil, Peru has the most victims among journalists (161) ahead of Mexico (109), Colombia (61), Italy (55), Bangladesh (52),

the United States (49), Ecuador (48), Great Britain (28), Argentina (27), Dominican Republic (27), Pakistan (26), Turkey (25), Iran (21),

Russia (21), Venezuela (19), Panama (16), Bolivia (16), Spain (15), and Ukraine (15).

The media community in Latin America is the most affected, with more than half of the victims since March 2020 (739). Asia follows with

326 deaths, ahead of Europe 181, Africa 59 and North America 50.

Communiqué de presse PEC

L’Inde passe devant le Brésil avec plus de 200 journalistes morts du Covid-19

Genève, 18 mai 2021 (PEC) - L’Inde a dépassé le Brésil pour le nombre de journalistes morts du Covid-19, a annoncé mardi à Genève la Presse Emblème Campagne (PEC). Au moins 1356 journalistes sont décédés dans 76 pays des suites du coronavirus depuis mars 2020.

L’Inde vient de dépasser le cap des 200 journalistes morts du Covid-19, juste devant le Brésil (194). En Inde, 68 journalistes sont morts du Covid depuis le début du mois de mai, soit en moyenne quatre par jour, une majorité d’entre eux dans la quarantaine ou la cinquantaine.

En dehors de l’Inde, les plus fortes augmentations ont eu lieu ces dernières semaines en Colombie, en Argentine et au Népal.

«La pandémie continue de ravager la communauté des médias en Asie du Sud et en Amérique latine, alors que le nombre de décès a reculé ailleurs», a déclaré le secrétaire général de la PEC Blaise Lempen. «La vaccination reste insuffisante dans les pays en développement et les journalistes de ces pays paient un prix très élevé parce qu’ils doivent informer», a-t-il souligné.

La PEC déplore ces pertes sans précédent parmi les médias et adresse ses condoléances aux familles et collègues des victimes.

Le représentant de la PEC pour l’Inde Nava Thakuria a ajouté que «le nombre réel des victimes du Covid-19 est certainement plus élevé, car des médias évitent de rapporter leur propres victimes ainsi que les collègues testés positif».

Après l’Inde et le Brésil, le Pérou recense le plus de victimes parmi les journalistes (161) devant le Mexique (109), la Colombie (61), l’Italie (55), le Bangladesh (52), les États-Unis (49), l’Équateur (48), la Grande-Bretagne (28), l’Argentine (27), la République dominicaine (27), le Pakistan (26), la Turquie (25), l’Iran (21), la Russie (21), le Venezuela (19), le Panama (16), la Bolivie (16), l’Espagne (15), et l’Ukraine (15).

La communauté des médias en Amérique latine est la plus affectée, avec plus de la moitié des victimes depuis mars 2020 (739). L’Asie suit avec 326 morts, devant l’Europe 181, l’Afrique 59 et l’Amérique du Nord 50.

Comunicado de prensa de la PEC 

India sobrepasa a Brasil y acaba de superar el hito de 200 periodistas muertos por Covid-19

Ginebra, 18 de mayo de 2021 (PEC) – La India ha superado a Brasil en el número de periodistas muertos por la Covid-19, anunció el martes la Press Emblem Campaign (PEC, por sus siglas en inglés). Al menos 1.356 periodistas han muerto en 76 países por el coronavirus desde marzo de 2020, precisó la ONG en Ginebra, Suiza.

La India acaba de superar el hito de 200 periodistas muertos por Covid-19, justo por delante de Brasil (194). En la India, 68 periodistas han muerto a causa de Covid desde principios de mayo, un promedio de casi cuatro al día, la mayoría de ellos se sitúan entre los 40 y los 50 años.

Fuera de India, los mayores incrementos se han producido en las últimas semanas en Colombia, Argentina y Nepal.

"La pandemia continúa devastando la comunidad de medios en el sur de Asia y América Latina, ya que el número de muertos ha disminuido en otros lugares", dijo el secretario general de PEC, Blaise Lempen. "La inmunización sigue siendo insuficiente en los países en desarrollo y los periodistas de estos países pagan un precio muy alto por tener que informar", agregó.

La PEC deplora estas pérdidas sin precedentes entre los medios de comunicación y envía sus condolencias a las familias y compañeros de las víctimas.

El representante de la PEC la India, Nava Thakuria, agregó que "el número real de víctimas de Covid-19 es ciertamente mayor, ya que los medios evitan informar sobre sus propias víctimas".

Después de India y Brasil, Perú tiene la mayor cantidad de muertes entre los periodistas (161) por delante de México (109), Colombia (61), Italia (55), Bangladés (52), Estados Unidos (49), Ecuador (48), Gran Bretaña (28), Argentina (27), República Dominicana (27), Pakistán (26), Turquía (25), Irán (21), Rusia (21), Venezuela (19), Panamá (16), Bolivia (16), España (15) y Ucrania (15).

La comunidad mediática en América Latina es la más afectada, con más de la mitad de las víctimas desde marzo de 2020 (739). Le sigue Asia con 326 muertes, por delante de Europa 181, África 59 y América del Norte 50.

12.05.2021. INDIA. Globally over 1300 journalists died of Covid-19, India loses 40 in last 10 days

by Nava Thakuria, PEC India Representative

Geneva/Guwahati: The Covid-19 pandemic continues to kill working journalists around the world, where the global tally reaches at least 1302 victims in 76 countries till 11 May 2021. Brazil with 191 journo-casualties because of novel corona virus infection aggravated ailments still tops the list of victims among journalists narrowly followed by India (173 dead). In the south Asian country, at least 40 journalists died of Covid-19 complications in the last 10 days.

According to Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the Switzerland based media rights & safety body, Peru follows India with 140 media-casualties and Mexico with 109. Below the hundred mark, Colombia lost 57 journalists due to the pandemic, followed by Italy (55), Bangladesh (52), USA, Ecuador (48 each), United Kingdom (28), Dominican Republic (27), Pakistan (26), Turkey (25), Argentina (23), etc.

Since March 2020, the PEC started a corona-ticker to pay tributes to the journalists died of Covid-19 around the world, said Blaise Lempen, secretary-general of PEC (www.pressemblem.ch/) adding that journalists have an important role to play in the fight against the virus and hence their safety must be a priority for every nation.

“Journalists are particularly at risk in this crisis as they are continuing their jobs to provide information from the ground. A number of them died for lack of adequate protective measures when performing their duties. We advocate for early vaccinations to journalists on the frontlines and also adequate compensations to the victim families,” stated Lempen.

India is rapidly losing scribes to the pandemic almost four individuals per day, which is alarming, said Nava Thakuria, PEC’s country representative adding that the billion plus nation has lately witnessed the demise of journalists Homen Borgohain, Shiv Anurag Pateria, Sarat Chandra Mangaraj, Kishore Ch Das, Waqar Wizvi, Arvind Shukla, Umashankar Santhalia, Sant Sharan Awasthi, Vipin Chand, Subhash Mishra, Kaleswaram Sandeep, D Shankar Rao, Rajendra Joshi, Pradeep K Sahu, Shesh N Singh, etc to corona-aggravated ailments.

Relatively fewer corona-casualties among journalists are reported from Iran, Russia (21 each), Venezuela (19), Panama (16), Spain, Ukraine (15 each), Bolivia, Egypt (14 each), Honduras (11), Afghanistan, Nigeria, South Africa, France (9 each), Guatemala (8), Nepal, Nicaragua (7 each), Uruguay (6), Kenya, Paraguay (5 each), Cuba (4), Cameroon, Morocco, Salvador, Sweden, Zimbabwe (3 each), Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Ghana, Iraq, Indonesia (2 each), etc.

05.05.2021. India second highest scribe-losing nation to COVID-19, global tally reaches 1,248

by Nava Thakuria, PEC India Representative

India emerges as the second most Covid-19 affected nation in the world to lose 141 journalists where the global tally reaches 1248 scribes in 75 countries due to corona complications since March 2020, when the pandemic hit the human race.

Brazil with 187 media corona casualties remains at the top of the victims’ list, where Peru (140 dead) is just behind India.

Mexico reports 109 corona-victims among journalists till date, followed by Italy, Bangladesh (52 each), Colombia (51), USA, Ecuador (47 each), United Kingdom (28), Dominican Republic (27), Pakistan (26), Turkey (24), Argentina, Iran, Russia (21 each), Venezuela (17), Panama (16), Spain, Ukraine (15 each), Bolivia, Egypt (14 each), Honduras (10), Afghanistan, Nigeria, South Africa, France (9 each), Guatemala (8), Nepal, Nicaragua (7), Kenya, Paraguay, Uruguay (5 each), etc.

Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), which has been counting the name of media-victims of the pandemic, offers condolences to families and colleagues of the deceased. Moreover, the Switzerland based media rights and safety body requests early vaccinations for journalists on the frontlines. It also commented that the human cost of the pandemic remains high where over 1200 journalists have lost their lives due to novel corona virus aggravated ailments.

“Journalists are engaged in a profession which is particularly exposed to the virus and it’s an unprecedented loss to the profession as a number of them died for lack of adequate protective measures when doing their job. But the media workers have an important role to play in the fight against the virus. So their safety should be a priority as they have to continue providing information from the ground,” said Blaise Lempen, secretary-general of PEC.

India lately lost a number of prominent journalists namely Bh Ramakrishna, Arun Pandey, Ruchir Mishra, Subhransu Sekhar Mishra, PL Razdan, Sumit Onka, Prabhu Joshi, Ram Naresh Tripathi, Raju Salvi, Satya Prakash Aseem, Shashi Baliga, Pritiman Mohapatra, SK Vyas, Anirban Bora, Kanu Priya, Kalyan Barooah, Adwaita Prasad Biswal, Debendra Samantray, Ramendra Singh, etc to corona aggravated ailments in different parts of the country.

“Casualty among media persons due to Covid-19 complications in India must be higher than we have recorded. In many cases the media houses avoid reporting their own victims or do it with lots of secrecy,” said Nava Thakuria, PEC’s country representative adding India is now losing nearly four journalists every day and if the trend continues, our country would top the list of corona-victims among journalists in the world very soon.

29.04.2021. PEC press release. World Press Freedom Day. Devastating impact of the pandemic on the media

French, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic after English

Geneva, April 30, 2021 (PEC) The Covid-19 pandemic had a devastating impact on the media, the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) lamented

on Friday in preparation for World Press Freedom Day on May 3. The human cost of the pandemic is particularly high: at least 1,200 journalists

have died from the novel coronavirus.

Journalists are engaged in a profession which is particularly exposed to the virus, as many have been forced to continue working in contact

with the population. Until April 29, since March 2020, in 14 months, the PEC has counted more than 1,200 journalists who died from

complications related to Covid-19 in 75 countries.

"This is an unprecedented slaughter and a great loss for the profession," said PEC Secretary-General Blaise Lempen. “On the occasion of

World Press Freedom Day, we call for honoring eminent colleagues of all ages who have not survived the pandemic,” he added.

The PEC asks governments to take action to help the media most affected and to support the families of the victims on the occasion of

World Press Freedom Day.

The PEC also considers there is a need to distribute vaccines equally all over the world, to stop the spread of the virus and its new strains in

developing countries. Vaccine production is limited and it is available for the wealthiest countries, preventing access to journalists in South

America and South Asia. As long as this situation continues, deaths will keep on increasing.

Heartbreaking situation in India

The rate of deceased journalists accelerated further in April with the deaths of 125 journalists in one month, or more than 4 per day.

Since March 2020, four countries have been particularly affected with more than one hundred journalists dead in each country: Brazil with

more than 183 journalists deceased from Covid-19, Peru (140), India (121) and Mexico (106). 

The situation is particularly alarming in India: in the past two weeks, at least 50 journalists have succumbed to the virus, on average 3,5 every

day.

"The deaths of dozens of Indian journalists, often still in full swing, is particularly heartbreaking”, said PEC Secretary-General.

There is nevertheless a positive note in this report: the number of journalists’ deaths has slowed sharply in Europe and North America,

thanks to effective protection measures and the progress of vaccination.

By region, Latin America tops the list with more than half of the victims, 673 in 20 countries. Asia follows with 254 in 18 countries, then Europe

 with 175 in 19 countries. Africa comes next with 56 dead in 16 countries, ahead of North America with 47 in 2 countries.

The total number of victims is certainly higher, because the cause of death of journalists is sometimes not specified or their death not announced.

Journée mondiale de la liberté de la presse

Impact dévastateur de la pandémie sur les médias

Genève, 30 avril 2021 (PEC) La pandémie de la Covid-19 a eu un impact dévastateur sur les médias, a déploré vendredi la Presse Emblème Campagne (PEC) en vue de la Journée mondiale sur la liberté de la presse le 3 mai. Le coût humain de la pandémie est particulièrement élevé, avec au moins 1200 journalistes décédés des suites du coronavirus.

Les journalistes ont été une profession particulièrement exposée au virus, car pour beaucoup obligés de continuer de travailler en contact avec la population. Jusqu’au 29 avril, depuis mars 2020, en 14 mois, la PEC a dénombré plus de 1200 journalistes décédés des complications liées au Covid-19 dans 75 pays.

«C’est une hécatombe sans précédent et une lourde perte pour la profession», a déclaré le secrétaire général de la PEC, Blaise Lempen. «A l’occasion de la Journée mondiale de la liberté de la presse, nous appelons à rendre hommage à d’éminents collègues de tous âges qui n’ont pas survécu à la pandémie», a-t-il ajouté.

La PEC demande aux gouvernements de prendre des mesures d’aide aux médias les plus touchés et de soutien aux familles des victimes à l’occasion de la Journée mondiale de la liberté de la presse.

La PEC considère également qu'il est nécessaire de distribuer les vaccins de manière égale dans le monde entier, pour arrêter la propagation du virus et de ses nouvelles souches dans les pays en développement. La production de vaccins est limitée et est principalement absorbée par les pays les plus riches, empêchant l'accès aux journalistes en Amérique du Sud et en Asie du Sud. Tant que cette situation perdurera, les décès continueront d'augmenter.

Situation bouleversante en Inde

Le rythme des journalistes décédés s’est encore accéléré en avril avec le décès de 125 journalistes en un mois, soit plus de 4 par jour.

Depuis mars 2020, quatre pays ont été particulièrement affectés avec plus de cent journalistes morts dans chaque pays: le Brésil avec plus de 183 journalistes décédés du Covid-19, le Pérou (140), l’Inde (121) et le Mexique (106).

La situation est particulièrement alarmante en Inde: ces deux dernières semaines, au moins 50 journalistes ont succombé au virus, soit en moyenne 3,5 chaque jour.

«La mort de dizaines de journalistes indiens, souvent encore en pleine activité, au cours des deux dernières semaines, est particulièrement bouleversante», a affirmé le secrétaire général de la PEC.

Il y a néanmoins une note positive dans ce bilan: le nombre de décès a fortement ralenti en Europe et en Amérique du Nord, grâce à des mesures de protection efficaces et les progrès de la vaccination.

Par région, l’Amérique latine arrive en tête de liste avec plus de la moitié des victimes soit 673 dans 20 pays. L’Asie suit avec 254 morts dans 18 pays, devant l’Europe avec 175 victimes dans 19 pays. L’Afrique vient ensuite avec 56 morts dans 16 pays, devant l’Amérique du Nord avec 47 décès dans 2 pays.

Le chiffre total des victimes est certainement plus élevé, car la cause des décès de journalistes n’est parfois pas précisée ou leur mort pas annoncée.

Día Mundial de la Libertad de Prensa

El devastador impacto de la pandemia en los medios de comunicación

Ginebra, 30 de abril de 2021 (PEC).- La pandemia del virus Covid-19 ha tenido un impacto devastador en los medios de comunicación, declaró el viernes la Campaña de Emblema de la Prensa (PEC, Press Emblem Campaign por sus siglas en inglés) antes del Día Mundial de la Libertad de Prensa, que se celebra el 3 de mayo. El costo humano de la pandemia es especialmente elevado: al menos 1.200 periodistas han muerto a causa del coronavirus.

El periodismo ha sido una profesión especialmente expuesta al virus, ya que muchos de los periodistas se han visto obligados a seguir trabajando en contacto con la población. Hasta este 29 de abril, contando desde marzo de 2020, o sea en 14 meses, la PEC ha contabilizado al menos 1.200 periodistas fallecidos por complicaciones relacionadas con el Covid-19 en 75 países.

"Se trata de una hecatombe sin precedentes y de una gran pérdida para la profesión", dijo el Secretario General de la PEC, Blaise Lempen. "En el Día Mundial de la Libertad de Prensa, llamamos para rendir homenaje a los distinguidos colegas de todas las edades que no sobrevivieron a la pandemia", añadió.

En el Día Mundial de la Libertad de Prensa, la PEC pide a los gobiernos que tomen medidas para ayudar a los medios de comunicación más afectados y para que apoyen a las familias de las víctimas.

La PEC también considera que es necesario distribuir las vacunas por igual en todo el mundo, para detener la propagación del virus y sus nuevas cepas en los países en desarrollo. La producción de vacunas es limitada y está siendo absorbida principalmente por los países más ricos, lo que impide el acceso a los periodistas en América del Sur y Asia del Sur. Mientras continúe esta situación, las muertes seguirán aumentando.

Situación desgarradora en la India

El ritmo de muertes de periodistas se aceleró aún más el pasado mes de abril, con 125 periodistas muertos en un mes, es decir, cuatro al día.

Desde marzo de 2020, cuatro países se han visto especialmente afectados, con más de 100 periodistas muertos en cada uno de ellos: Brasil, con más de 183 periodistas muertos ; Perú (140), India (121) y México (106).

La situación es especialmente alarmante en la India: en las dos últimas semanas han muerto al menos 50 periodistas a causa del virus, en promedio 3,5 por día.

“La muerte de decenas de periodistas indios en las últimas dos semanas, a menudo todavía en pleno apogeo, es particularmente desgarradora”, dijo el Secretario General de PEC.

Sin embargo, la nota positiva es que el número de muertes en Europa y América del Norte ha disminuido considerablemente, gracias a la eficacia de las medidas de protección y a los avances en la vacunación. En África, el número de muertes se ha mantenido bajo.

Por regiones, América Latina encabeza la lista con más de la mitad de las víctimas, 673 en 20 países. Le sigue Asia, con 254 muertos en 18 países, por delante de Europa, con 175 víctimas en 19 países. Le sigue África, con 56 muertes en 16 países ; y Norteamérica, con 47 muertes en 2 países.

El número total de víctimas seguramente es más elevado, porque en ocasiones no se especifica la causa de la muerte de los periodistas o no se anuncia su fallecimiento.

Dia Mundial da Liberdade de Imprensa

Impacto devastador da pandemia no jornalismo

Genebra, 30 de Abril, 2021 (PEC) A pandemia de Covid-19 teve um impacto devastador no jornalismo, lamentou a Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) nesta Sexta-feira, em preparação ao Dia Internacional da Liberdade de Imprensa, em 3 de Maio. O custo humano da pandemia é singularmente alto: ao menos 1200 jornalistas morreram em decorrência do novo coronavírus.

Jornalistas praticam uma profissão particularmente exposta ao vírus – muitos foram forçados a continuar trabalhando em contato com a população. Em 14 meses, de Março de 2020 a 29 de Abril de 2021, a PEC contabilizou mais de 1200 jornalistas mortos por complicações relacionadas à Covid-19 em 75 países.

“Trata-se de um massacre sem precedentes e uma grande perda para a profissão”, disse o Secretário-Geral da PEC, Blaise Lempen. “Por ocasião do Dia Mundial da Liberdade de Imprensa, devemos honrar eminentes colegas de todas as idades que não sobreviveram à pandemia”, adicionou.

No Dia Mundial da Liberdade de Imprensa, a PEC pede aos governos que ajam para ajudar os de mídia mais afetados e para amparar as famílias das vítimas.

A PEC também reconhece a necessidade de uma distribuição igualitária de vacinas pelo mundo, para impedir o alastramento do vírus e suas novas variantes em países em desenvolvimento. A produção de vacinas é limitada e está sendo quase completamente absorvida pelos países mais ricos, impedindo seu acesso a jornalistas no sul dos continentes Americano e Asiático. Enquanto esta situação perdurar, as mortes seguirão aumentando.

Situação desesperadora na Índia

A taxa de jornalistas mortos acelerou ainda mais em Abril, com os óbitos de 125 profissionais em um mês, 4 por dia.

Desde Março de 2020, quatro países foram particularmente afetados, com mais de cem falecimentos em cada: Brasil, com mais de 183 mortes por Covid-19 no jornalismo, Peru (140), Índia (121) e México (106). Em Março, morreu um jornalista por dia no Brasil.

A situação é notavelmente alarmante na Índia: nas últimas duas semanas, ao menos 50 jornalistas sucumbiram ao vírus, uma média de três por dia.

“A morte de dezenas de jornalistas indianos, muitos em plena atividade, é especialmente desoladora”, disse o Secretário-Geral da PEC.

Não obstante, há uma nota positiva neste relatório: a quantidade de mortes de jornalistas diminuiuvertiginosamente na Europa e na América do Norte, graças às medidas de proteção efetivas e ao avanço da vacinação.

Por região, a América Latina encabeça a lista com mais da metade das vítimas, 673 em 20 países. A Ásia vem depois com 254 em 18 países, seguida pela Europa com 175 em 19 países. A próxima é a África, com 56 óbitos em 16 países, à frente da América do Norte, com 47 em 2 países.

O número total de vítimas é certamente maior; frequentemente a causa da morte de jornalistas não é especificada ou as mortes não são publicadas.

2021 يوم الصحافة العالمي 3 مايو

حملة الشارة الدولية تعلن عن تأثير كورونا المدوي على الاعلام

جنيف في 30 إبريل 2021 (حملة الشارة) – أعلنت حملة الشارة الدولية من مقرها في جنيف عن تأثير كورونا المدوي على الصحفيين قبيل الاحتفال بيوم الصحافة العالمي 3 مايو بإعلانها عن وفاة على الأقل 1200 من الصحفيين منها. 

وأضافت الحملة في بيانها أن الصحفيين يعملون في مهنه تعرضهم بشدة للفيروس أذ يلزم عليهم الاختلاط بالجمهور بشكل مستمر في عملهم وقد سجلت الحملة في 14 شهراً منذ مارس 2020 وحتى 29 إبريل 2021 أكثر من 1200 حالة وفاة بين الصحفيين من الفيروس في 76 دولة. 

وصرح سكرتير عام الحملة بليز ليمبان أن هذا العدد يمثل مجزرة غير مسبوقة وخسارة فداحة للمهنة وطالب بضرورة تكريم الزملاء الذين سقطوا من جراء الوباء.

وطالبت حملة الشارة الحكومات باتخاذ الاجراءات اللازمة لمساعدة الصحفيين ولدعم أسر الضحايا منهم مشيرة إلى ضرورة توزيع اللقاح بشكل عادل بين دول العالم لمنع نزيف الموت.

وأشارت الحملة إلى سوء الأوضاع في الهند بوفاة 121 من الصحفيين أي بمعدل 4 في اليوم. ومنذ مارس 2020 عانت 4 دول بشدة بوفاة أكثر من مائة صحفي من الفيروس في كل منها: البرازيل 183، ؛ثقع 140، الهند 116 والمكسيك 106. وتضررت الهند كثيراً خلال الأسبوعين الماضيين بوفاة 46 من الصحفيين من الفيروس أي أكثر من 3 صحفيين في اليوم الواحد.

إلا أن الوضع قد تحسن في أوروبا وأمريكا الشمالية بسبب إجراءات الحماية والتطعيم.

وتأتي أمريكا اللاتينية في مقدمة الاصابات بنصف الضحايا: 673 في 20 دولة، ثم آسيا 249 في 18 دولة، ثم أورويا 175 في 19 دولة ثم إفريقيا 56 في 16 دولة ثم أمريكا الشمالية 47 في دولتين. 

لمزيد من المعلومات برجاء تصفح موقع الحملة:

26.04.2021. INDIA. Now it's alarming for Indian journalists, loses 107 scribes to Covid-19, 45 in two weeks

by Nava Thakuria, PEC South Asia Representative

Geneva/ Guwahati, 26 April 2021: Now it is alarming for the Indian media fraternity as their journo-colleagues start collapsing to the
Covid-19 complications now as fast as three scribes per day. India with 107 media corona-casualties has already placed itself on the
third position just below  Brazil (181 dead) and Peru (140) in the list of Covid-19 victims among journalist, prepared by the Switzerland
based media rights & safety body Press Emblem Campaign.

The global tally reaches 1184 victim-journalists because of the Covid-19 pandemic in 76 countries since it broke out in March 2020,
where the other worse affected countries include Mexico (106 dead), Italy (52), Bangladesh (51), Colombia (49), USA (47), Ecuador (46),
United Kingdom (28), Dominican Republic (27), Pakistan (25), Turkey (24), Iran, Russia (21 each), Argentina, Venezuela (17 each), Panama
(16), Spain (15), Ukraine (14), etc.

PEC general secretary Blaise Lempen, while expressing apprehensions that the situation may worsen for the safety of journalists on the
ground due to the pandemic, advocates for adequate compensations to the victim families. He also emphasizes on early vaccinations to media
workers around the world so that they can perform their duties as corona warriors after the doctors, nurses, sanitation workers, etc
without endangering their precious lives.

Even after the launch of a massive corona-vaccination program covering over 21, 443,345 Indian citizens till now in the backdrop of over
three million reported infections every day mounting its cumulative Covid-19 cases to over 17.3 million (total casualty crosses 1,95,000),
the country lately witnessed the death of Amjad Badshah (Odisha), Tanmoy Chakraborty (Tripura), Vivek Bendre, Sachin Shinde, Jairam
Sawant, Sukhnandan Gavai (Maharashtra), Ram Prakash Gupta (Bihar), Rohitash Gupta (Uttar Pradesh), Ramjan Ali (Andhra Pradesh) etc.

“The probability to increase the number of media corona-victims in India is really higher as a number of established media houses had
not reported about the actual number of casualties, reasons best known the them,” commented PEC’s country representative Nava Thakuria adding that many media houses even showed callousness while reporting their own corona-positive cases probably to avoid the authority’s
interference under the existing health protocols.

24.04.2021. India rapidly losing scribes to Covid-19, global tally reaches 1175

by Nava Thakuria, PEC South Asia Representative

Geneva/ Guwahati: India is fast losing working journalists to Covid-19 and crosses 100 mark till date where the global tally hits 1180
scribes in 76 countries. The country lately starts losing around three journalists every day.

Brazil continues to be the worst affected country with 181 media corona-casualties followed by Peru (140) and Mexico (106), stated the Switzerland based media rights & safety body Press Emblem Campaign (PEC). India, which witnessed the death of nine journalists due to novel
corona virus infection aggravated ailments in the last three days, is just behind of Mexico with 101 casualties since the pandemic broke out
in March 2020. The nation with a billion plus populace comes far ahead of Italy (52 dead), Bangladesh (51), USA (47), Colombia (47), Ecuador (46), United Kingdom (28), Dominican Republic (27), Pakistan (25), Turkey (24), Iran (21), etc.

Expressing apprehensions that the situation may worsen for the safety of journalists on the ground due to the corona-pandemic, Blaise
Lempen, general secretary of PEC advocates for adequate compensations to the victim families. He also emphasizes on early vaccinations to media workers so that they can perform their duties as corona warriors after the doctors, nurses, sanitation workers, etc without endangering their lives.

Even after the launch of a massive corona-vaccination program covering around 13 million Indian citizens India till now is in the backdrop of around three million reported infections every day mounting its cumulative Covid-19 cases to over 16 million (total casualty crosses 190,000).

Reported names of recent corona-victims include Shailesh Raval (Gujarat), Sopan Bongane, Ashok Tupe, Motichand Bedmutha
(Maharashtra), P Tataiah, Chandrashekar Naidu, Srinivasa Rao (Andhra Pradesh), Ashish Yechury, Chanchal Pal Chauhan (New Delhi), Chinta
Naga Raju, Ramachandra Rao (Telangana), Govind Behera, Manoj Kumar Sahu, Karunakar Sahu, Naresh Behera (Odisha), Jodu Chutia (Assam), etc.

“India has the probability to increase the number of media corona-victims as a number of States went on under-reporting about
the actual figures because of various reasons,” commented PEC’s country representative Nava Thakuria adding, in many cases even the
established media houses had not reported about their own corona-positive cases to avoid unwanted interferences from the
authority under the health protocols.

22.04.2021. MYANMAR (BURMA). The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) calls for the unconditional release of all journalists in Myanmar

by Nava Thakuria, PEC South Asia Representative

Geneva/Guwahati: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the Switzerland based media rights body, while condemning the armed generals of Myanmar (earlier known as Burma) for detaining/arresting over 65 journalists since the military coup on 1 February 2021, insists on everyone’s unconditional release. In a strong message to the Burmese junta, the PEC asserts that journalists performed their job reporting public outrages against the Tatmadow and hence they must not be harassed.

The uproarious situation in the southeast Asian country still continues as thousands of common Burmese nationals are hitting the streets demanding the end of military rule and restore the democratically elected government virtually led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Protest demonstrations in NayPieTaw, Yangon, Mandalay, Meiktila, Magway, Myingyan, etc have resulted in the killing of over 700 people by the military personnel.

Thousands of civilian protesters have been injured in the series of brutal crackdowns by the security forces across the country. More than 3,000 democratic activists, civil society representatives, influential social workers have been arrested. Lately, the military authority led by top general Min Aung Hlaing also publishes the list of journalists and active social media users who are reportedly wanted under various ruthless military rules.

“The arrested journalists face sedition laws under section 505 (a) of Myanmar penal code that may put them behind the bars for around three years. The military authority run Myanmar Radio and Television continues to broadcast the name of wanted journalists under the specified rules, which is appalling,” said PEC general secretary Blaise Lempen, who is a former journalist with the prominent Swiss news agency.

According to local media reports, 12 female journalists were also arrested by the military authority. More arrest warrants were issued against Zin Thaw Naing (Democracy Vision), Nay Zaw Naing (Democratic Voice of Burma), independent journalists namely Sithu Aung Myint, Myat
Kyaw Thu, July Moe, Ye Wint Thu, Thar Noe Wai, Han Htoo Zaw, Lu Min Thaung Tun along with photo journalists Pyae Sone Aung and Soe Zeyar Tun.

“Mizzima news publisher Thin Thin Aung, who was in India during her exile days, was arrested for raising voices against the junta,” said Nava Thakuria, PEC’s south Asia representative adding that other media workers in the list includes James Pu Hton, Than Htike Aung, Zin Thaw
Naing, Nan Nan Tai, Nan Win Yi, Tin Aung Kyaw, Min Nyo, Aung Kyaw, Ye Myo Khant, Aung Ye Ko, Hein Pyae Zaw, Kay Zun Nway, and Soe Yazar Tun.

17.04.2021. INDIA. More scribes dying of Covid-19 in South Asia, PEC urges preparedness

by Nava Thakuria, PEC South Asia Representative

Geneva/ Guwahati: As more journalists are falling preys to Covid-19 in south Asian nations (India and Bangladesh), the Switzerland based media rights and safety body Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) urges for preparedness among media persons as they have to continue playing the role of corona warriors after the doctors, nurses, sanitation workers.

Expressing apprehensions that the situation may deteriorate for the safety of journalists on the ground due to the corona-pandemic, Blaise Lempen, general secretary of PEC advocates for adequate compensations to the victim families and early vaccinations to media workers of all ages so that they can perform their duties without endangering precious lives.

Even after the Indian government launched a massive corona-vaccination program covering nearly 120 million people till now in the backdrop of around two million reported infections every day across the billion plus nation, at least three senior journalists succumbed to Covid-19 complications within a week.

Lucknow based journalist Ankit Shukla (35), who worked for the daily Jagran, died of corona aggravated ailments on 16 April. The 66th victim among Indian scribes, Shukla tested positive for the infection a few days back and was admitted in RM Lohia hospital. later he was shifted to a specially monitored corona-unit, where Shukla died in the morning hours.

A day back, Odisha’s Patnagarh based journalist Jatish Khamari (46) succumbed to corona-complications at a Bhubaneswar based hospital. Khamari was associated with the daily Sambad and tested positive for the virus infection some days back. Initially he was admitted in a rural but later shifted to Bhubaneswar, where he breathed his last on the night of 15 April.

Earlier, Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh) based senior cartoonist Pradeep Arya (58) passed away with corona aggravated ailments on 12 April. Associated with Hindi newspapers like Deshbandhu, Nababharat, Lokswar, etc. Arya tested positive for the virus infection a few days back. He remained in home isolation for sometime, but soon admitted in a local hospital, where he surrendered to the infection.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh reported its 49th corona-victims among media persons as the promising television news producer Rifat Sultana (32) died of corona aggravated pregnancy related complications on 16 April. Associated with the Dhaka based Bengali news channel Ekattor TV,
Sultana tested positive for the infection a few days back and died in the hospital after giving birth to a baby.

Earlier the country witnessed the demises of journalist Hassan Shahriar and Roman Shah Alam because of Covid-19 aggravated ailments. Shahriar (76), who was associated with the daily Ittefaq and was also the president of National Press Club, died at a Dhaka hospital on 10 April and Shah Alam, who was the Gazipur correspondent of Daily Lakho Kanto, passed away on 1 April.

Meanwhile, the PEC team reported that more than a thousand journalists died of corona-complications in 74 countries since its outbreak in March 2020 projecting the casualty of two scribes per day. It added that March 2021 was a deadly month with 93 journalists deceased from
the coronavirus making the casualty of three per day. Expressing concerns over the dropping of victim’s ages as nearly half of journalists dying from the infection in March remained between the ages of 40 and 60, the PEC team admitted that the total number of media-victims is certainly higher.

The PEC team, which has been documenting the corona-casualties among journalists across the globe, pursues for alertness among media persons as they are playing the role of corona warriors after the doctors, nurses, sanitation workers etc. It advocates for adequate compensations to the victim families and early vaccinations to media workers of all ages so that they can continue working without endangering their precious lives.

13.04.2021. More than a thousand journalists have died from Covid-19 around the world

PEC press release (Spanish, French and Arabic after English)

Geneva, April 13, 2021 (PEC) More than a thousand journalists have died from Covid-19 in 74 countries since the start of the pandemic, the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) announced in Geneva on Tuesday. Every day, more than 2.5 journalists die from the coronavirus on average.

From March 1, 2020 to April 10, 2021, at least 1,060 media workers died from Covid-19. The month of March 2021 was particularly deadly with 93 journalists deceased from the coronavirus, or three per day. The situation has worsened particularly in Brazil, with one journalist dying every day.

"The situation continues to deteriorate for the safety and health of journalists on the ground due to the pandemic. It is essential that media workers of all ages now have rapid access to immunization so that they can work without endangering their lives”, said PEC General Secretary Blaise Lempen.

An additional concern is that the age of victims is dropping, with nearly half of journalists dying from Covid between the ages of 40 and 60 in March 2021.

The total number of victims is certainly higher, because the cause of death of journalists is sometimes not specified or their death not announced. In some countries, there is no reliable information.

More than half in Latin America

From March 1, 2020 to April 10, 2021, of the 1,060 journalists who succumbed to the virus, more than half died in Latin America, or 611 in 19 countries. Asia follows with 183 deaths in 18 countries, ahead of Europe (including Russia and Turkey) with 167 deaths in 19 countries, Africa with 52 deaths in 16 countries and North America 47 (2 countries).

The first three most affected countries are Latin American: Brazil has the highest number of victims, 172 dead, ahead of Peru which has 138 deaths linked to Covid-19, then Mexico which deplores at least 93 journalists who died from coronavirus.

India follows with 63 dead. Italy is the most bereaved European country with 51 journalist’s dead from the novel coronavirus. Bangladesh follows with 48 dead, ahead of the United States with 46 dead.

In Ecuador, 45 journalists died from the virus and in Colombia 40. Great Britain has 28 deaths linked to Covid, ahead of the Dominican Republic 27. Pakistan follows with 25 deaths, ahead of Turkey (22), Iran (21), Panama (16), Russia (15), Spain (15), Venezuela (15), Bolivia (14) and Ukraine (14). Argentina comes next (12) and Honduras (10).

In Afghanistan, Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa, 9 victims were counted in each country. In Guatemala 8 journalists died. In France, and Nicaragua, 6 journalists died from Covid-19. Kenya, and Nepal deplore 5 deaths each. Paraguay and Uruguay follow with 4 deaths.

Three journalists died in each of these countries: Cameroon, Cuba, Morocco, Salvador, Sweden, and Zimbabwe.

Two deaths are known in the following countries: Algeria, Austria, Ghana, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, and Portugal.

Finally, the PEC has identified at least one death in the following 29 countries: Azerbaijan, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Czechia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Germany, Guyana, Iraq (Kurdistan), Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mali, Moldova, Mozambique, Philippines, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Togo, Uganda, and United Arab Emirates.

The origin of the infection is often difficult to determine, and it is not possible to differentiate journalists who become infected at work from those who have been infected in their private lives.

The PEC tally is based on information from local media, national associations of journalists, social networks and regional PEC correspondents.

Comunicado de prensa de la PEC

Más de mil periodistas han muerto por la Covid-19 en todo el mundo

Ginebra, 13 de abril de 2021 (PEC).- Más de mil periodistas han muerto por Covid-19 en 74 países desde el inicio de la pandemia, anunció la Campaña Emblema de Prensa (PEC, por sus siglas en inglés), en Ginebra el martes. Todos los días, más de 2,5 periodistas de media mueren a causa del coronavirus.

Desde el 1 de marzo de 2020 hasta el 10 de abril de 2021, al menos 1.060 trabajadores de los medios han muerto a causa de la Covid-19. El mes de marzo de 2021 fue particularmente mortal con 93 periodistas fallecidos, lo que hace tres por día. La situación ha empeorado particularmente en Brasil, con la muerte de un periodista cotidianamente.

« La situación continúa deteriorándose para la seguridad y la salud de los periodistas en el terreno debido a la pandemia. Es esencial que los trabajadores de los medios de comunicación de todas las edades tengan acceso temprano a la inmunización para que puedan trabajar sin poner en peligro sus vidas », dijo el secretario general de la PEC, Blaise Lempen.

Una preocupación adicional es que la edad de las víctimas está disminuyendo, y casi la mitad de los periodistas muertos a causa de la Covid tienen entre 40 y 60 años de edad, en un conteo realizado en marzo de 2021.

El número total de víctimas es ciertamente mayor, porque en ocasiones no se especifica la causa de la muerte o simplemente ésta no se anuncia. Además, en algunos países, no existe información confiable.

Más de la mitad en América Latina

Del 1 de marzo de 2020 al 10 de abril de 2021, de los 1.060 periodistas que sucumbieron al virus, más de la mitad se produjeron en América Latina, o 611 en 19 países. Le sigue el continente asiático con 183 muertes en 18 países, por delante de Europa (incluídas Rusia y Turquía), con 167 muertes en 19 países; luego viene África con 52 muertes en 16 países; y América del Norte, con 47 (2 países).

Los tres primeros países más afectados son latinoamericanos: Brasil tiene el mayor número de víctimas, es decir 172 muertos; por delante de Perú, que tiene 138 muertes vinculadas a la Covid-19, luego México, que deplora al menos 93 periodistas fallecidos.

India le sigue con 63 personas. Italia es el país europeo más afligido con 51 periodistas muertos; después viene Bangladesh con 48 muertos, seguido de los Estados Unidos, con 46 muertos.

En Ecuador, 45 periodistas murieron por el virus y en Colombia 40. Gran Bretaña tiene 28 muertes, por delante de la República Dominicana, 27. Le sigue Pakistán con 25 muertes, por delante de Turquía (22), Irán (21), Panamá (16), Rusia (15), España (15), Venezuela (15), Bolivia (14) y Ucrania (14). Enseguida vienen Argentina (12) y Honduras (10).

En Afganistán, Sudáfrica, Egipto y Nigeria, se contaron 9 víctimas en cada país. En Guatemala murieron 8 periodistas. En Francia y Nicaragua, 6 periodistas murieron por la Covid-19. Kenia y Nepal deploran cinco muertes cada uno. Le siguen Paraguay y Uruguay con 4 muertos.

Tres periodistas murieron en cada uno de estos países: Camerún, Cuba, Marruecos, El Salvador, Suecia y Zimbabwe.

Se conocen dos muertes en los siguientes países: Argelia, Austria, Ghana, Indonesia, Kazajstán y Portugal.

Finalmente, la PEC ha identificado al menos una muerte en los siguientes 29 países: Alemania, Arabia Saudita, Azerbaiyán, Bélgica, Benin, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Canadá, Chile, Emiratos Árabes Unidos, Filipinas, Guyana, Irak (Kurdistán), Israel, Japón, Jordania, Kirguistán, Líbano, Lituania, Malí, Moldavia, Mozambique, Uganda, Polonia, República Democrática del Congo, Suiza, Tayikistán, Chequia y Togo.

El origen de la infección suele ser difícil de determinar y no es posible diferenciar a los periodistas que se infectan en el trabajo, de aquellos que se han infectado en su vida privada.

El recuento de PEC se basa en información de los medios locales, asociaciones nacionales de periodistas, redes sociales y corresponsales regionales de PEC.

Communiqué de presse PEC

Plus d’un millier de journalistes sont morts du Covid-19 dans le monde

Genève, 13 avril 2021 (PEC) Plus d'un millier de journalistes sont morts du Covid-19 dans 74 pays depuis le début de la pandémie, a annoncé mardi à Genève la Presse Emblème Campagne (PEC). Chaque jour, plus de 2,5 journalistes sont morts du coronavirus en moyenne.

Du 1er mars 2020 au 10 avril 2021, au moins 1060 travailleurs des médias ont succombé des suites du Covid-19. Le mois de mars 2021 a été particulièrement meurtrier avec 93 journalistes décédés du coronavirus, soit trois par jour.

« La situation continue de se détériorer pour la sécurité et la santé des journalistes sur le terrain en raison de la pandémie. Il est essentiel que les travailleurs des médias, quel que soit leur âge, aient rapidement accès à la vaccination de manière qu’ils puissent travailler sans mettre en danger leur vie », a déclaré le secrétaire général de la PEC Blaise Lempen. 

Une inquiétude supplémentaire réside dans le fait que l’âge des victimes baisse, avec près de la moitié des journalistes décédés du Covid entre 40 et 60 ans au mois de mars 2021.

Le chiffre total des victimes est certainement plus élevé, car la cause des décès de journalistes n’est parfois pas précisée ou leur mort pas annoncée. Dans certains pays, il n’existe pas d’information fiable.

Plus de la moitié en Amérique latine

Du 1er mars 2020 au 10 avril 2021, sur les 1060 journalistes qui ont succombé au virus, plus de la moitié sont morts en Amérique latine, soit 611 dans 19 pays. L’Asie suit avec 183 morts dans 18 pays, devant l’Europe (compris la Russie et la Turquie) avec 167 morts dans 19 pays, puis l’Afrique avec 52 décès dans 16 pays et l’Amérique du Nord 47 (2 pays).

Les trois premiers pays les plus touchés sont latino-américains : le Brésil compte le plus grand nombre de victimes, soit 172 morts, devant le Pérou qui recense 138 décès liés au Covid-19, puis le Mexique qui déplore au moins 93 journalistes morts du coronavirus.

L’Inde suit avec 63 morts. L’Italie est le pays européen le plus endeuillé avec 51 journalistes morts du nouveau coronavirus. Suit le Bangladesh avec 48 morts, devant les États-Unis avec 46 morts.

En Équateur, 45 journalistes sont morts du virus et en Colombie 40. La Grande-Bretagne recense 28 décès liés au Covid, devant la République dominicaine 27. Le Pakistan suit avec 25 morts, devant la Turquie (22), l’Iran (21), le Panama (16), la Russie (15), l’Espagne (15), le Venezuela (15), la Bolivie (14) et l’Ukraine (14). L’Argentine vient ensuite (12) et le Honduras (10).

En Afghanistan, Afrique du Sud, Égypte et Nigeria, 9 victimes ont été dénombrées dans chaque pays. Au Guatemala, 8 journalistes sont morts. En France et au Nicaragua, 6 journalistes sont décédés des suites du Covid-19. Le Kenya et le Népal déplorent 5 morts chacun. Suivent l’Uruguay et le Paraguay avec 4 décès.

Trois journalistes sont décédés dans chacun de ces pays: Cameroun, Cuba, Iran, Maroc, Salvador, Suède et Zimbabwe.

Deux décès sont connus dans les pays suivants : Algérie, Autriche, Ghana, Indonésie, Kazakhstan et Portugal.

Enfin, la PEC a identifié au moins un décès dans les 29 pays suivants : Allemagne, Arabie saoudite, Azerbaïdjan, Belgique, Bénin, Bosnie, Bulgarie, Canada, Chili, Émirats arabes unis, Guyana, Irak (Kurdistan), Israël, Japon, Jordanie, Kirghizistan, Liban, Lituanie, Mali, Moldavie, Mozambique, Ouganda, Philippines, Pologne, République démocratique du Congo, Suisse, Tadjikistan, Tchéquie, et Togo.

L’origine de l’infection est souvent difficile à déterminer et il n’est pas possible de différencier les journalistes qui se sont infectés au travail de

ceux qui ont été contaminés dans leur vie privée.  Le décompte de la PEC est basé sur les informations des médias locaux, des associations nationales de journalistes, des réseaux sociaux et des correspondants régionaux de la PEC.

بيان صحفي

أكثر من ألف صحفي تُوفوا من كورونا حول العالم

جنيف- في 13 إبريل 2021 (حملة الشارة الدولية) – أعلنت حملة الشارة الدولية من مقرها في جنيف أن أكثر من ألف صحفي وصحفية تُوفوا من جراء كورونا في 74 دولة، حيث تُوفي 1060 في الفترة من 1 مارس 2020 إلى 10 إبريل 2021، وكان شهر مارس 2021 الأسوأ بوفاة 93 صحفياً بمعدل 3 في اليوم والأسوأ في البرازيل بوفاة صحفي واحد يومياً.

وصرح سكرتير عام الحملة بليز ليمبان بأنه لا يوجد تحسن ملموس، بل على العكس فيبدو أن الموقف يتدهور بالنسبة لحماية وصحة الصحفيين بسبب الوباء، ومن الضروري توفير التطعيم العاجل إلى الصحفيين حتى يتمكنوا من العمل بدون تهديد حياتهم.

وأضافت حملة الشارة أنه من الملفت إصابة الصحفيين ما بين 40 و60 عاماً في مارس 2021 .

وأن أكثر من نصف المتوفين الـ 1060 من كورونا تُوفوا في أمريكا اللاتينية – 611 – في 19 دولة. أوروبا التي تشمل روسيا وتركيا 167 في 19 دولة، وآسيا 183 في 17 دولة، إفريقيا 52 في 16 دولة وأمريكا الشمالية 47 في دولتين.

أكثر الدول الثلاث معاناة في أمريكا اللاتينية هي البرازيل: 172 وفاة، بيرو: 138، المكسيك: 93. ثم تأتي الهند بعد ذلك: 60، إيطاليا وهي أكثر الدول الأوروبية تضرراً من كورونا الجديد: 51، بنجلاديش: 46 والولايات المتحدة: 46.

ثم إكوادور: 45، كولومبيا: 40، بريطانيا: 28، جمهورية الدومينيكان: 27، باكستان: 25، تركيا: 22، بنما: 16، روسيا: 15، إسبانيا: 15، بوليفيا: 14 وأوكرانيا: 14، ثم فنزويلا: 14، الأرجنتين 12، هندوراس: 10.

وتُوفي 9 من الصحفيين في كلٍ من أفغانستان ومصر وجنوب إفريقيا ونيجيريا، و6 في فرنسا ونيكاراجوا، و5 في جواتيمالا وكينيا ونيبال، و4 في كلٍ من أوروجواي وباراجواي.

وتُوفي 3 صحفيين في كلٍ من الكاميرون وكوبا وإيران والمغرب والسلفادور، والسويد وزيمبابوي.

وتُوفي 2 من الصحفيين في كلٍ من الجزائر والنسما وغانا وإندونيسيا وكازاخستان والبرتغال، ثم صحفي واحد في 28 بلداً: ألمانيا، السعودية، أذربيجان، بلجيكا، بنين، البوسنة، بلغاريا، كندا، شيلي، الإمارات، جويانا، كردستان العراق، إسرائيل، اليابان، الأردن، كيرجستان، لبنان، لثوانيا، مالي، مولدوفيا، موزمبيق، أوغندا، بولنده، جمهورية الكونغو الديمقراطية، سويسرا، تاجيكيستان، الشيشان وتوجو.

وأوضحت حملة الشارة أنه من الصعب تحديد سبب العدوى، هل هي عدوى منزلية أم عدوى في العمل، مشيرة إلى أن أرقامها تقوم على معلومات الإعلام المحلى ونقابات الصحفيين وممثلي حملة الشارة في القارات المختلفة.

لمزيد من المعلومات برجاء تصفح موقع الشارة:

12.04.2021. Impact on the safety and work of journalists of the measures that Governments have taken to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic. PEC submission to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights - Impact sur la sécurité et le travail des journalistes des mesures prises par les Gouvernements pour répondre à la pandémie du Covid-19. Contribution de la PEC pour le Bureau du Haut-Commissariat de l’ONU aux droits de l’Homme

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Tq6K4h_T7U-nQuKjCMoWKwtDB0LmgVmS/view

French version after English

High Commissioner for Human Rights

1211 Geneva 10

registry@ohchr.org, akatulu@ohchr.org

Geneva, 16 April 2021

In response to your 26 February 2021 call for a contribution and with reference to paragraph 18 of Human Rights Council Resolution 45/18 regarding the safety of journalists, the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), a Geneva-based non-governmental organization with ECOSOC consultative status since 2010, would like to submit the following.

The coronavirus has had a devastating impact on the media in all countries affected by the pandemic: job cuts, closure of media outlets, numerous restrictions on the freedom of expression, expulsions, and arbitrary detentions of critical journalists. Several organizations have documented these aspects.

Heavy Toll

The PEC for its part is the only organization at the world-wide level to document the impact of Covid-19 on the physical health of media employees. Tens of thousands of them have been infected by the virus. Among them, the PEC has recorded from 1 March 2020 to 10 April 2021 at least 1,060 journalist’s dead from the virus in 74 countries, a very heavy toll.

Some of these journalists died for lack of protection, lack of equipment, lack of access to medical facilities and hospitals, as well as because of government policies that deny the reality of the pandemic.

Every day between March 2020 and April 2021, on average 2.5 journalists succumbed to the virus. In March 2021, the tendency intensified yet further, with 3 deaths per day. An additional worry is that the age of the victims has dropped over the months, with almost half of the journalists dying from Covid-19 between 40 and 60 years of age in March 2021, in other words, a work force still very active.

The total figure of victims is surely much higher, for the cause of journalists’ deaths is often not specified, nor their death even announced. In some countries, there has been no reliable information, and the governments have not given the necessary publicity to cases of infection.

Free-lance journalists, photographers, cameramen and sports journalists have been especially hard hit, for they cannot work from home. Journalism is a profession requiring contact with people, and that explains why the profession has been particularly exposed to the virus. As well, the media have had an essential mission during the pandemic, that of keeping the people informed of the reality of the illness and the measures taken to stop its spread. They simply could not stay home and avoid their places of work.

The PEC also emphasizes the risks associated with the pandemic to which imprisoned journalists have been exposed, particularly in countries like Turkey and Egypt. The crowded conditions in prisons have exposed them to a much higher risk of infection, and journalists have died as a result

.

Latin America More Affected

To be precise, from 1 March 2020 to 10 April 2021, of the 1060 journalists that succumbed to the virus, more than half died in Latin America: 611 in 19 countries. Asia follows with 183 deaths in 18 countries, ahead of Europe (including Russia and Turkey) with 167 deaths in 19 countries, then Africa with 52 deaths in 16 countries, and finally North America with 47 deaths in 2 countries.

The three most affected countries are Latin American: Brazil has the highest number of victims, 172 deaths, ahead of Peru that has reported 138 deaths linked to Covid-19, then Mexico, which has announced at least 93 journalists dead from the coronavirus.

In Brazil, the attitude of President Jair Bolsonaro has certainly contributed to the explosion of infections, whereas in Peru, the lack of protective equipment has played a role. Generally, the high mortality rate among Latin American journalists can be explained by political, health, cultural and economic factors. The political factor is manifest in a populist denial of the seriousness of the virus by the authorities and defiance of scientific experts and a lack of a coherent national strategy. The health factor involves insufficient medical equipment in hospitals, a too slow distribution of masks then vaccines. The cultural factor comes into play through an absence of discipline, and social habits hostile to strict confinement. Finally, among the economic factors one can note a lack of support from the government, forcing people to go out to work, especially independent journalists.

After Brazil, Peru and Mexico, India is the most affected country with 63 deaths (as of 10 April). Italy is the most affected European country with 51 journalist’s dead from the coronavirus. Then comes Bangladesh with 48 deaths, just ahead of the United States, with 46 deaths.

In Ecuador, 45 journalists have died from the virus, and in Colombia 40. The United Kingdom reports 28 deaths linked to Covid19, ahead of the Dominican Republic with 27. Pakistan follows with 25 deaths, ahead of Turkey (22), Iran (21), Panama (16), Russia (15), Spain (15), Venezuela (15), Bolivia (14) and Ukraine (14). Argentina comes next (12) then Honduras (10).

In Afghanistan, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa, 9 victims have been reported in each country. In Guatemala, 8 journalists have died. In France and in Nicaragua, 6 journalists have died from Covid-19. Kenya and Nepal are reporting 5 deaths each. Then come Paraguay and Uruguay, each with 4 deaths.

Three journalists have died in each of these countries: Cameroon, Cuba, El Salvador, Iran, Morocco, Sweden and Zimbabwe.

Two deaths have been reported in each of the following countries: Algeria, Austria, Ghana, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and Portugal.

Finally, the PEC has identified at least one death from 1 March 2020 to 10 April in each of the following 29 countries: Azerbaijan, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Canada, Chili, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Germany, Guyana, Iraq (Kurdistan), Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mali, Moldova, Mozambique, Uganda, Poland, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Togo, Uganda and the United Arab Emirates.

The PEC is not able to distinguish between the effect on male and the effect on female victims. Women and men journalists have been affected equally considering that there are fewer women media employees than men.

The origin of the infections is often difficult to determine, and it is impossible to distinguish those infected at work from those infected outside their professional activities.

The PEC count is based on local media information, national journalist associations’ reports, social networks and PEC regional correspondents.

Best Practices: Economic Support Measures

Regarding the request of the High Commissioner about best practices to be implemented by governments, the PEC has called for economic support measures for journalists who are victims of Covid-19. This call has been answered notably by the Indian government, which has granted compensation to families of journalists who have died from the virus.

Several other countries have implemented economic support measures for the media, allowing them to continue their work despite the drop in income resulting from the pandemic.

Access to Vaccines

The PEC has studied in particular measures taken to accelerate the vaccination of journalists. The PEC has requested priority access for journalists to vaccines owing to their essential information madate.

This call, broadly supported by the journalist associations of several countries, was partially heeded. Thus, in Africa, up to the end of March 2021, the governments Malawi, Somalia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe have decided to include journalists among the first groups given access to vaccination. In Europe, journalists have been considered pandemic front-line workers by the governments of Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway, among others. Serbia decided in January 2021 to vaccinate media professionals as a priority.

In India, the states have heard the call from the journalist associations to include journalists among the priority groups. In Bangladesh, the government has accorded journalists priority access to the first phase of the public vaccination program. In Cambodia in February, the prime minister Hun Sen designated journalists a priority group for access to vaccines.

In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended that the media be included in the lists of “essential workers” due to receive a vaccination in phase 1c. Media production personnel were to be included in the preceding phase 1b.

The list of these positive measures taken by governments is far from exhaustive.

Assistance from the High Commissioner

Regarding the request of the High Commissioner to point out how the organization may help develop national plans for protecting journalists during the pandemic, the PEC suggests that the High Commissioner and the High Commissioner’s offices throughout the world:

– argue in favor of national economic support measures for media affected by the pandemic, considering the essential information function of the media, and do so with a view to supporting a diversity of points of view;

– insist that all media workers, whatever their age, have the fastest access possible to vaccination, to assure their physical protection from the virus;

– denounce measures taken by governments that run contrary to freedom of expression, measures taken under the pretext of the fight against the pandemic, in particular those stifling critical voices.

The PEC would like to thank the High Commissioner for taking these remarks and proposals into consideration.

For the PEC, Blaise Lempen

General Secretary

Bureau du Haut-Commissariat de l’ONU aux droits de l’Homme

1211 Genève 10

registry@ohchr.org, akatulu@ohchr.org

Genève, le 16 avril 2021

Pour donner suite à votre appel à contribution du 26 février 2021 et au paragraphe 18 de la résolution du Conseil des droits de l’homme 45/18 sur la sécurité des journalistes, la Presse Emblème Campagne (Press Emblem Campaign PEC), organisation non-gouvernementale basée à Genève avec le statut consultatif spécial auprès de l’ECOSOC depuis 2010, vous fait parvenir la contribution suivante.

Le coronavirus a eu un impact dévastateur sur les médias dans la totalité des pays touchés par la pandémie : baisse des recettes publicitaires, suppressions d’emplois, fermeture d’entreprises de médias, restrictions nombreuses à la liberté de la presse, arrestations et expulsions de journalistes critiques. Plusieurs organisations ont documenté ces aspects.

Très lourd bilan

La PEC pour sa part est la seule organisation au niveau mondial à avoir documenté l’impact du Covid-19 sur la santé physique des travailleurs des médias. Des dizaines de milliers d’entre eux ont été contaminés par le virus. Parmi eux, la PEC a recensé du 1er mars 2020 au 10 avril 2021 au moins 1060 journalistes morts du virus dans 74 pays, un très lourd bilan.

Une partie de ces journalistes sont morts faute de protection, d’équipement, d’accès aux installations sanitaires et hospitalières, ainsi qu’en raison de politiques gouvernementales niant la réalité de la pandémie.

Chaque jour, entre mars 2020 et avril 2021, en moyenne plus de 2,5 journalistes ont succombé au virus. Au mois de mars 2021, la tendance s’est encore accélérée avec 3 morts par jour. Une inquiétude supplémentaire réside dans le fait que l’âge des victimes a baissé au fil des mois, avec près de la moitié des journalistes décédés du Covid entre 40 et 60 ans au mois de mars 2021, soit une main-d’œuvre encore très active.

Le chiffre total des victimes est certainement plus élevé, car la cause des décès de journalistes n’est parfois pas précisée ou leur mort pas annoncée. Dans certains pays, il n’y a pas eu d’information fiable et les gouvernements n’ont pas donné la publicité nécessaire aux cas d’infections.

Les journalistes free-lance, les photographes, cameramen, journalistes sportifs ont été particulièrement touchés, car ils ne pouvaient pas travailler à domicile. Le métier de journaliste est un métier de contact avec la population, et cela explique que la profession a été particulièrement exposée au virus. En outre, les médias avaient une mission essentielle dans la pandémie, celle d’informer la population sur la réalité de la maladie et les mesures prises pour l’endiguer. Ils ne pouvaient s’absenter simplement de leur lieu de travail pour rester chez eux.

Amérique latine plus touchée

Dans le détail, du 1er mars 2020 au 10 avril 2021, sur les 1060 journalistes qui ont succombé au virus, plus de la moitié sont morts en Amérique latine, soit 611 dans 19 pays. L’Asie suit avec 183 morts dans 18 pays, devant l’Europe (compris la Russie et la Turquie) avec 167 morts dans 19 pays, puis l’Afrique avec 52 décès dans 16 pays et l’Amérique du Nord 47 (2 pays).

Les trois premiers pays les plus touchés sont latino-américains : le Brésil compte le plus grand nombre de victimes, soit 172 morts, devant le Pérou qui recense 138 décès liés au Covid-19, puis le Mexique qui déplore au moins 93 journalistes morts du coronavirus.

Au Brésil, l’attitude du président Jair Bolsonaro a certainement contribué à l’explosion des infections, alors qu’au Pérou le manque d’équipements sanitaires a joué un rôle. De manière générale, le taux élevé de mortalité parmi les journalistes en Amérique latine s’explique par des facteurs politiques, sanitaires, culturels et économiques. Politiques: attitude populiste de déni de la gravité du virus de la part des autorités et de défiance à l’égard des experts scientifiques, manque de stratégie nationale cohérente; sanitaires: insuffisance des équipements médicaux dans les hôpitaux, distribution trop lente des masques, puis des vaccins; culturels: absence de discipline, habitudes sociales hostiles au confinement strict; économiques: manque de mesures de soutien étatique, obligeant les gens à travailler, en particulier les journalistes indépendants.

Après le Brésil, le Pérou et le Mexique, l’Inde a été le pays le plus touché avec 63 morts (jusqu’au 10 avril). L’Italie est le pays européen le plus endeuillé avec 51 journalistes morts du nouveau coronavirus. Suit le Bangladesh avec 48 morts, devant les États-Unis avec 46 morts.

En Équateur, 45 journalistes sont morts du virus et en Colombie 40. La Grande-Bretagne recense 28 décès liés au Covid, devant la République dominicaine 27. Le Pakistan suit avec 25 morts, devant la Turquie (22), l’Iran (21), le Panama (16), la Russie (15), l’Espagne (15), le Venezuela (15), la Bolivie (14) et l’Ukraine (14). L’Argentine vient ensuite (12) et le Honduras (10).

En Afghanistan, Afrique du Sud, Égypte et Nigeria, 9 victimes ont été dénombrées dans chaque pays. Au Guatemala, 8 journalistes sont morts. En France et au Nicaragua, 6 journalistes sont décédés des suites du Covid-19. Le Kenya et le Népal déplorent 5 morts chacun. Suivent l’Uruguay et le Paraguay avec 4 décès.

Trois journalistes sont décédés dans chacun de ces pays: Cameroun, Cuba, Iran, Maroc, Salvador, Suède et Zimbabwe.

Deux décès sont connus dans les pays suivants : Algérie, Autriche, Ghana, Indonésie, Kazakhstan et Portugal.

Enfin, la PEC a identifié au moins un décès dans les 29 pays suivants du 1er mars 2020 au 10 avril 2021: Allemagne, Arabie saoudite, Azerbaïdjan, Belgique, Bénin, Bosnie, Bulgarie, Canada, Chili, Émirats arabes unis, Guyana, Irak (Kurdistan), Israël, Japon, Jordanie, Kirghizistan, Liban, Lituanie, Mali, Moldavie, Mozambique, Ouganda, Philippines, Pologne, République démocratique du Congo, Suisse, Tadjikistan, Tchéquie, et Togo.

La PEC n’est pas en mesure de différencier un impact sur le genre des victimes. Femmes et hommes journalistes ont été touchés de manière équivalente, en tenant compte qu’il y a moins de femmes employées des médias que d’hommes.

L’origine de l’infection est souvent difficile à déterminer et il n’est pas possible de différencier les journalistes qui se sont infectés au travail de ceux qui ont été contaminés dans leur vie privée.

Le décompte de la PEC est basé sur les informations des médias locaux, des associations nationales de journalistes, des réseaux sociaux et des correspondants régionaux de la PEC.

Bonnes pratiques : mesures de soutien économiques

Concernant la demande du Haut-Commissariat sur les bonnes pratiques mises en œuvre par les gouvernements, la PEC a plaidé pour des mesures de soutien économiques aux journalistes victimes du Covid-19. Cet appel a notamment été entendu par le gouvernement indien qui a accordé une indemnité aux familles des journalistes victimes du virus.

Plusieurs autres pays ont pris des mesures de soutien économique aux médias pour leur permettre de continuer à faire leur travail malgré la baisse des recettes liée à la crise.

Accès aux vaccins

La PEC a étudié en particulier les mesures prises pour accélérer la vaccination des journalistes. La PEC a demandé un accès prioritaire des journalistes aux vaccins en raison de leur mission d’information essentielle.

Cet appel, largement soutenu par les associations de journalistes dans plusieurs pays, a été partiellement entendu. Ainsi, en Afrique, jusqu’à fin mars 2021, les gouvernements du Zimbabwe, du Malawi, de l’Ouganda et de la Somalie ont décidé d’inclure les journalistes parmi les premiers groupes ayant accès à la vaccination

. En Europe, les journalistes ont été considérés comme des travailleurs de première ligne dans la crise du Covid-19 par les gouvernements d’Allemagne, d’Irlande, des Pays-Bas et de Norvège, entre autres. La Serbie a décidé en janvier 2021 de vacciner les professionnels de médias en priorité.

En Inde, des États ont entendu l’appel des associations de journalistes à inclure les journalistes parmi les groupes prioritaires. Au Bangladesh, le gouvernement a accordé aux journalistes un accès prioritaire à la première phase du programme de vaccination du gouvernement. Au Cambodge, le premier ministre Hun Sen a désigné en février les journalistes comme groupe prioritaire pour l’accès aux vaccins.

Aux Etats-Unis, le Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) a recommandé que les médias soient inclus dans la liste des « travailleurs essentiels » devant recevoir un vaccin dans la phase 1c. Le personnel de production des médias devait être inclus dans la phase précédente 1b.

La liste de ces mesures positives prises par les gouvernements n’est pas exhaustive.

Assistance du Haut-Commissariat

Concernant la demande du Haut-Commissariat d’indiquer comment l’organisation peut aider au développement d’approches nationales pour protéger les journalistes dans la pandémie, la PEC suggère que le Haut-Commissariat et les bureaux du Haut-Commissariat dans le monde :

- plaident en faveur de mesures nationales de soutien économique aux médias touchés par la pandémie, compte tenu de la fonction d’information essentielle des médias et de manière à soutenir la diversité des points de vue

- insistent pour que tous les travailleurs des médias, quel que soit leur âge, aient un accès le plus rapide possible à la vaccination, afin d’assurer leur protection physique contre le virus

- condamnent les mesures prises par les gouvernements contraires à la liberté de la presse sous prétexte de lutte contre la pandémie, en particulier celles étouffant les voix critiques.

La PEC remercie le Haut-Commissariat pour l’attention portée à ses remarques et propositions.

Pour la PEC, le secrétaire général Blaise Lempen

01.04.2021. Indian scribe died of Covid-19, PEC urges for alertness

by Nava Thakuria, PEC’s India Representative

Geneva/ Guwahati, 1 April: The global tally of novel coronavirus infected individuals among journalists has reached 970 in 72 countries, where a central India based scribe Pramod Srivastava succumbed to Covid-19 complications recently to increase the country’s casualties up to 58 till date in the backdrop of ongoing province level elections in the country.

Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the Switzerland based organization focusing on safety of scribes, urges everyone to be alert as the pandemic’s second wave hits many nations.

Peru continues to top the list of corona-victims with 135 casualties, where Brazil (129 dead) and Mexico (90) follows the country, said Blaise Lempen, secretary-general of PEC adding that those nations are followed by Italy (51 dead), USA (46), Bangladesh (45), Ecuador (43), Colombia (38), United Kingdom (28), Pakistan (25), Turkey (22), Panama (16), Spain (15), Bolivia (14), Russia (14), Ukraine (14), etc.

It may be mentioned the PEC team started a corona-ticker since March 2020 to pay tributes to journalists killed by the pandemic around the world. The safety of media workers is particularly at risk in this health-related crisis because they have to continue providing information. Many of them died for lack of adequate protective measures when doing their job and hence the PEC requests early vaccinations for journalists on the frontlines, stated Lempen.

Uttar Pradesh journalist Srivastava (48) was admitted to the hospital with respiratory complains after he tested positive for Covid-19 on 25 March, where he died two days later. Many other journalists have also tested positive for the infection as they continue playing the role of
corona warriors along with the doctors, nurses, sanitation workers with others.

India as a nation lately witnesses a surge in corona infections as over 72,300 fresh cases emerged in a single day. The populous country recorded 1,22,21,665 Covid-19 cases with 1,62,927 casualties. PEC’s India representative Nava Thakuria apprehended that as the election process is going on in four major Indian States (Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu with union territory Puducherry) and will continue for a few more days, the reporters on the ground may get infected by the virus.

29.03.2021. MYANMAR (BURMA). PEC strongly condemns increasing violence, media and internet restrictions in Myanmar

by Nava Thakuria, PEC’s India and South Asia representative

Geneva/Guwahati: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the Switzerland based non-profit organization focusing on press freedom and safety, while welcoming the recent release of journalist Thein Zaw from detention in Myanmar (earlier known as Burma) after three weeks, strongly condemned the ongoing violence and restrictions imposed on media outlets, internet users in the southeast Asian country.

Associated with Associated Press, Zaw was arrested on 27 February for covering a protest against the military junta that has grabbed the power in NayPieTaw on 1 February 2021. He had to observe his 33rd birthday inside Insein Prison of Yangon, a notorious place for detaining political prisoners for decades. Even though he was charged with violating public orders, the court dropped all charges stating that Zaw was doing his job at the time of arrest.

“PEC is relieved that Thein Zaw has been freed from the prison, but additional journalists there remain detained. We urge Myanmar to release all journalists and allow them to report freely and safely on what is happening inside the country. After all, these acts of intimidation must stop and freedom of expression must be fully restored,” said Blaise Lempen, secretary-general of Press Emblem Campaign.

Since the first week of February, Myanmar continues to witness a series of protest demonstrations by common people under the civil disobedience movement. Called by the jailed National League for Democracy (NLD) chief Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to oppose the armed forces (popularly known as Tatmadow), which overthrew a democratically elected government alleging voting frauds, the movement is spread across the country.

Armed military personnel have taken lethal attacks on the demonstrators resulting in the killings of over 450 people and injuring thousands other in various parts of Myanmar. On Saturday alone, the military regime under the leadership of Myanmar’s to army officer Min Aung Hlaing, killed at least 114 protestors. Reporters, photo journalists, camera persons etc are also being targeted by the military for covering the pubis unrest. Around 40 journalists were detained and half of them are still behind bars till date.

Amidst the military crackdowns over the peaceful demonstrators for a comprehensive multi-party democracy in Myanmar, senior journalist Soe Myint, who leads Mizzima Media, commented that the military personnel must go back to their barracks. Participating virtually in a recent session of Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand (FCCT) on Myanmar crisis, Myint asserted that it is now a frontal war between the Tatmadow and common Burmese people (no longer remains as military
verses NLD/ Suu Kyi).

“We apprehended this kind of adverse situation (read military coup) and were ready to face the consequences. However it is always our duty to report about our country and citizens irrespective of any circumstance or its aftermath,” said Myint, who edits Mizzima newspapers, Mizzima TV, concerned websites, adding that he may be arrested tomorrow by the military or even get killed by their thugs, but he can not surrender to the military junta.

Moderated by Gwen Robinson, FCCT president and editor-at-large of Nikkei Asia, the session comprised speakers Sonny Swe (co-founder and publisher of Frontier Myanmar), Thiha Saw (veteran journalist and former editor Myanmar Times), Cape Diamond (freelancer), Poppy McPherson (Reuters Myanmar bureau-chief), Jonathan Head (BBC southeast Asia correspondent) etc, where Myint admitted that he may go for exile once again in the neighbouring countries
(including India) if the situation demands.

“Today, most of the Burmese journalists are working from hideouts to avoid the assaults from the military personnel. Their offices remain locked as many media outlets have faced the cancellation of registrations by the authority,” said Nava Thakuria, PEC’s India and South Asia representative with additional responsibility on Myanmar, adding that the scribes and young social media users have taken the responsibility to raise voices against the atrocities of military rulers from
undisclosed locations inside and outside the golden land of pagodas.

12.03.2021. HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL - 46th session. Item 4 General Debate. Video statement delivered by the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC). The PEC is concerned by the deterioration of the safety of journalists in Belarus, Myanmar and Afghanistan, calls for the release of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.

General Assembly

Human Rights Council 46th session

Item 4 General Debate

Madame President,

The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) is concerned by the deterioration of the safety of journalists in the last few weeks in Belarus, Myanmar, and Afghanistan.

The PEC calls on the Belarusian authorities to immediately release two young journalists of Belsat-TV arbitrarily detained in Minsk. Katsiaryna Andreyeva and Darya Chultsova have only done their job.

We condemn the threats against the media and arrests of journalists by the new regime in Myanmar. These acts of intimidation must stop, and freedom of expression must be fully restored, including on the Internet.

The PEC is also very worried by the killing of four journalists in Afghanistan since the beginning of this year, including three female journalists. Terrorists’ acts targeting the media are on the rise. The international community must increase its help to the Afghan people, and not abandon it to terrorist groups.

Finally, we regret the decision of the United States of America to continue to seek the extradition of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange and calls for his release by the British authorities as soon as possible.

The PEC reminds the Human Rights Council of the resolution on the safety of journalists adopted by consensus in October last year and calls upon all its Members to fully implement it.

Thank you, Madame President.

Geneva, 12 March 2021

10.03.2021. The PEC joins call for the UN Security Council to act against the killing of journalists in Afghanistan

The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) with the suport of the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) and 39 other civil society organizations from around the globe, in a letter to the UNSC and UNAMA, highlight the wave of journalists’ killings in Afghanistan and urge them to stand in solidarity with the Afghan journalists to help ensure their safety and media freedom given the role they play in a peaceful and democratic transition during and after the ongoing peace negotiations.

Dear permanent and elected members of the UN Security Council and Deborah Lyons, Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan

Your Excellencies,

The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) and undersigned civil society organizations, dedicated to the defense and promotion of free expression and the safety of journalists, are deeply concerned by the torrent of targeted killings of journalists in Afghanistan since early 2020. These attacks have had a devastating impact on Afghanistan’s vulnerable civic space, press freedom, and related democratic rights, and we write to urge you to take immediate action.

AFJC’s press freedom tracker has documented 11 journalists and media workers who have been killed in Afghanistan since the peace deal was signed between the United States and Taliban in February 2020. Most of these journalists were deliberately targeted for their work, which underscores the lack of effective human rights protections in the country. Among the eleven journalists are TV presenter Malala Maiwand, who was killed on Human Rights Day on December 10, 2020 with her driver, freelance photojournalist Rahmatullah Nikzad, who was killed in Ghazni province on December 21, 2020, and Besmillah Adel Aimaq, a radio journalist who was killed in Central Ghor province on January 1, 2021.

Media freedom and freedom of expression are human rights recognized under international legal conventions that Afghanistan is a party to, as well as domestic law. Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights protects the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas, while enforcement of Afghan Media Laws ensuring the security of journalists and media outlets is a fundamental responsibility of the Afghan government. Although some efforts have been made by the government to protect and uphold these rights, they have not been sufficient to prevent violations, and prosecute the perpetrators of violence against journalists. The Afghan government has made repeated pledges to ensure the security of Afghan civilians, yet there remains a culture of impunity for those responsible for carrying out targeted killings of journalists.

In response to this failure, AFJC and 200 journalists published a letter in July 2020 to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and called on the government to end this worrying trend. Likewise, in December 2020, an EU delegation representing 8 EU member states plus Australia, Canada, the NATO Mission to Afghanistan, Norway, the United Kingdom and the U.S. Mission based in Kabul condemned the targeted and unlawful attacks on representatives of the media and called on the state to investigate and prosecute those who target these individuals with violence and immediately end impunity for killings.

We believe that strong and concerted political action from the United Nations Security Council and increased support from the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan are now essential, given their interest in a peaceful transition and the role that a free press plays in this endeavour. Targeting journalists creates a societal ripple effect of fear and censorship and deprives the public of crucial information about the peace process. Therefore, we request that the UN Security Council stand against the ongoing impunity for attacks against journalists in Afghanistan.

We, the undersigned organizations, call on the United Nations Security Council and UNAMA to support the media community by calling on all parties to stop violence against journalists in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2222 (2015) and other established UN standards for the protection of journalists in conflicts and warzones. Among these are the 2012 UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, which also calls for the need to “strengthen provisions for the safety of journalists in conflict zones” (paragraph 5.24).

With these calls to action in mind, and in light of the distinctive threats faced by journalists outlined above, the Council should:

• Use every diplomatic power at their disposal to ensure the protection of press freedom and the safety of journalists and media workers as a group of civilians under the imminent threat of physical violence in Afghanistan today and in the event that the peace deal results in a new political settlement;

• Intensify efforts to protect journalists in Afghanistan, in particular working together with the government to take serious actions to end impunity and pressure the perpetrators to cease targeting journalists;

• Scrutinize and reconsider international financial support to the Afghan government, to ensure meaningful commitments to protect media freedom and the rule of law.

• Encourage the international community to offer and strengthen practical and accessible support to threatened journalists and media workers, such as safe passage, refuge, and medical assistance where necessary

Signed,

Afghanistan Journalists Center(AFJC)

ARTICLE 19 - International

Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain(ADHRB)

Afghan Independent Journalists Association (AIJA)

World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) - International

Bytes for All (B4A) - Pakistan

Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) - Cambodia

Community Media Solutions – United Kingdom

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) - International

Cartoonists Rights Network International (CRNI) - International

Federation of Media Employee Association (FMETU) - Sri Lanka 

Foundation for Press Freedom - FLIP - Columbia

Free Media Movement (FMM)- Srilanka

Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) - Nepal

FORUM ASIA - International

Free Press Unlimited (FPU) - International

Freedom Forum - Nepal

Freedom House - International

Fundamedios - Andean Foundation for Media Observation and Study – Latin America

Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD) -International

Globe International Center - Mongolia

Initiative for Freedom of Expression(IFOX) – Turkey

Independent Journalism Center (IJC)- Moldova

Indian Journalists Association (IJU) - India

International Press Centre (IPC) - Nigeria

International Press Institute (IPI) - International

Media Development Investment Fund - International

Media Watch - Bangladesh

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) – West Africa

Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) – Southern Africa

Media Rights Agenda (MRA) - Nigeria

National Union of Journalists - India 

Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) - International

PEN Canada - Canada

PEN International - International

PEN Norway - Norway

Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) – Pacific Islands

Pakistan Press Foundation(PPF) - Pakistan

Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) - International

Southeast Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) – Eastern Europe

Vigilance for Democracy and the Civic State - Tunisia

04.03.2021. PEC press release (French, Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic after English)

In one year, at least 840 journalists have died from Covid-19

Geneva, March 4, 2021 (PEC) In one year, at least 840 journalists have died from Covid-19 in 68 countries, more than 2 per day on average,

the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) announced on Thursday in Geneva. This is the heaviest toll in the media community since World War II.

“The PEC deplores this large number of victims from the coronavirus and sends its condolences to families and colleagues. It is essential that now journalists can have rapid access to vaccination so that they can do their work in the field without endangering their lives”, said PEC Secretary-General Blaise Lempen. “We hope that numbers, still very high in January-February, will start to drop”, he added..

The total number of victims is certainly higher, as the cause of death of journalists is sometimes not specified or their death not announced. In some countries, there is no reliable information.

More than half in Latin America

From March 2020 to the end of February 2021, of the 840 journalists who succumbed to the virus, more than half died in Latin America, 458 in

total in 18 countries. Asia follows with 151 dead in 17 countries, ahead of Europe 147 in 16 countries, North America 45 (2 countries), and

Africa 39 in 15 countries.

The strongest increase since the start of 2021 has taken place in Brazil with the death of nearly 50 journalists from the Covid-19 in two months,

which can be explained by a particularly chaotic political situation.

Peru remains the country with the heaviest death toll, with 108 media workers who have died from the coronavirus since March 2020. Brazil is

in second place with 102 victims, ahead of Mexico, which deplores 87 journalists who died from Covid-19.

India follows with 56 dead. Italy is the most bereaved European country with 46 journalist’s deaths. Bangladesh follows with 44.

In the United States, 44 victims of Covid-19 have been counted among the media, then Ecuador 42 dead. In Colombia, 37 journalists were killed

by the virus, then Great Britain with 26 deaths, ahead of Pakistan with 23 deaths. In Turkey, 21 deaths from the virus have been recorded. Next

are Panama (16), Ukraine (14), Bolivia (also 14), Russia (13), Spain (12).

Afghanistan has 9 victims as well as Argentina. In the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nigeria, South Africa, and Venezuela 8 casualties were

counted.

In Egypt, France, and Nicaragua, six journalists have died in each country. Guatemala deplores 4 deaths.

Three journalists died in each of these countries: Cameroon, Iran, Morocco, Nepal, Salvador, Sweden, and Zimbabwe.

Two deaths are known in the following countries: Algeria, Cuba, Indonesia, Paraguay, and Portugal.

Finally, the PEC has identified at least one death among media workers in the following 28 countries: Austria, Azerbaijan, Benin, Belgium,

Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Germany, Ghana, Iraq (Kurdistan), Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,

Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mozambique, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Togo, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay.

The origin of the infection is often difficult to determine, and it is not possible to differentiate journalists who have become infected at work from

those who have been infected in their private lives.

The PEC tally is based on information from local media, national associations of journalists and regional PEC correspondents.

Communiqué de presse PEC

En un an, au moins 840 journalistes sont morts du Covid-19

Genève, le 4 mars 2021 (PEC) Au moins 840 journalistes sont morts du Covid-19 dans 68 pays en un an, soit en moyenne plus de deux par jour, a annoncé mercredi à Genève la Presse Emblème Campagne (PEC). C’est le pire bilan pour la communauté des médias depuis la Seconde guerre mondiale.

« La PEC déplore ce grand nombre de victimes du coronavirus et adresse ses condoléances à leurs familles et collègues. Il est essentiel que les journalistes aient maintenant rapidement accès à la vaccination de manière qu’ils puissent travailler sans danger sur le terrain », a déclaré le secrétaire général de la PEC Blaise Lempen. « Nous espérons que désormais les chiffres, encore très élevés en janvier et février, vont commencer à baisser », a-t-il ajouté.

Le chiffre total des victimes est certainement plus élevé, car la cause des décès de journalistes n’est parfois pas précisée ou leur mort pas annoncée. Dans certains pays, il n’existe pas d’information fiable.

Plus de la moitié en Amérique latine

De mars 2020 à fin février 2021, sur les 840 journalistes qui ont succombé au virus, plus de la moitié sont morts en Amérique latine, soit 458 dans 18 pays. L’Asie suit avec 151 morts dans 17 pays, devant l’Europe 147 morts dans 16 pays, l’Amérique du Nord 45 (2 pays) et l’Afrique avec 39 décès du Covid-19 dans 15 pays.

La hausse la plus forte depuis le début de 2021 a eu lieu au Brésil avec le décès des suites du Covid-19 de près de 50 journalistes en deux mois, ce qui s'explique par une situation politique particulièrement chaotique.

Le Pérou reste le pays avec le bilan le plus lourd : 108 travailleurs des médias y sont décédés du coronavirus depuis mars 2020. Le Brésil est au second rang avec 102 victimes, devant le Mexique qui déplore 87 journalistes morts du Covid-19.

L’Inde suit avec 56 morts. L’Italie est le pays européen le plus endeuillé avec 46 journalistes morts du nouveau coronavirus. Suit le Bangladesh avec 44 morts.

Aux États-Unis, 44 victimes du Covid-19 ont été dénombrées parmi les médias. En Equateur, 42 journalistes sont morts. La Colombie suit avec 37 décès, devant la Grande-Bretagne (26 morts), et le Pakistan avec 23 morts. En Turquie, 21 décès du virus ont été recensés. Suivent le Panama (16), l’Ukraine (14), la Bolivie (aussi 14), la Russie (13) et l’Espagne (12).

En Afghanistan et en Argentine, 9 victimes ont été dénombrées. L’Afrique du Sud, le Honduras, le Nigeria, la République dominicaine et le Venezuela comptent chacun 8 victimes.

En Égypte, en France et au Nicaragua, six journalistes sont décédés des suites du Covid-19. Le Guatemala déplore 4 morts.

Trois journalistes sont décédés dans chacun de ces pays : Cameroun, Iran, Maroc, Népal, Salvador, Suède et Zimbabwe.

Deux décès sont connus dans les pays suivants : Algérie, Cuba, Indonésie, Paraguay et Portugal.

Enfin, la PEC a identifié au moins un décès dans les 28 pays suivants : Allemagne, Arabie saoudite, Autriche, Azerbaïdjan, Belgique, Bénin, Bulgarie, Canada, Chili, Émirats arabes unis, Ghana, Irak (Kurdistan), Israël, Japon, Jordanie, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kirghizistan, Liban, Mozambique, Ouganda, Pologne, République démocratique du Congo, Suisse, Tadjikistan, Tchéquie, Togo, Uruguay.

L’origine de l’infection est souvent difficile à déterminer et il n’est pas possible de différencier les journalistes qui se sont infectés au travail de ceux qui ont été contaminés dans leur vie privée.

Le décompte de la PEC est basé sur les informations des médias locaux, des associations nationales de journalistes et des correspondants régionaux de la PEC.

Comunicado de prensa de la PEC

En un año, al menos 840 periodistas han muerto a causa de Covid-19

Ginebra, 4 de marzo de 2021 (PEC) - Al menos 840 periodistas han muerto por Covid-19 en 68 países en un año, un promedio de más de dos fallecidos al día, según anunció el jueves en Ginebra la Campaña Emblema de Prensa (PEC, Press Emblem Campaign por sus siglas en inglés). Se trata del peor número de muertos en el campo profesional de los medios de comunicación desde la Segunda Guerra Mundial.

«La PEC lamenta el gran número de víctimas del coronavirus y hace llegar sus condolencias a sus familias y colegas. Es esencial que los periodistas tengan ahora un acceso rápido a la vacunación para que puedan trabajar con seguridad sobre el terreno», declaró el Secretario General de la PEC, Blaise Lempen. «Esperamos que a partir de ahora las cifras, que seguían siendo muy altas en enero y febrero, empiecen a bajar», añadió.

El número total de víctimas es seguramente más elevado, porque a veces no se especifica la causa de la muerte de los periodistas o, en su defecto, no se anuncia su fallecimiento. En algunos países, no hay información fiable.

Más de la mitad en América Latina

Desde marzo de 2020 hasta finales de febrero de 2021, de los 840 periodistas fallecidos por el virus, más de la mitad murieron en América Latina, 458 en 18 países. Le siguió Asia, con 151 muertes en 17 países, por delante de Europa, con 147 muertes en 16 países ; viene enseguida América del Norte, con 45 muertos (2 países) y África, con 39 muertes en 15 países.

El mayor aumento desde principios de 2021 se produjo en Brasil, donde murieron cerca de 50 periodistas en dos meses, debido a una situación política especialmente caótica.

Perú sigue siendo el país con el mayor número de víctimas mortales: 108 trabajadores de los medios de comunicación han muerto allí por el coronavirus desde marzo de 2020. Brasil ocupa el segundo lugar, con 102 víctimas, por delante de México, donde han muerto 87 periodistas por la Covid-19.

La India le sigue con 56 muertes. Italia es el país europeo más afectado, con 46 periodistas muertos por el nuevo coronavirus. Bangladesh le sigue con 44 muertos, en Ecuador murieron 42 periodistas.

En Estados Unidos, se contaron 44 víctimas de Covid-19 entre los medios de comunicación. Le sigue Colombia, con 37 muertes, por delante de Gran Bretaña (26 muertes) y Pakistán, con 23 muertes. En Turquía se registraron 21 muertes por el virus. Les siguieron Panamá (16), Ucrania (14), Bolivia (también 14), Rusia (13) y España (12).

En Afganistán y Argentina se contabilizaron 9 víctimas. La República Dominicana, Honduras, Nigeria, Sudáfrica y Venezuela tuvieron 8 víctimas cada uno.

En Egipto, Francia y Nicaragua, seis periodistas murieron a consecuencia de Covid-19. Guatemala lamenta 4 muertes.

Tres periodistas murieron en cada uno de estos países: Camerún, Irán, Marruecos, Nepal, El Salvador, Suecia y Zimbabue.

Se conocen dos muertes en los siguientes países: Argelia, Cuba, Indonesia, Paraguay y Portugal.

Por último, la PEC ha identificado al menos una muerte en los siguientes 28 países: Alemania, Arabia Saudí, Austria, Azerbaiyán, Bélgica, Benín, Bulgaria, Canadá, Chile, Emiratos Árabes Unidos, Ghana, Irak (Kurdistán), Israel, Japón, Jordania, Kazajistán, Kenia, Kirguistán, Líbano, Mozambique, Polonia, República Checa, República Democrática del Congo, Suiza, Tayikistán, Togo, Uganda y Uruguay.

El origen de la infección suele ser difícil de determinar y no es posible diferenciar entre los periodistas que se infectaron en el trabajo y los que lo hicieron en su vida privada.

El recuento de la PEC se basa en la información de los medios de comunicación locales, las asociaciones nacionales de periodistas y los corresponsales regionales del PEC.

Comunicado de imprensa PEC

Ao menos 840 jornalistas morreram de Covid-19 em um ano

Genebra, 4 de Março, 2021 (PEC) Em um ano, ao menos 840 jornalistas morreram de Covid-19 em 68 países – uma média de mais de 2 por dia – anunciou a Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) nesta Quinta-feira em Genebra. Este é o pior registro para a comunidade da mídia desde a Segunda Guerra Mundial.

“A PEC lamenta este grande número de vítimas do coronavírus e envia seus pêsames às famílias e colegas. É essencial agora que jornalistas tenham pronto acesso à vacinação para que possam continuar seu trabalho de campo sem arriscar suas vidas”, disse o Secretário-Geral da PEC, Blaise Lempen. “Esperamos que os números, ainda muito altos em Janeiro e Fevereiro, comecem a cair”, adicionou.

O número total de vítimas é certamente maior; por vezes a causa do óbito de jornalistas não é especificada, ou suas mortes não são publicadas.

Em alguns países não há informações confiáveis.

Mais da metade na América Latina

De Março de 2020 até o fim de Fevereiro de 2021, dos 840 jornalistas que sucumbiram ao vírus, mais da metade encontrava-se na América

Latina – 458 no total, em 18 países da região. A Ásia aparece em seguida com 151 mortos em 17 países, à frente da Europa com 147 vítimas em

16 países, América do Norte com 45 (em 2 países), e 39 mortos na África, distribuídos em 15 países.

O aumento de casos mais dramático desde o começo de 2021 ocorreu no Brasil, com a morte de quase 50 jornalistas por Covid-19 em apenas

dois meses, o que pode ser explicado por uma situação política particularmente caótica.

O Peru continua sendo o país com o maior número de mortos: 108 profissionais da mídia morreram por causa do coronavírus desde março de

2020. O Brasil está em segundo lugar com 102 vítimas, à frente do México, que deplora 87 jornalistas que morreram de Covid-19.

A Índia vem em seguida com 56 mortos. A Itália é o país europeu mais afetado com 46 jornalistas mortos pelo novo coronavírus. Bangladesh

vem depois com 44 óbitos.

Nos Estados Unidos foram registradas 44 vítimas de Covid-19 entre profissionais de mídia. Após temos o Equador com 42 mortos. A Colômbia

vem depois com 37 mortos pelo vírus, à frente do Reino Unido com 26 óbitos, seguido do Paquistão, com 23. Na Turquia foram registradas

21 mortes causadas pelo vírus. Os próximos são o Panamá (16), a Ucrânia (14), a Bolívia (também 14), a Rússia (13) e a Espanha (12).

O Afeganistão conta 9 vítimas, bem como a Argentina. República Dominicana, Honduras, Nigéria, África do Sul e Venezuela apresentam

8 óbitos cada.

Egito, França e Nicarágua tiveram seis jornalistas mortos em cada país. A Guatemala vela por 4 falecimentos.

Três jornalistas morreram em cada um dos seguintes países: Camarões, Irã, Marrocos, Nepal, El Salvador, Suécia e Zimbábue.

Foram registradas duas mortes nos seguintes países: Argélia, Cuba, Indonésia, Paraguai e Portugal.

Por fim, a PEC identificou ao menos um óbito nos próximos 28 países: Áustria, Azerbaijão, Benim, Bélgica, Bulgária, Canadá, Chile, República

 Tcheca, República Democrática do Congo, Alemanha, Gana, Iraque (Curdistão), Israel, Japão, Jordânia, Cazaquistão, Quênia, Quirguistão,

Líbano, Moçambique, Polônia, Arábia Saudita, Suíça, Tadjiquistão, Togo, Uganda, Emirados Árabes e Uruguai.

A origem dos contágios é frequentemente incerta e não é possível diferenciar jornalistas que contraíram a infecção no trabalho daqueles que

foram infectados em suas vidas privadas.

A contagem da PEC baseia-se em informações de mídias locais, associações nacionais de jornalistas e correspondentes regionais.

بيان صحفي – حملة الشارة

كورونا تحصد على الأقل 840 صحفيا في عام واحد

حنيف في 4 مارس 2021 (حملة الشارة) – أعلنت حملة الشارة الدولية أن وياء كورونا قد أدى إلى وفاة على الأقل 840 صحفياً في 68 دولة بمعدل 2 صحفي في اليوم، ويمثل هذا الرقم أعلى معدل للوفيات بين الصحفيين منذ الحرب العالمية الثانية. 

وطالب سكرتير عام الحملة بليز ليمبان مجدداً بتوفير امصال اللقاح للصحفيين حتى يتمكنوا من أداء مهامهم في آمان، متميناً هبوط أرقام الضحايا من الصحفيين وهي عالية للغاية خلال يناير وفبراير 2021.

وقالت حملة الشارة أن نصف العدد على الأقل من مارس 2020 إلى نهاية فبراير 2021 قد توفوا من الوباء في أمريكا اللاتينية أي 458 في 18 دولة. تأتي آسيا بعد ذلك: 151 في 17 دولة، ثم أوروبا 146 في 16 جولة، فأمريكا الشمالية: 45 في دولتين فإفريقيا 39 في 15 دولة. 

وأكبر الزيادة في الوفيات وقعت خلال شهرين في البرازيل بوفاة نحو 50 في شهرين، ربما بسبب الأوضاع السياسية المضطربة. 

وبيرو هي أكثر الدول تضرراً بوفاة 108 منذ مارس 2020، تأتي بعدها البرازيل: 102، والمكسيك 87.

وتأتي الهند بعد ذلك: 55، وإيطالبا أكثر الدول الأوروبية تضرراً: 46، وبنجلاديش: 44.

في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية: 44، ثم إكوادور: 42، كولومبيا: 37، أنجلترا: 26، باكستان: 23، تركيا: 21، بنما: 16، أوكرانيا:14، بوليفيا: 14، روسيا: 13، أسبانيا: 12. 

تأتي بعد ذلك أفغانستان والأرجنتين كل منهما 9، و 8 في كل من جمهورية الدومينكان وهندوراس ونيجيريا وجنوب إفريقيا وفنزويلا.

 ستة توفوا في كل من مصر وفرنسا ونيكارجوا وجواتيمالا 4.

وقتل 3 من الصحفيين في كل من الكاميرون وإيران والمغرب ونيبال والسلفادور والسويد وزيمبابوي.

وقتل 2 من الصحفيين في الجزائر وكوبا وإندونيسيا وباراجواي والبرتغال. 

كما قتل صحفي واحد في 28 دولة: النسما، اذربيجان، بنين، بلجيكا، بلغاريا، كندا، شيلي، وجمهورية التشيك، وجمهورية الكونغو الديمقراطية، وألمانيا، وغانا، وكردستان والعراق، وإسرائيل، واليابان، الأردن، كازاخستان، كينيا، كيرجستان، لبنان، موزامبيق، بولنده، و السعودية، وسويسرا، وتاجيكستان، وتوجو، وأوغندا، والإمارات، وأوروجواي. 

لمزيد من المعلومات برجاء تصفح موقع حملة الشارة

26.02.2021.HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL. 46th session. PEC video statement item 2 General Debate. The PEC is very concerned by the devastating impact of Covid-19 on press freedom.

General Assembly

Human Rights Council 46th session

Item 2 General Debate

Madame President,

The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) thanks the High Commissioner for Human Rights for her comprehensive report on the Impact of the coronavirus disease pandemic on the enjoyment of human rights around the world (A/HRC/46/19).

The PEC is very concerned by the devastating impact of the pandemic on press freedom. Covid-19 had a triple negative effect on the media: on their business, with huge losses of revenues and jobs, on their capacity to inform freely, with numerous restrictions in several countries, and on their staff, with thousands of journalists contaminated and hundreds killed by the virus.

As an organization aiming at strengthening the legal protection and the safety of journalists around the world, the PEC is appalled by the increasing verbal, online and physical attacks against journalists during the pandemic, threats, arbitrary detentions, restrictions on access as well as intimidations.

Covid-19 has a disproportionate effect on the profession of journalism. The PEC has documented the death of at least 830 journalists in one year due to the coronavirus.

The PEC calls upon all UN Member States 1) to guarantee a safe and free environment for the work of journalists who are informing on the pandemic, 2) to ensure an early vaccination for all journalists on the frontline and 3) to extend financial aid to the bereaved families of media staff killed by the virus.

Thank you, Madame President.

Geneva, 25 February 2021

17.02.2021. INDIA. PEC lauds New Delhi’s gesture to corona media victims - Global tally reaches 800, India at 55 corona media casualties

Geneva/ Guwahati, 17 February 2021 (PEC). The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), a Switzerland based media watchdog, lauded the Indian Union government in New Delhi for exercising a massive corona-vaccination program and also extending financial aids to the bereaved families of media corona warriors.

The acclaimed forum urges other nations to follow the example and go for an early vaccination for journalists.

Mentionable is that Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government has decided to offer rupees five lakh (USD 6500) each for kin of 39 journalists who succumbed to Covid-19 complications since March 2020, as proposed by the journalist welfare committee under the Press Information Bureau (PIB), an official media organ of the government.

“Appreciating New Delhi, we continue to reiterate that the novel corona virus infections have taken away the precious lives of over 800 journalists in 66 countries and still counting that reminds the necessity of precautions and also supports to the victims. India remains in fourth position of the list of media corona victims, preceded by Peru (108 casualty), Brazil (95) and Mexico (86),” said Blaise Lempen, secretary-general of PEC.

India is followed by Italy (45 dead), Bangladesh (44), Ecuador (42), USA (41), UK (25), Pakistan (23), Turkey (21), Colombia (21), Panama (16), Ukraine (14), Bolivia (14), Russia (13), Spain (11) in the PEC list of journo-victims due to the pandemic.

Offering heartfelt condolences to families and colleagues of the deceased, the forum asks media persons to take vaccinations at the earliest.

PEC’s India representative Nava Thakuria pointed out that at least 16 corona journo-victim families in the country are still deprived of the concerned government benefits. They should immediately apply (http://pibaccreditation.nic.in/jws/default.aspx) for the same, concluded Thakuria.

15.02.2021. PEC press release: PEC expresses concern over complete internet shut down in Myanmar

Geneva/Guwahati, 15 February 2021 (PEC). After the military coup in Myanmar on 1 February, the junta has now cut down

internet services across the south-east Asian country from Monday seemingly to start an aggressive military action against

millions of pro-democracy Burmese protesters and thus put their securities in danger, said Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), a

Switzerland based media watchdog.

Local sources in Myanmar (earlier known as Burma) confirmed that the military generals have deployed armed personnel

across the country as anti-coup protest-demonstrations continued to hit the streets. After arresting Nobel laurate pro-democracy

icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi along with hundred others, the military authority has imposed the near-total internet shutdown in

the country.

“Myanmar based journalists have faced a major challenge to perform their duties in newfound restrictions under the military

rule. It seems the military generals have declared an undeclared war against its own people. The development will only ruin the

prospect of Myanmar emerging as a sustained multi-party democracy,” said Blaise Lempen, secretary-general of PEC.

The military authority under senior general Min Aung Hlaing earlier temporarily restricted fixed telephone lines, mobile

services, internet connections in different parts of Myanmar and later it was restored in staggered manners. Armoured vehicles

were seen in several places including its present capital Naypyidaw, former capital Yangon, ancient capital Mandalay, etc.

Reports are pouring about military accesses against the protesters.

“Lately the top general Hlaing, who is dreaming of becoming the Presidential, announced that he would arrange free and fair

general elections after the completion of one year emergency period. But not subscribing his promises, many journalists now

seek to leave Myanmar for their neighbouring nations like Thailand, India, Bangladesh, etc,” said Nava Thakuria, PEC India’s

representative with an extra responsibility on Myanmar.

International reactions remain spontaneous. The UN Human Rights Council on Friday adopted unanimously a resolution calling

for the state of emergency to be lifted and for the immediate and unconditional release of all those arbitrarily detained in

Myanmar. US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed about the nation and agreed in resolving

that the rule of law and democratic process should be upheld urgently in the country of golden pagodas.

03.02.2021. PEC press release. More and more victims: at least 735 journalists have died from Covid-19

(French, Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic after English)

Geneva, February 3, 2021 (PEC) The Covid-19 is claiming more and more victims in the media community. At least 735 journalists have died

from Covid-19 in 63 countries in 11 months, or 66 per month on average, the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) announced on Wednesday in

Geneva.

Of the 735 journalists who have died from Covid-19 since March 1, 2020, Latin America leads with 375 victims. Asia follows with 148 dead,

ahead of  Europe 137, North America 39 and Africa 36.

The largest increases in the number of victims during the month of January 2021 were recorded in Brazil and Mexico.

Acceleration

At the end of December, the PEC had counted 602 victims, the difference of 133 deaths in one month marks an acceleration in the number of

deaths from Covid-19 (113 in December, 47 in November). However, not all died in January: several deaths have occurred in the previous weeks

and were registered only late.

Of the January victims whose ages are known, half were over 60 when they died, the other half between 30 and 60 (4 between 30 and 40).

Peru remains the country with the heaviest death toll, with 95 media workers who have died from the coronavirus since March. Mexico is in

second place with 84 victims, ahead of Brazil, which deplores 77 journalists who died from Covid-19. In Asia India follow with 54 dead,

then Bangladesh (44).

Italy is the most bereaved European country with 44 journalists dead from the novel coronavirus. Ecuador follows with 42 dead.

In the United States, 38 victims of Covid-19 have been counted among the media. Pakistan follows with 23 deaths from Covid-19, ahead of

Great Britain with 22 deaths. In Turkey, 21 deaths from the virus have been recorded. Next Ukraine (14), Panama (12), Russia (also 12),

Bolivia (11) and Colombia (10).

Afghanistan and Spain each have 9 victims. In the Dominican Republic 8 casualties were counted. Nigeria and South Africa are the most affected

 countries in Africa by the pandemic, with 8 and 7 victims respectively.

Seven deaths were counted in Argentina and 7 in Honduras. In Egypt, Nicaragua and Venezuela, six journalists have died in each country.

In France, five journalists have died from Covid-19.

Three journalists died in each of these countries: Cameroon, Guatemala, Iran, Nepal, El Salvador and Zimbabwe.

Two deaths are known in the following countries: Algeria, Indonesia, Morocco, Paraguay, Portugal and Sweden.

Finally, the PEC has identified at least one death in the following 24 countries: Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile,

Democratic Republic of Congo, Germany, Iraq (Kurdistan), Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mozambique, Poland,

Saudi Arabia,  Switzerland, Tajikistan, Togo, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay.

Access to vaccines

The PEC deplores this large number of victims from the coronavirus and sends its condolences to families and colleagues. The PEC supports

initiatives taken in several countries to give media workers rapid access to immunization.

“Because of their profession, journalists who go into the field to inform are particularly exposed to the virus. Some of them, especially the

freelancers, cameramen and photographers, cannot only work from home, ” said PEC Secretary-General Blaise Lempen.

The actual number of victims is certainly higher, as the cause of death of journalists is sometimes not specified or their death not announced.

In some countries, there is no reliable information.

The origin of the infection is often difficult to determine, and it is not possible to differentiate journalists who have become infected at work

from those who have been infected in their private lives.

The PEC tally is based on information from local media, national associations of journalists and regional PEC correspondents.

Communiqué de presse PEC

De plus en plus de victimes: au moins 735 journalistes sont morts du Covid-19

Genève, le 3 février 2021 (PEC) Le Covid-19 fait de plus en plus de victimes dans le monde des médias. Au moins 735 journalistes sont morts du Covid-19 dans 63 pays en 11 mois, soit en moyenne 66 par mois, a annoncé mercredi à Genève la Presse Emblème Campagne (PEC).

Sur les 735 journalistes décédés du Covid-19 depuis le 1er mars 2020, l’Amérique latine arrive en tête avec 375 victimes. L’Asie suit avec 148 morts, devant l’Europe 137, l’Amérique du Nord 39 et l’Afrique 36.

Les plus fortes augmentations dans le nombre de victimes au cours du mois de janvier 2021 ont été enregistrées au Brésil et au Mexique.

Accélération

A fin décembre, la PEC avait dénombré 602 victimes. La différence de 133 morts en un mois représente une accélération du nombre de décès du Covid-19 (113 de plus en décembre, 47 en novembre). Toutefois, tous ne sont pas morts en janvier: plusieurs décès ont eu lieu lors des semaines précédentes et ont été enregistrés seulement avec retard.

Parmi les victimes du mois de janvier dont on connaît l’âge, la moitié avait plus de 60 ans lors de son décès, l’autre moitié entre 30 et 60 ans (4 entre 30 et 40 ans).

Le Pérou reste le pays avec le bilan le plus lourd, soit 95 travailleurs des médias décédés du coronavirus depuis mars. Le Mexique est au second rang avec 84 victimes, devant le Brésil qui déplore 77 journalistes morts du Covid-19. Suivent en Asie l’Inde (54 morts) et le Bangladesh (44).

L’Italie est le pays européen le plus endeuillé avec 44 journalistes morts du nouveau coronavirus. Suit l’Equateur avec 42 morts.

Aux États-Unis, 38 victimes du Covid-19 ont été dénombrées parmi les médias. Le Pakistan suit avec 23 morts du Covid-19, devant la Grande-Bretagne avec 22 décès. En Turquie, 21 décès du virus ont été recensés. Suivent l’Ukraine (14), le Panama (12), la Russie (12 également), puis la Bolivie (11) et la Colombie (10).

En Afghanistan et en Espagne, 9 victimes ont été dénombrées. La République dominicaine compte 8 victimes. Le Nigeria et l’Afrique du Sud sont les pays africains les plus touchés par la pandémie, avec 8 et 7 victimes respectivement.

Sept décès ont été dénombrés en Argentine et 7 au Honduras. En Égypte, au Nicaragua et au Venezuela, six journalistes sont décédés dans chaque pays. En France, cinq journalistes sont morts du Covid-19.

Trois journalistes sont décédés dans chacun de ces pays: Cameroun, Guatemala, Iran, Népal, Salvador et Zimbabwe.

Deux décès sont connus dans les pays suivants: Algérie, Indonésie, Maroc, Paraguay, Portugal et Suède.

Enfin, la PEC a identifié au moins un décès dans les 24 pays suivants: Allemagne, Arabie saoudite, Autriche, Azerbaïdjan, Belgique, Bulgarie, Canada, Chili, Émirats arabes unis, Irak (Kurdistan), Israël, Japon, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kirghizistan, Liban, Mozambique, Ouganda, Pologne, République démocratique du Congo, Suisse, Tadjikistan, Togo, Uruguay.

Accès aux vaccins

La PEC déplore ce grand nombre de victimes du coronavirus et adresse ses condoléances aux familles et collègues. La PEC soutient les initiatives prises dans plusieurs pays pour donner aux travailleurs des médias un accès rapide à la vaccination.

«En raison de leur métier, les journalistes qui se rendent sur le terrain pour informer sont particulièrement exposés au virus. Certains d’entre eux, en particulier les indépendants, cameramen et photographes, ne peuvent pas seulement travailler à domicile», a expliqué le secrétaire-général de la PEC Blaise Lempen.

Le chiffre réel des victimes est certainement plus élevé, car la cause des décès de journalistes n’est parfois pas précisée ou leur mort pas annoncée. Dans certains pays, il n’existe pas d’information fiable.

L’origine de l’infection est souvent difficile à déterminer et il n’est pas possible de différencier les journalistes qui se sont infectés au travail de ceux qui ont été contaminés dans leur vie privée.

Le décompte de la PEC est basé sur les informations des médias locaux, des associations nationales de journalistes et des correspondants régionaux de la PEC.

Comunicado de prensa de la PEC 

Cada vez más víctimas: al menos 735 periodistas murieron por Covid-19

Ginebra, 3 de febrero de 2021 (PEC).- El Covid-19 está cobrando cada vez más víctimas en el mundo de los medios. Al menos 735 periodistas

han muerto por la pandemia en 63 países en 11 meses, haciendo un promedio de 66 muertes por mes, anunció en Ginebra este miércoles la

Campaña Emblema de Prensa (PEC, por sus siglas en inglés).

De los 735 periodistas que han muerto a causa de la Covid-19, desde el 1 de marzo de 2020 hasta la fecha, América Latina lidera el camino con

375 víctimas. Le sigue Asia con 148 muertos, por delante de Europa (137), América del Norte (39) y África (36).

Los mayores incrementos en el número de víctimas durante el mes de enero de 2021 se registraron en Brasil y México.

Aceleración

A fines de diciembre de 2020, la PEC había contabilizado 602 víctimas. La diferencia de 133 muertes en un mes representa una aceleración

en el número de muertes por Covid-19 (113 muertos más en diciembre, contra 47 en noviembre). Sin embargo, no todos murieron en enero:

se han producido varias muertes en las semanas anteriores y solo se registraron tardíamente.

De las víctimas de enero cuyas edades se conocen, la mitad tenía más de 60 años cuando murieron, la otra mitad entre 30 y 60 años (4 entre 30 y

40).

Perú sigue siendo el país con el mayor número de víctimas, han sido 95 los trabajadores de los medios que han muerto por el coronavirus desde

marzo. México ocupa el segundo lugar con 84 víctimas, por delante de Brasil, que deplora a 77 periodistas que murieron por Covid-19. En Asia

le siguen India (54 muertos) y Bangladesh (44).

Italia es el país europeo más desconsolado con 44 periodistas muertos por el nuevo coronavirus. Ecuador le sigue con 42 muertos.

En los Estados Unidos, se han contabilizado 38 víctimas de Covid-19 entre los medios. Pakistán le sigue con 23 muertes por Covid-19, por

delante de Gran Bretaña con 22 muertes. En Turquía, se han registrado 21 muertes por el virus. Le siguen Ucrania (14), Panamá (12), Rusia

(también 12), luego Bolivia (11) y Colombia (10).

En España y Afganistán se contabilizaron 9 víctimas. República Dominicana tiene 8 víctimas. Nigeria y Sudáfrica son los países africanos más

afectados por la pandemia, con 8 y 7 víctimas respectivamente. Se contabilizaron siete muertes en Argentina y siete en Honduras. En Egipto,

Nicaragua y Venezuela, seis periodistas han muerto en cada país.

En Francia se conoce la muerte de cinco periodistas del Covid-19. Tres periodistas murieron en cada uno de estos países: Camerún, Guatemala,

Irán, Nepal, El Salvador y Zimbabwe.

Se conocen dos muertes en los siguientes países: Argelia, Indonesia, Marruecos, Paraguay, Portugal y Suecia.

Finalmente, la PEC ha identificado al menos una muerte en los siguientes 24 países: Alemania, Arabia Saudita, Austria, Azerbaiyán, Bélgica,

Bulgaria, Canadá, Chile, Emiratos Árabes Unidos, Irak (Kurdistán), Israel, Japón, Kazajstán, Kenia, Kirguistán, Líbano, Mozambique, Uganda,

Polonia, República Democrática del Congo, Suiza, Tayikistán, Togo, Uruguay.

Acceso a vacunas

La PEC igualmente deplora este gran número de víctimas del coronavirus y envía sus condolencias a sus familiares y compañeros. La PEC apoya

 las iniciativas tomadas en varios países para brindar a los trabajadores de los medios de comunicación un acceso rápido a la inmunización.

“Por su profesión, los periodistas que salen al campo para informar están particularmente expuestos al virus. Algunos de ellos, especialmente los

autónomos, camarógrafos y fotógrafos, no pueden trabajar solo desde casa”, dijo el secretario general de PEC, Blaise Lempen.

El número real de víctimas es ciertamente mayor, porque a veces no se especifica la causa de la muerte de los periodistas o no se anuncia su

muerte. En algunos países, no existe información confiable.

El origen de la infección suele ser difícil de determinar y no es posible diferenciar a los periodistas que se han infectado en el trabajo de los que

se han infectado en su vida privada.

El recuento de PEC se basa en información de los medios locales, las asociaciones nacionales de periodistas y los corresponsales regionales de

PEC.

Comunicado de imprensa PEC

Mais e mais vítimas: ao menos 735 jornalistas morreram de Covid-19

Genebra, 3 de Fevereiro de 2021 (PEC) A Covid-19 está fazendo mais e mais vítimas entre a comunidade midiática. Ao menos 735 jornalistas

morreram de Covid-19 em 63 países durante 11 meses – 66 por mês em média – conforme divulgado pela “Press Emblem Campaign” (PEC)

nesta Quarta-feira, em Genebra.

Destes 735 jornalistas que morreram de Covid-19 desde 1o de Março de 2020, 375 vítimas atuavam na América Latina, que lidera a contagem.

A Ásia vem em seguida com 148 mortos, à frente da Europa, com 137, América do Norte com 39 e África com 36.

Os maiores aumentos no número de vítimas durante o mês de Janeiro de 2021 foram registrados no Brasil e no México.

Aceleração

No final de Dezembro, a PEC havia contado 602 vítimas. O acréscimo de 133 mortes em um único mês marca uma aceleração no número de

mortes por Covid-19 (foram 113 em Dezembro e 47 em Novembro de 2020). No entanto, parte das mortes computadas em Janeiro ocorreram

nas semanas anteriores e tiveram um registro tardio.

Das vítimas de Janeiro cujas idades são conhecidas, metade tinha mais de 60 anos no momento do óbito. A outra metade tinha entre 30 e 60,

sendo que 4 falecidos tinham entre 30 e 40 anos.

O Peru segue como o país com as maiores perdas, com 95 profissionais de mídia mortos em decorrência do coronavírus desde Março. O México

está no segundo lugar com 84 vítimas, à frente do Brasil, que vela a morte de 77 jornalistas mortos por Covid-19.

Na Ásia, a Índia aparece em seguida com 54 mortos, depois vem Bangladesh com 44.

A Itália é o país Europeu mais enlutado, com 44 jornalistas mortos pelo novo coronavírus. O país seguinte é o Equador, com 42 mortos.

Nos Estados Unidos foram registradas 37 vítimas de Covid-19 entre o setor de mídia. Em seguida temos Paquistão com 23 mortes por Covid-19,

à frente da Grã-Bretanha com 22 mortes. Na Turquia foram registradas 21 mortes causadas pelo vírus. Em seguida vem a Ucrânia (14),

Panamá (12), Rússia (também 12), Bolívia (11) e Colômbia (10).

Na Espanha e Afeganistão foram contadas 9 vítimas cada. República Dominicana têm 8 causalidades. Sete mortes foram registradas tanto na

Argentina quanto em Honduras. Egito, Nicarágua e Venezuela contam 6 mortes cada. Na França, cinco jornalistas morreram de Covid-19.

Três jornalistas morreram em cada um destes países: Camarões, Guatemala, Irã, Nepal, El Salvador e Zimbábue.

Duas mortes foram informadas nos seguintes países: Argélia, Indonésia, Marrocos, Paraguai, Portugal e Suécia.

Por fim, a PEC identificou ao menos uma morte em cada um destes 24 países: Alemanha, Arábia Saudita, Azerbaidjão, Bélgica, Bulgária,

Canadá, Chile, República Democrática do Congo, Iraque (Curdistão), Israel, Japão, Cazaquistão, Quênia, Quirguistão, Líbano, Moçambique,

Polônia, Suíça, Tajiquistão, Togo, Uganda, Emirados Árabes Unidos e Uruguai.

Acesso a vacinas

A PEC se enluta por este grande número de vítimas do coronavírus e envia seus pêsames às famílias e colegas. A PEC apoia iniciativas tomadas

em diversos países para fornecer rápido acesso à imunização aos trabalhadores do setor de mídia.

“Devido à sua profissão, jornalistas de campo estão particularmente expostos ao vírus. Alguns, como autônomos (“freelancers”), cinegrafistas

e fotógrafos não podem realizar exclusivamente teletrabalho”, afirmou o Secretário-Geral da PEC, Blaise Lempen.

O número real de vítimas é certamente maior, pois a causa do óbito dos jornalistas muitas vezes não é especificada, ou suas mortes não são

publicadas. Em alguns países não há informações confiáveis.

Por vezes é difícil determinar a origem do contágio e não é possível identificar se o jornalista contraiu a infecção no trabalho ou em sua vida

privada.

A contagem da PEC é baseada em informações de mídias locais, associações nacionais de jornalistas e correspondentes regionais.

بيان صحفي

 735 صحفياً على الأقل تُوفوا من كورونا

جنيف في 3 فبراير (حملة الشارة) – أعلنت حملة الشارة الدولية من مقرها في جنيف عن أن 735 صحفياً على الأقل قد تُوفوا من فيروس كورونا في 63 دولة في خلال 11 شهراً، بمعدل 66 شهرياً.

تأتي أمريكا اللاتينية في المقدمة مسجلة أعلى رقم للضحايا: 375، ثم آسيا 148، متقدمة في عدد الضحايا عن أوروبا، التي سجلت 137 وفاة، ثم أمريكا الشمالية 39، فإفريقيا 36. 

وقد رصدت الحملة في يناير أعلى زيادة في الوفيات في البرازيل والمكسيك.

ففي نهاية ديسمبر سجلت الحملة 602، وكانت الزيادة 133 في يناير 2021.

وتتراوح أعمار وفيات يناير من كورونا ممن تم التعرف على أعمارهم أن نصفهم فوق الستين والباقي ما بين 30 و60 و4 فقط ما بين 30 و40.

تظل بيرو هي الأعلى مسجلة 95 منذ مارس الماضي، ثم المكسيك 84، ثم البرازيل 77، وسجلت الهند 54 وبنجلاديش 44.

وتأتي إيطاليا في مقدمة الدول الأوروبية المتضررة: 44 والإكوادور: 42. ثم 38 في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، ثم باكستان 23، بريطانيا 22، تركيا 21، أوكرانيا 14، بنما 12، روسيا 12، بوليفيا 11 وكولومبيا 10. تأتي بعد ذلك إسبانبا: 9 في كلٍ من أفغانستان وجمهورية الدومينكان و8 في نيجيريا و7 في جنوب إفريقيا التي تعد أكثر الدول الإفريقية تضرراً في القارة الإفريقية. 

ووقعت 7 حالات وفاة في كلٍ من الأرجنتين وهندوراس، و6 في كل من نيكاراجواوفنزويلا ومصر، و5 في فرنسا.

وتُوفى 3 صحفيين في كلٍ من الكاميرون وجواتيمالا وإيران ونيبال والسلفادور وزيمباوي.

وتُوفى 2 في كلٍ من الجزائر وإندونيسيا والمغرب وباراجواي والبرتغال والسويد.

وتُوفى صحفي واحد في 22 دولة: النمسا، أذربيجان، بلجيكا، بلغاريا، كندا، شيلي، جمهورية الكونغو الديمقراطية، ألمانيا، كردستان العراق، إسرائيل، اليابان، كازاخستان، لبنان، بولنده، السعودية، سويسرا، توجو، أوغندا وأوروجواي.

وتتقدم حملة الشارة الدولية بالعزاء إلى كل أسر الضحايا وتؤيد المبادرات في عدة دول لتوفير التطعيم السريع للصحفيين. 

وشرح سكرتير عام الحملة بليز ليمبان أن الصحفيين الذين يغطون انتشار الوباء لا يمكنهم العمل من منازلهم طوال الوقت. 

للمزيد من المعلومات رجاء تصفح موقع الحملة:

www.pressemblem.ch

05.01.2021. PEC press release. More than 600 journalists died from Covid-19 in ten months in 2020

French, Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic after English - list of victims on our page COVID-19

For Russian, go to: https://tass.ru/obschestvo/10407779

Geneva, January 5, 2021 (PEC) More than 600 journalists died of Covid-19 in 59 countries in ten months in 2020,

that is to say 60 per month, or two per day on average, announced Tuesday in Geneva the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC).

Of the 602 journalists who have died from Covid-19 since March 1, 2020, Latin America leads with more than half of the

victims, or 303 deaths. Asia follows with 145 dead, ahead of Europe 94, North America 32 and Africa 28.

Financial aid, access to vaccines

The PEC supports, when necessary, requests for financial assistance for the families of journalists who have died from

Covid-19. It also shares the view that media workers should have priority access to immunization upon request.

“Because of their profession, journalists who go into the field to testify are particularly exposed to the virus. Some of them,

specially freelancers and photographers, can't just work from home”, said PEC Secretary-General Blaise Lempen.

Peru remains the country with the heaviest death toll, with 93 media workers who have died from the coronavirus since

March (according to the Peruvian National Association of Journalists). Brazil is second with 55 victims, ahead of India

(53 dead) and Mexico (45 dead).

Ecuador follows with 42 dead and Bangladesh 41. Italy is the most bereaved European country with 37 journalists dead

from Covid-19.

In the United States, 31 victims of Covid-19 have been counted among the media. Pakistan comes next with 22 dead,

followed by Turkey 17, Great Britain 13, Panama 11 and Bolivia 9 deaths.

Afghanistan, Dominican Republic, Nigeria and Russia each have 8 victims, followed by Argentina, Colombia, Honduras

7 deaths in each country. In Nicaragua, Spain and Venezuela, six journalists have died in each country. In France, five deaths

from Covid-19 have been announced.

Three journalists died from Covid-19 in each of these countries: Cameroon, Egypt, Guatemala, Iran, Nepal, Salvador, South

Africa and Zimbabwe.

Two deaths are known in the following countries: Algeria, Indonesia, Morocco, Paraguay, Portugal and Sweden.

Finally, the PEC has identified at least one death in the following 21 countries: Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria,

Canada, Chile, Democratic Republic of Congo, Germany, Iraq (Kurdistan), Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan,

Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Uganda, Tajikistan, Togo, and Uruguay.

Largest increases

In December, the largest increases were recorded in Brazil (+12 in one month) and Mexico (+11). The difference between

the 489 victims recorded until the end of November by the PEC and the 602 until December 31 does not mean that 113

journalists died from the coronavirus in December: indeed, deaths from previous weeks were only known and recorded in

December in some countries (such as in Italy, Pakistan and Turkey).

The actual number of victims is certainly higher, as the cause of journalists' deaths is sometimes not specified or their deaths

not announced. In some countries, there is no reliable information.

The origin of the infection is often difficult to determine, and it is not possible to differentiate journalists who become

infected at work from those who have been infected in their private lives.

The PEC tally is based on information from local media, national associations of journalists and regional PEC

correspondents.

Communiqué de presse PEC

Plus de 600 journalistes sont morts du Covid-19 en dix mois en 2020

Genève, le 5 janvier 2021 (PEC) Plus de 600 journalistes sont morts du Covid-19 dans 59 pays en dix mois en 2020, soit 60 par mois, ou deux par jour en moyenne, a annoncé mardi à Genève la Presse Emblème Campagne (PEC).

Sur les 602 journalistes décédés du Covid-19 depuis le 1er mars 2020, l’Amérique latine arrive en tête avec plus de la moitié des victimes, soit 303 décès. L’Asie suit avec 145 morts, devant l’Europe 94, l’Amérique du Nord 32 et l’Afrique 28.

Aide financière, accès aux vaccins

La PEC soutient les demandes d’aide financière, lorsque c’est nécessaire, pour les familles des journalistes morts des suites du Covid-19. Elle partage également le point de vue selon lequel les travailleurs des médias devraient avoir accès à la vaccination en priorité, à leur demande.

«En raison de leur métier, les journalistes qui se rendent sur le terrain pour informer sont en effet particulièrement exposés au virus. Certains d’entre eux, en particulier les indépendants et les photographes, ne peuvent pas seulement travailler à domicile», a affirmé le secrétaire-général de la PEC Blaise Lempen.

Le Pérou reste le pays avec le bilan le plus lourd, soit 93 travailleurs des médias décédés du coronavirus depuis mars (selon l’Association nationale péruvienne des journalistes). Le Brésil est au second rang avec 55 victimes, devant l’Inde (53 morts) et le Mexique (45 morts).

Suivent l’Equateur 42 morts et le Bangladesh 41. L’Italie est le pays européen le plus endeuillé avec 37 journalistes morts du nouveau coronavirus.

Aux États-Unis, 31 victimes du Covid-19 ont été dénombrées parmi les médias. Le Pakistan vient ensuite avec 22 morts, puis la Turquie (17) et la Grande-Bretagne (13). Suivent le Panama (11) et la Bolivie (9).

L’Afghanistan, le Nigeria, la République dominicaine et la Russie comptent chacun 8 victimes, puis l’Argentine, la Colombie, le Honduras 7 décès dans chaque pays. En Espagne, au Nicaragua et au Venezuela, six journalistes sont décédés dans chaque pays. En France, cinq morts du Covid-19 ont été annoncés.

Trois journalistes sont décédés du Covid-19 dans chacun de ces pays: Afrique du Sud, Cameroun, Égypte, Guatemala, Iran, Népal, Salvador et Zimbabwe.

Deux décès sont connus dans les pays suivants: Algérie, Indonésie, Maroc, Paraguay, Portugal et Suède.

Enfin, la PEC a identifié au moins un décès dans les 21 pays suivants: Allemagne, Arabie saoudite, Autriche, Azerbaïdjan, Belgique, Bulgarie, Canada, Chili, Irak (Kurdistan), Israël, Japon, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kirghizistan, Liban, Ouganda, République démocratique du Congo, Suisse, Tadjikistan, Togo, Uruguay.

Plus fortes hausses

En décembre, les plus fortes hausses ont été recensées au Brésil (+12 en un mois) et au Mexique (+11). La différence entre les 489 victimes dénombrées jusqu’à fin novembre par la PEC et les 602 jusqu’au 31 décembre ne veut pas dire que 113 journalistes sont morts du coronavirus en décembre: en effet, des décès lors des semaines précédentes ont seulement été connus et comptabilisés en décembre dans certains pays (comme en Italie, en Turquie et au Pakistan).

Le chiffre réel des victimes est certainement plus élevé, car la cause des décès de journalistes n’est parfois pas précisée ou leur mort pas annoncée. Dans certains pays, il n’existe pas d’information fiable.

L’origine de l’infection est souvent difficile à déterminer et il n’est pas possible de différencier les journalistes qui se sont infectés au travail de ceux qui ont été contaminés dans leur vie privée.

Le décompte de la PEC est basé sur les informations des médias locaux, des associations nationales de journalistes et des correspondants régionaux de la PEC.

Comunicado de prensa de la PEC

Más de 600 periodistas murieron a causa de Covid-19 en diez meses en 2020

Ginebra, 5 de enero de 2021 (PEC).- Más de 600 periodistas murieron por la Covid-19 en 59 países en diez meses en 2020 (o sea 60 por mes, o dos por día), en promedio, anunció la Campaña Emblema de Prensa (PEC, Press Emblem Campaign por sus siglas en inglés) este martes.

De los 602 periodistas que han muerto por Covid-19, desde el 1 de marzo de 2020, América Latina lidera con más de la mitad de las víctimas (o sea, 303 muertes). Le sigue Asia con 145 muertos, por delante de Europa (94), América del Norte (32) y África 28.

Asistencia financiera, acceso a vacunas

La PEC respalda las solicitudes de asistencia financiera, cuando sea necesario, para las familias de los periodistas que han muerto a causa de la Covid-19. También comparte la opinión de que los trabajadores de los medios de comunicación deberían tener acceso prioritario a la inmunizacion cuando así lo soliciten.

« Debido a su profesión, los periodistas que salen al campo para informar están, de hecho, particularmente expuestos al virus. Algunos de ellos, especialmente los independientes y los fotógrafos, no pueden simplemente trabajar desde casa », dijo el secretario general de la PEC, Blaise Lempen.

Perú sigue siendo el país con el mayor número de muertos, con 93 trabajadores de los medios que han fallecido por el coronavirus desde marzo (según la Asociación Nacional de Periodistas del Perú). Brasil ocupa el segundo lugar con 55 víctimas, por delante de India (53 muertos) y México (45 muertos).

Ecuador tiene 42 muertos y Bangladesh 41. Italia es el país más desconsolado de Europa con 37 periodistas muertos.

En los Estados Unidos, 31 víctimas de Covid-19 se han contabilizado entre los medios. Le sigue Pakistán, con 22 muertos, luego Turquía (17) y Gran Bretaña (13). Luego vienen Panamá (11) y Bolivia (9).

Afganistán, Nigeria, República Dominicana y Rusia tienen 8 víctimas cada uno, seguidos de Argentina, Colombia, Honduras, con 7 muertes en cada país. En España, Nicaragua y Venezuela han muerto seis periodistas en cada una de estas naciones. En Francia, se han anunciado cinco muertes por Covid-19.

Tres periodistas murieron en cada uno de estos países: Sudáfrica, Camerún, Egipto, Guatemala, Irán, Nepal, El Salvador y Zimbabwe.

Se conocen dos muertes en los siguientes países: Argelia, Indonesia, Marruecos, Paraguay, Portugal y Suecia.

Finalmente, la PEC ha identificado al menos una muerte en los siguientes 21 países: Alemania, Arabia Saudita, Austria, Azerbaiyán, Bélgica, Bulgaria, Canadá, Chile, Irak (Kurdistán), Israel, Japón, Kazajstán, Kenia, Kirguistán, Líbano, Uganda, República Democrática del Congo, Suiza, Tayikistán, Togo, Uruguay.

Mayores aumentos

En diciembre, los mayores incrementos se registraron en Brasil (+12 en un mes) y México (+11). La diferencia entre las 489 víctimas contabilizadas hasta finales de noviembre por la PEC y las 602, hasta el 31 de diciembre, no significa que 113 periodistas murieran por el coronavirus en diciembre: de hecho, solo se conocieron las muertes durante las semanas anteriores y fue hasta el mes de diciembre que se registraron tales hechos en algunos países (como Italia, Turquía y Pakistán).

El número real de víctimas es ciertamente mayor, ya que a veces no se especifica la causa de la muerte de los periodistas, o no se anuncia su muerte. En algunos países, no existe información confiable.

El origen de la infección es a menudo difícil de determinar y no es posible diferenciar a los periodistas que se infectan en el trabajo, de aquellos que se han infectado en su vida privada.

El recuento de la PEC se basa en información de los medios locales, asociaciones nacionales de periodistas y corresponsales regionales de PEC.

Comunicado de imprensa PEC

Mais de 600 jornalistas morreram de Covid-19 em dez meses em 2020

Genebra, 5 de Janeiro de 2021 (PEC) Mais de 600 jornalistas morreram de Covid-19 em 59 países em dez meses em 2020, o equivalente a 60 por mês, ou dois por dia em média, conforme anúncio da Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) nesta Terça-feira, em Genebra.

Dos 602 jornalistas que morreram de Covid-19 desde 1º de Março, 2020, mais da metade estava na América Latina, que lidera com 303 mortes. A Ásia vem em seguida com 145 mortes, à frente da Europa, com 94, América do Norte, 32, e África com 28 óbitos.

Ajuda financeira, acesso a vacinas

A PEC deplora as muitas mortes evitáveis e apóia, quando necessário, solicitações de assistência financeira para as famílias de jornalistas que morreram de Covid-19. Também compartilha do argumento pelo qual trabalhadores da mídia deveriam ter acesso prioritário à imunização quando solicitado.

“Devido a sua profissão, jornalistas que vão a campo testemunhar os acontecimentos estão particularmente expostos ao vírus. Alguns deles, especialmente autônomos e fotógrafos, não podem trabalhar em casa remotamente”, afirmou o Secretário-Geral da PEC, Blaise Lempen.

O Peru permanence como o país com a mais alta letalidade, contando 93 profissionais de mídia mortos pelo coronavírus desde Março (de acordo com a Associação Nacional Peruana de Jornalistas). O Brasil é o segundo com 55 vítimas, à frente da Índia (53 mortos) e México (45 óbitos).

Em seguida temos o Equador, com 42 mortos, e Bangladesh, com 41. A Itália é o país Europeu mais desolado, com 37 jornalistas mortos em decorrência da Covid-19.

Nos Estados Unidos foram contabilizadas 31 vítimas de Covid-19 no meio jornalístico. O Paquistão vem depois com 22 mortos, seguido pela Turquia, com 17, Reino Unido com 13 vítimas, Panamá com 11 e Bolívia com 9 mortes.

Afeganistão, República Dominicana, Nigéria e Rússia tiveram 8 vítimas cada, seguidos pela Argentina, Colômbia e Honduras com 7 mortes em cada país. Nicarágua, Espanha e Venezuela perderam seis jornalistas cada. Na França foram anunciadas 5 mortes por Covid-19.

Três jornalistas morreram de Covid-19 em cadaum dos seguintes países: Camarões, Egito, Guatemala, Irã, Nepal, Salvador, África do Sul e Zimbábue.

Tomou-se conhecimento de duas mortes em cada um destes países: Algéria, Indonésia, Marrocos, Paraguai, Portugal e Suécia.

Finalmente, a PEC identificou ao menos uma morte em cada um destes 21países : Áustria, Azerbaijão, Bélgica, Bulgária, Canadá, Chile, República Democrática do Congo, Alemanha, Iraque (Curdistão), Israel, Japão, Cazaquistão, Quênia, Quirguistão, Líbano, Arábia Saudita, Suíça, Uganda, Tajiquistão, Togo e Uruguai.

Maiores altas

Em Dezembro, as maiores altas foram registradas no Brasil (+12 mortes em um mês) e México (+11). A diferença entre as 489 vítimas identificadas no fim de Novembro pela PEC e as 602 reconhecidas em 31 de Dezembro não significa que 113 jornalistas morreram por coronavírus em Dezembro: de fato, mortes ocorridas em semanas anteriores somente foram registradas em alguns países em Dezembro (como na Itália, Paquistão e Turquia).

O número real de vítimas é certamente mais alto – por vezes as causas de morte de jornalistas não são especificadas ou suas mortes não são anunciadas. Em alguns países não há informação confiável.

Frequentemente é difícil determinar a origem do contágio e não é possível separar jornalistas que adoeceram por causa do trabalho de jornalistas que contraíram a infecção em suas vidas privadas.



A contagem da PEC é baseada em informações das respectivas mídias locais, associações nacionais de jornalistas e correspondentes regionais.

أكثر من 600 صحفى تُوفوا من الكورونا خلال عشرة أشهر فى 2020

جنيف 5 يناير 2021 (حملة الشارة الدولية) – أعلنت حملة الشارة الدولية من مقرها فى جنيف عن أن أكثر من 600 صحفى تُوفوا من كورونا فى 2020 بمعدل 60 شهرياً وبمتوسط 2 يومياً.

وقد رصدت فى ديسمبر أعلى زيادة فى الوفيات فى البرازيل بزيادة 12 فى شهر واحد وفى المكسيك بزيادة 11، ومنذ مارس 2020 فإن أمريكا اللاتينية صاحبة النصيب الأكبر فى الوفيات الصحفية من كورونا بوفاة 303، ثم آسيا 145، وأوروبا 94، فأمريكا الشمالية 32 ثم إفريقيا 28.

وتطالب حملة الشارة الدولية بتوفير التطعيم للصحفيين، وأشار سكرتير عام الحملة بليز ليمبان أنه لابد من معاملة الصحفيين بسبب مهنتهم كمجموعة لها الأولوية مثل الأطباء وأعضاء التمريض والعاملين فى قطاع النقل.

تظل بيرو أكثر الدول تضرراً بوفاة 93 من الصحفيين هناك منذ مارس 2020 طبقاً لنقابة الصحفيين الوطنية فى بيرو، ثم تأتى البرازيل بعدها: 55، ثم الهند 53، فالمكسيك 45، فإكوادور 42، وبنجلاديش 41 وإيطاليا التى تعد أكثر الدول الأوروبية تضرراً 37، الولايات المتحدة 31، باكستان 22، تركيا 17، بريطانيا 13، بنما ،11 بوليفيا 9. 

وتُوفى 8 صحفيين من كورونا فى كلٍ من أفغانستان وجمهورية الدومينكان ونيجيريا وروسيا، ثم 7 فى كلٍ من الأرجنتين وكولومبيا وهندوراس. وتُوفى 6 صحفيين فى نيكاراجوا وإسبانيا وفنزويلا، و5 فى فرنسا، و3 فى كلٍ من الكاميرون ومصر وجواتيمالا وإيران ونيبال والسلفادور وجنوب إفريقيا وزيمبابوي، ثم 2 فى كلٍ من الجزائر وإندونيسيا والمغرب وباراجواى والبرتغال والسويد.

وصحفى واحد فى كلٍ من النمسا وأذربيجان وبلجيكا وبلغاريا وكندا وشيلى وجمهورية الكونغو الديمقراطية وألمانيا وكردستان العراقوإسرائيل واليابان وكازاخستان وكينيا وكارجستان ولبنان والمملكة العربية السعودية وسويسرا وأوغندا وطاجيكستان وتوجو وأوروجواي. 

وتطالب حملة الشارة الدولية بتوفير الدعم المادى للصحفيين الذين تُوفوا من كورونا، إذ يصعب تحديد منبع العدوى، هل هى إصابة عمل أم عدوى خارج العمل. 

لمزيد من المعلومات رجاء تصفح:

 www.pressemblem.ch

04.01.2021. PEC welcomes decision not to extradite Julian Assange, but...

Geneva/London, January 4 (PEC) The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) welcomes the decision of UK Judge Vanaissa Baraitser not to extradite Julian Assange from the United Kingdom to the United States. But the fight goes on: he must be freed for humanitarian reasons and the legal battle must end.

Assange suffered too long without a fair trial. After 11 years in isolation, first in the Ecuadorian mission in London, then in Belmarsh prison, his health has dramatically deteriorated. The judge recognized the fact that he cannot been extradited, but the US can appeal the decision.

It is only a partial victory: the UK judge has not considered the fact that the EwikiLeaks founder’ investigative journalism was in defense of freedom of expression and the fight against impunity. Baraitser has denied extradition only on the grounds of Assange’s mental health and his autism, and the fact that he is a suicide risk. In other words, the principled arguments for freeing Assange have been decisively rejected.

We should be deeply worried by the legal arguments Baraitser advanced in denying extradition. The U.S. demand for extradition was rejected on what was effectively a technicality. The U.S. mass incarceration system is so obviously depraved that, it was shown conclusively by experts at the hearings back in September, Assange would have been at grave risk of suicide should he become another victim of its jails.

Significantly, Judge Baraitser backed all the Trump administration’s main legal arguments for extradition, even though they were comprehensively demolished by Assange’s lawyers.

Baraitser accepted the U.S. government’s dangerous new definition of investigative journalism as “espionage”, and implied that Assange had also broken Britain’s draconian Official Secrets Act in exposing government war crimes.

She accepted that protecting sources – as Assange did for whistle-blower Chelsea Manning, an essential obligation on journalists in a free society – now amounts to criminal “hacking”. She trashed free speech and press freedom rights, saying they did not provide “unfettered discretion by Mr Assange to decide what he’s going to publish”.

She appeared to approve of the ample evidence showing that the U.S. spied on Assange inside the Ecuadorian embassy, both in violation of international law and his client-lawyer privilege – a breach of his most fundamental legal rights that alone should have halted proceedings.

She argued that Assange would receive a fair trial in the U.S., even though it was almost certain to take place in the eastern district of Virginia, where the major U.S. security and intelligence services are headquartered. Any jury there would be dominated by U.S. security personnel and their families, who would have no sympathy for Assange.

So as we celebrate this ruling for Assange, we must also loudly denounce it as an attack on press freedom, as an attack on our hard-won collective freedoms, and as an attack on our efforts to hold the U.S. and U.K. establishments accountable for the values, principles and laws they themselves profess to uphold.

Even as we are offered with one hand a small prize in Assange’s current legal victory, the establishment’s other hand seizes much more from us.

The case is adjourned until Wednesday morning Jan. 6 for a bail hearing.

The PEC was one of the first organizations to sign the appeal to free Julian Assange. For a year more than 1600 journalists sign the statement and speak up for the WikiLeaks founder. His platform reveals documents of public interest and journalists must not be prosecuted for doing their investigative job.

www.speak-up-for-assange.org

10.12.2020 updated 31.12.2020. PEC press release: India and Mexico most dangerous countries in 2020

French, Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic after English - list of victims and graphs on: CASUALTIES

For Russian, read the versions of the Tass agency (10/12/2020 and 18/12/2020): https://tass.ru/obschestvo/10219603

https://tass.ru/obschestvo/10294785

Geneva, December 10, updated December 31 (PEC) India and Mexico have been the most dangerous countries for media work this year, the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) said in its annual report in Geneva. The number of journalists killed increased by more than 22% compared to last year.

In total, since January, 92 media workers had been killed in 31 countries around the world (up from 75 last year). India leads with 15 assassinations (+12), ahead of Mexico where 12 journalists were killed (-1). Among the most dangerous countries are Pakistan (8 dead, unchanged), Afghanistan (7, -1), Honduras (5, unchanged), Iraq (5, +2), the Philippines (4, unchanged), and Syria (4, -2).

Three assassinations were recorded in Nigeria (+2), as well as in Venezuela (+3). The following countries deplore two victims: Brazil (unchanged), Colombia, Guatemala (+2), Liberia (+2), Somalia (+1).

Finally, one victim has been identified in the following countries: Argentina, Bangladesh, Barbados, Cambodia, Cameroon, Ecuador, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Mozambique, Paraguay, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Turkey, and Yemen.

By region, Asia, with 38 dead (+11), is ahead of Latin America (30 victims, +4), the Middle East (12, +2), Africa (9, -1) and Europe (3, +1).

Of the 92 journalists murdered, 19 were in conflict zones (Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen). It seems that the pandemic has

helped to freeze some conflicts and also limit the movement of journalists to dangerous areas.

“Fewer journalists have died in areas of armed conflict this year, but too many of them have been targeted for their work in peaceful countries,”

commented PEC General Secretary Blaise Lempen. While Mexico has been among the most dangerous countries for several years, the rise in

India is particularly worrying, with 12 more deaths in a year.

The PEC strongly condemns these attacks and calls for those responsible for these crimes to be brought to justice.

A very high price

In ten years, from 2011 to 2020, 1189 journalists were killed, or 118 per year, 2.26 per week, according to figures from the PEC.

More than 590 journalists have also died from Covid-19 since March (see our corona-ticker). Over the year, nearly 700 journalists died as a

result of the violence and the pandemic, a very heavy price, the worst since the Second World War.

The PEC figures are higher than those of other organizations because the PEC lists all killed media workers, whether or not their deaths are

related to their professional activity. It is indeed difficult to prove that a crime takes place due to the work of a journalist without independent

and comprehensive investigations which are often lacking in countries in conflict and shaken by violence.

For this, the creation of an independent investigative mechanism within the framework of the United Nations is essential to fill the gaps that

may exist at the national level in terms of prevention, protection and prosecution.

List of victims, graphs on: : https://pressemblem.ch/casualties.shtml

L’Inde et le Mexique pays les plus dangereux en 2020

Genève, 10 décembre, actualisé le 31 décembre (PEC) L’Inde et le Mexique ont été les pays les plus dangereux pour le travail des médias cette année, a indiqué à Genève la Presse Emblème Campagne (PEC) dans son rapport annuel. Le nombre de journalistes tués a augmenté de plus de 22% par rapport à l’an dernier.

Au total, depuis janvier, 92 travailleurs des médias ont été tués dans 31 pays dans le monde (contre 75 l’an dernier). L’Inde arrive en tête avec 15 assassinats (+12), devant le Mexique où 12 journalistes ont été tués (-2). Suivent parmi les pays les plus dangereux le Pakistan (8 morts, inchangé), l’Afghanistan (7, -1), le Honduras (5, inchangé), l’Irak (5, +2), les Philippines (4, inchangé), et la Syrie (4, -2).

Trois assassinats ont été recensés au Nigéria (+2), ainsi qu’au Venezuela (+3). Les pays suivent déplorent deux victimes : Brésil (inchangé), Colombie, Guatemala (+2), Liberia (+2), Somalie (+1).

Enfin, une victime a été identifiée dans les pays suivants : Argentine, Arabie saoudite, Bangladesh, Barbade, Cambodge, Cameroun, Egypte, Equateur, Indonésie, Iran, Mozambique, Paraguay, Russie, Suède, Turquie, Yémen.

Par région, l’Asie, avec 38 morts (+11), devance l’Amérique latine (30 victimes, +4), le Moyen-orient (12, +2), l’Afrique (9, -1) et l’Europe (3, +1).

Sur les 92 journalistes assassinés, 19 l’ont été dans des zones de conflit armé (Afghanistan, Irak, Somalie, Syrie, Yémen). La pandémie a contribué à geler certains conflits et à limiter aussi les déplacements de journalistes dans des zones dangereuses.

« Moins de journalistes sont morts dans des zones de conflit armé cette année, par contre beaucoup trop d’entre eux ont été ciblés pour leur travail dans des pays en paix », a commenté le secrétaire général de la PEC Blaise Lempen. Alors que le Mexique figure depuis plusieurs années parmi les pays les plus dangereux, la hausse en Inde est particulièrement inquiétante, avec 12 morts de plus en un an.

La PEC condamne fermement ces attaques et demande que les responsables de ces crimes soient traduits en justice dans les meilleurs délais.

Un très lourd tribut

En dix ans, de 2011 à 2020, 1189 journalistes ont été tués, soit 118 par année, 2,26 par semaine, selon les recherches de la PEC.

Plus de 590 journalistes sont morts par ailleurs du Covid-19 depuis le mois de mars (voir notre corona-ticker). Sur toute l’année, près de 700 journalistes sont ainsi décédés en raison de la violence et de la pandémie, un très lourd tribut, le pire bilan depuis la Seconde guerre mondiale.

Les chiffres de la PEC sont plus élevés que ceux d'autres organisations parce que la PEC recense tous les travailleurs des médias tués, que leur mort soit liée ou non à leur activité professionnelle. Il est en effet difficile de prouver qu'un crime a lieu en raison ou non du travail d'un journaliste sans enquêtes indépendantes et complètes qui font souvent défaut dans les pays en conflit et secoués par des violences.

La création d’un mécanisme d’enquête indépendant dans le cadre de l’ONU est à cet égard indispensable pour combler les lacunes qui peuvent exister au niveau national en matière de prévention, de protection et de poursuites.

Liste des victimes, graphiques sur : https://pressemblem.ch/casualties.shtml

India y México son los países más peligrosos en 2020

Ginebra, 10 de diciembre/actualizado 31 de diciembre (PEC).- India y México han sido los países más peligrosos para el trabajo con los medios este año, dijo la Campaña Emblema de Prensa (Press Emblem Campaign PEC, por sus siglas en inglés) en su informe anual, dado a conocer en Ginebra. El número de periodistas asesinados aumentó más de 22% en comparación con el año pasado.

En total, desde enero, 92 trabajadores de los medios de comunicación han sido asesinados en 31 países de todo el mundo (frente a los 75 del año pasado). India lidera con 15 asesinatos (+12), por delante de México donde fueron asesinados 12 periodistas (-1).

Entre los países más peligrosos se encuentran Pakistán (8 muertos, sin cambios), Afganistán (7, -1), Honduras (5, sin cambios), Irak (5, +2), Filipinas (4, sin cambios), y Siria (4, -2).

Se registraron tres asesinatos en Nigeria (+2), así como en Venezuela (+3).

Los siguientes países deploran a dos víctimas: Brasil (sin cambios), Colombia, Guatemala (+2), Liberia (+2), Somalia (+1).

Finalmente, se ha identificado una víctima en los siguientes países: Arabia Saudita, Argentina, Bangladesh, Barbados, Camboya, Camerún, Ecuador, Egipto, Indonesia, Iran, Mozambique, Paraguay, Rusia, Suecia, Turquía y Yemen.

 Por regiones, Asia, con 38 muertos (+11), se sitúa por delante de América Latina (30 víctimas, +4), Oriente Medio (12, +2), África (9, -1) y Europa (3, +1 ).

De los 92 periodistas asesinados, 19 se encontraban en zonas de conflicto (Afganistán, Irak, Somalia, Siria y Yemen). Parece que la pandemia ha ayudado a congelar algunos conflictos y también a limitar el movimiento de periodistas a zonas peligrosas.

“Menos periodistas han muerto en áreas de conflicto armado este año, pero muchos de ellos han sido atacados por su trabajo en países pacíficos”, comentó el secretario general de la PEC, Blaise Lempen. Si bien México ha estado entre los países más peligrosos durante varios años, el aumento en India es particularmente preocupante, con 12 muertes más en un año.

La PEC condena enérgicamente estos ataques y pide que los responsables de estos crímenes comparezcan ante la justicia.

Un precio muy alto

En diez años, de 2011 a 2020, fueron asesinados 1,189 periodistas; es decir, 118 por año, 2,26 por semana, según cifras de la PEC.

Más de 570 periodistas también han muerto a causa de Covid-19 desde marzo de este año (consulte nuestro corona-ticker). A lo largo del año, casi 700 periodistas murieron como resultado de la violencia y la pandemia, se trata de un precio muy alto, el peor desde la Segunda Guerra Mundial.

Las cifras de la PEC son más altas que las de otras organizaciones dado que la PEC enumera a todos los trabajadores de los medios asesinados, independientemente de que sus muertes estén relacionadas, o no, con su actividad profesional. De hecho, es difícil probar que un crimen se comete por el trabajo de un periodista sin investigaciones independientes y exhaustivas que, a menudo, faltan en países en conflicto y están sacudidos por la violencia.

Para ello, la creación de un mecanismo de investigación independiente en el marco de Naciones Unidas es fundamental para llenar los vacíos que puedan existir a nivel nacional en materia de prevención, protección y persecución.

Comunicado de imprensa PEC

Índia e México são os países mais perigosos em 2020

Genebra, 10 de Dezembro/atualizada 31 de Dezembro (PEC) Índia e México foram os países mais perigosos para profissionais de mídia neste ano, afirmou a Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) em seu relatório anual. O número de jornalistas mortos aumentou 22% comparado ao ano anterior.

No total, desde Janeiro, 92 profissionais de mídia foram mortos em 31 países ao redor do mundo (foram 75 no ano passado). Índia lidera com 15 assassinatos (+12), a frente do México onde 12 jornalistas foram mortos (-1).

Entre os países mais perigosos estão Paquistão (8 mortos, mesmo número do ano passado), Afeganistão (6 mortos, 2 a menos que 2019), Honduras (5, mesmo número do ano passado), Iraque (5 óbitos, +2), Filipinas (4, mesmo número que 2019), e Siria (4, -2).

Três assassinatos foram registrados na Nigéria (+2), assim como na Venezuela (+3). Os seguintes países tiveram duas vítimas cada: Brasil (o mesmo que em 2019), Colômbia, Guatemala (+2), Libéria (+2) e Somália (+1).

Finalmente, uma vítima foi identificada em cada um dos seguintes países: Arábia Saudita, Argentina, Bangladesh, Barbados, Camboja, Camarões, Equador, Egito, Indonésia, Iran, Moçambique, Paraguai, Rússia, Suécia, Turquia e Iêmen.

Por região, a Ásia, com 38 mortos (+11), está a frente da América Latina (30 vítimas, +4 sobre o ano anterior), do Oriente Médio (12 fatalidades, +2), da África (9 mortos, um a menos) e da Europa (3 mortos, 1 a mais).

Dos 92 jornalistas mortos, 19 estavam em zonas de conflito (Afeganistão, Iraque, Somália, Síria e Iêmen). Aparentemente, a pandemia contribuiu para paralisar alguns conflitos e também limitar o movimento de jornalistas em áreas de perigo.

“Menos jornalistas morreram em áreas de conflito armado neste ano, mas muitos tornaram-se alvos por seu trabalho em países sem guerras”, comentou o Secretário Geral da PEC, Blaise Lempen. Enquanto o México figura entre os países mais perigosos há muitos anos, o destaque da Índia é particularmente preocupante, com mais 10 mortes em um ano.

A PEC veementemente condena esses ataques e clama para que os responsáveis por esses crimes sejam levados à justiça.

Um preço muito alto

Em dez anos, de 2011 a 2020, 1189 jornalistas foram mortos, ou 118 por ano e 2,26 por semana, de acordo com os números da PEC.

Mais de 590 jornalistas também morreram em decorrência da Covid-19 desde Março (veja nosso marcador-corona). Ao longo do ano, aproximadamente 700 jornalistas morreram em decorrência da violência e da pandemia, um preço muito alto, o pior desde a Segunda Guerra Mundial.

Os números da PEC são maiores que os de outras organizações porque a PEC lista todos os trabalhadores de mídia assassinados, sejam as mortes relacionadas ao seu trabalho ou não. É de fato difícil provar que o crime decorre da atividade do jornalista sem investigações independentes e abrangentes, o que muitas vezes não ocorre em países mergulhados em conflitos ou violência.

Portanto, a criação de um mecanismo investigativo independente dentro dos quadros das Nações Unidas é essencial para preencher as deficiências que possam existir em nível nacional em termos de prevenção, proteção e persecução judicial.

Lista de vítimas em: :https://pressemblem.ch/casualties.shtml

التقرير السنوي لحملة الشارة

الهند والمكسيك أكثر الدول خطورة للعمل الصحفي في 2020

جني31 ديسمبر (حملة الشارة الدولية) – أعلنت حملة الشارة الدولية من مقرها في جنيف في تقريرها السنوي لرصد حالة الصحفيين في عام 2020 أن كلا من الهند والمكسيك هما أكثر دول العالم خطورة للعمل الصحفي، وأن عدد القتلى من الصحفيين قد ارتفع بنسبة 22 بالمائة في العام الحالي بالمقارنة بالعام الماضي. 

وطبقاً للأرقام المرصودة من الحملة فإن 92 من العاملين في الصحافة والإعلام قد قُتِلوا منذ يناير في 31 دولة بالمقارنة بـ 75 في العام الماضي. تحتل الهند المرتبة الأولى باغتيال 15 صحفيا بزيادة 10 هذا العام، ثم المكسيك 11 بناقص 2، ثم باكستان 8، ثم أفغانستان 5 ناقص 3، ثم العراق 5 زائد 2، فالفلبين 4، فهندوراس 4 ناقص 1. وتم رصد 3 اغتيالات في نيجيريا وسوريا وفنزويلا و2 في كلٍ من البرازيل وجواتيمالا وليبريا والصومال. 

وضحية واحدة في كلٍ من الأرجنتين وبنجلاديش وباربادوس وكمبوديا والكاميرون وكولومبيا وإكوادور ومصر وإندونيسيا وموزمبيق وباراجواي وروسيا والمملكة العربية السعودية والسويد وتركيا واليمن.

تتصدر آسيا القائمة: 38 بزيادة 6، ثم أمريكا اللاتينية30 بزيادة 1، ثم الشرق الأوسط 12 بزيادة 2، ثم إفريقيا 9 بناقص 1، ثم أوروبا 3 بزيادة 1.

 من بين الـ 92 صحفيا قُتِل 19 في مناطق النزاع: أفغانستان، العراق، الصومال وسوريا.

يبدو أن وباء كورونا قد خفّف بعض النزاعات وقيد حركة الصحفيين إلى المناطق الخطرة. 

وصرح سكرتير عام الحملة بليز ليمبان أن العدد الأكبر من الصحفيين الذين قُتِلوا في السنة الحالية كان بسبب استهداف عملهم في دول تنعم بالسلام، مؤكداً أن حملة الشارة تدين هذه الجرائم ضد الصحفيين وتطالب بتقديم مرتكبيها للعدالة. 

ثمن غالٍ

في خلال عقد من الزمان 2010 إلى 2020 قُتِل 1189 صحفياً بمعدل 118 في السنة وأكثر من 2 في الأسبوع.

وطبقا لبيان حملة الشارة المؤرخ بـ 1 ديسمبر فإن نحو 590 صحفياً قد سقطوا ضحية للوباء منذ مارس الماضي وبلغ الإجمالي من جراء العنف والوباء نحو 700، وهو ثمن غالٍ للغاية والأسوأ منذ الحرب العالمية الثانية. 

وتواجه الحملة صعوبات في رصد الأعداد والتحقق من الجرائم ضد الصحفيين بدون توفر تحقيقات مستقلة وشاملة، وهي في العادة مفتقدة في الدول التي تعاني من نزاعات وتعصف بها أعمال العنف.

ولهذا فإن حملة الشارة الدولية تطالب بإقامة أجهزة تحقيق مستقلة في إطار الأمم المتحدة من أجل سد الفجوات على المستوى الوطني في تحقيق المنع والحماية وتقديم مرتكبي الجرائم ضد الصحفيين إلى المحاكمة. 

للمزيد من المعلومات برجاء تصفح:

https://pressemblem.ch/casualties.shtml

29.12.2020. PEC welcomes New Delhi’s gesture on media corona-victims

Geneva/Guwahati: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the international media watchdog based in Switzerland, welcomes the latest initiative of Indian Union government in New Delhi to offer supports to the families of journalists, who died of Covid-19 complications. PEC believes that it would inspire other nations to adopt similar welfare programs for media corona-victims in the respective countries.

Mentionable is that Press Information Bureau, the government sponsored media organ in New Delhi, has been collecting applications from the families of corona-media victims with an aim to support them under the journalist welfare scheme. Affected families are advised to apply with
documents relating to the proof of working as a journalist, death certificate & medical document showing as Covid-19 victims and relevant income certificates or IT returns of the family.

India has lost 53 journalists till date since March to the novel corona virus infection aggravated ailments where as the global tally reached to 585. Till now Peru tops the list with 93 media-casualties, said Blaise Lempen, general secretary of PEC adding that Brazil (51 deaths), Mexico (42), Ecuador & Bangladesh (41 each), Italy (34), USA (30), Pakistan (22), Turkey (17), UK (12) follow India and Peru.

PEC’s country representative Nava Thakuria appreciates the initiative as various organizations including Journalists’ Forum Assam (JFA) requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce a financial package to each media victim family as a mark of respect to those corona-warriors. He also urges them to apply with the prescribed format (available on PIB’s website) addressing the additional director general, press facilities, PIB and send to <prspib101@gmail.com> or <adgpf107@gmail.com>.

01.12.2020. PEC press release: Nearly 500 journalists have died from Covid-19 in nine months

(Spanish, French and Arabic after English) (List of victims on our page COVID-19)

Geneva, December 1, 2020 (PEC) Nearly 500 journalists have died from Covid-19 in 56 countries in nine months, the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) said in its monthly report on Tuesday. During the month of November, 47 more media workers succumbed to the coronavirus, compared to 22 known deaths in October.

“Unfortunately, the pandemic is claiming more and more victims in the media. It’s a huge loss. In countries like India, Brazil, Argentina and Mexico, the number of victims among journalists is on the rise,” said PEC General Secretary Blaise Lempen.

By region, of the 489 journalists who have died from Covid-19 since March 1, Latin America is leading with more than half of the victims,

or 276 deaths (25 more in a month). Asia follows with 125 dead (ten more), ahead of Europe (38 deaths, seven more), North America

(26, three more) and Africa (24, two more).

Peru remains the country with the heaviest death toll, where 93 media workers have died from coronavirus since March (according to the

Peruvian National Association of Journalists, unchanged). India is now the second worst affected country with 51 deaths (four more in a month).

Brazil took third place with 43 victims (seven more), ahead of Ecuador 41 dead (unchanged), Bangladesh (39 deaths, four more) and Mexico

(33 dead, seven more in a month).

The United States follows in seventh place with 25 victims (three more), ahead of Pakistan (12), Panama (11) and Bolivia (9). In the UK, the

most affected European country, two more journalists died in November, a total of 10 since March.

Next countries are Nigeria (8), Afghanistan (7), Dominican Republic (7), Honduras (7), Argentina (6, four more), Nicaragua (6), Venezuela (6),

then 5 dead in Colombia, 5 in France, 5 in Russia, 5 in Spain, and 4 in Italy.

Three journalists died from Covid-19 in each of these countries: Cameroon, Egypt, Guatemala, Iran, Nepal and El Salvador.

Two deaths are known in the following countries: Algeria, Indonesia, Morocco, Paraguay, South Africa and Sweden.

Finally, the PEC has identified at least one death in the following 21 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Democratic Republic

 of Congo, Germany, Iraq (Kurdistan), Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland ,Tajikistan,

Togo, Turkey, and Zimbabwe.

The average age of journalists who died in November (those whose age is known or three-quarters of the 47 recorded deaths) is 56. Just over

a third of the victims were under 60 years old.

The actual number of victims is certainly higher, as the cause of journalists' deaths is sometimes not specified or their deaths not announced.

Statistics can be misleading, because the countries that provide information are in the lead, while in other countries there is no reliable

information.

The PEC tally is based on information from local media, national associations of journalists and regional PEC correspondents.

Comunicado de prensa de la PEC: Casi 500 periodistas han muerto por la Covid-19 en nueve meses

Ginebra, 1 de diciembre de 2020 (PEC) Casi 500 periodistas han muerto a causa de la Covid-19 en 56 países durante nueve meses, dijo el martes

la Campaña Emblema de Prensa (PEC, por sus siglas en inglés) en su informe mensual sobre la cuestión. Durante el mes de noviembre,

47 trabajadores de los medios más sucumbieron al coronavirus, en comparación con las 22 muertes conocidas en octubre.

“Desafortunadamente, la pandemia está cobrando cada vez más víctimas en los medios. Es una gran perdida. En países como India, Brasil,

Argentina y México, el número de víctimas entre los periodistas va en aumento”, dijo el secretario general de la PEC, Blaise Lempen.

Por regiones, de los 489 periodistas que han muerto desde el 1 de marzo, América Latina lidera con más de la mitad de las víctimas, o 276

muertes (25 más en un mes). Le sigue Asia con 125 fallecidos (diez más), por delante de Europa (38 muertos, siete más), América del Norte

(26, tres más) y África (24, dos más).

Perú sigue siendo el país con el mayor número de muertos, con 93 trabajadores de los medios que han muerto por el coronavirus desde marzo

(según la Asociación Nacional de Periodistas del Perú, sin cambios). India es ahora el segundo país más afectado con 51 muertes

(cuatro más en un mes).

Brasil ocupó el tercer lugar con 43 víctimas (siete más), por delante de Ecuador con 41 muertos (sin cambios), Bangladesh (39 muertos,

cuatro más) y México (33 muertos, siete más en un mes).

Estados Unidos sigue en séptimo lugar con 25 víctimas (tres más), por delante de Pakistán (12), Panamá (11) y Bolivia (9). En el Reino Unido,

el país europeo más afectado, dos periodistas más murieron en noviembre, un total de 10 desde marzo.

Le siguen Nigeria (8), Afganistán (7), Honduras (7), República Dominicana (7), Argentina (6, cuatro más), Nicaragua (6), Venezuela (6), luego

5 muertes en Colombia, Francia, Rusia y España, y 4 en  Italia.

Tres periodistas murieron por Covid-19 en cada uno de estos países: Camerún, Egipto, Guatemala, Irán, Nepal y El Salvador.

Se conocen dos muertes en los siguientes países: Argelia, Indonesia, Marruecos, Paraguay, Sudáfrica, y Suecia.

Finalmente, la PEC ha identificado al menos una muerte en los siguientes 21 países: Alemania, Arabia Saudita, Austria, Bélgica, Bulgaria,

Canadá, Chile, Irak (Kurdistán), Israel, Japón, Kazajstán, Kenia, Kirguistán, Líbano, Portugal, República Democrática del Congo, Tayikistán,

Togo, Turquía, Suiza y Zimbabwe.

La edad promedio de los periodistas que murieron en noviembre (aquellos cuya edad se conoce, o tres cuartos de las 47 muertes registradas)

es 56. Poco más de un tercio de las víctimas tenían menos de 60 años.

El número real de víctimas es ciertamente mayor, ya que a veces no se especifica la causa de la muerte de los periodistas o no se anuncia

su muerte. Las estadísticas pueden ser engañosas, porque los países que brindan información están a la cabeza, mientras que en otros países

no hay información confiable.

El recuento de la PEC se basa en información de los medios locales, asociaciones nacionales y en datos enviados por periodistas y corresponsales

regionales de ella.

Communiqué de la PEC: Près de 500 journalistes sont morts du Covid-19 en neuf mois

Genève, 1er Décembre 2020 (PEC) Près de 500 journalistes sont morts du Covid-19 dans 56 pays en neuf mois, a affirmé mardi la Presse

Emblème Campagne (PEC) dans son rapport mensuel. Au cours du mois de novembre, 47 travailleurs des medias de plus ont succombé au

coronavirus, contre 22 décès connus en octobre.

« Malheureusement, la pandémie fait toujours plus de victimes au sein des médias. C’est une grande perte. Dans des pays comme l’Inde,

le Brésil, l’Argentine et le Mexique, le nombre de victimes parmi les journalistes est en hausse », a précisé le secrétaire général de la PEC

Blaise Lempen.

Par région, sur les 489 journalistes décédés du Covid-19 depuis le 1er mars, l’Amérique latine est en tête avec plus de la moitié des victimes,

soit 276 décès (25 de plus en un mois). L’Asie suit avec 125 morts (dix de plus), devant l’Europe (38 décès, sept de plus), l’Amérique du Nord

(26, trois de plus) et l’Afrique (24, deux de plus).

Le Pérou reste le pays avec le bilan le plus lourd, soit 93 travailleurs des medias décédés du coronavirus depuis mars (selon l’Association nationale péruvienne des journalistes, inchangé). L’Inde est désormais le deuxième pays le plus touché avec 51 décès (quatre de plus en un mois).

Le Brésil a pris la troisième place avec 43 victimes (sept de plus), devant l’Equateur 41 morts (inchangé), le Bangladesh (39 décès, quatre de plus) et le Mexique (33 morts, sept de plus en un mois).

Les Etats-Unis suivent au septième rang avec 25 victimes (trois de plus), devant le Pakistan (12), le Panama (11) et la Bolivie (9). Au Royaume-Uni, pays européen le plus touché, deux journalistes de plus sont morts en novembre, soit 10 au total depuis mars.

Suivent le Nigéria (8), l’Afghanistan (7), le Honduras (7), la République dominicaine (7), l’Argentine (6, quatre de plus), le Nicaragua (6), le Venezuela (6), puis 5 morts en Colombie, France, Russie et Espagne, et 4 en Italie.

Trois journalistes sont décédés du Covid-19 dans chacun de ces pays : Cameroun, Egypte, Guatemala, Iran, Népal et Salvador.

Deux décès sont connus dans les pays suivants: Afrique du Sud, Algérie, Indonésie, Maroc, Paraguay et Suède.

Enfin, la PEC a identifié au moins un décès dans les 21 pays suivants: Allemagne, Arabie saoudite, Autriche, Belgique, Bulgarie, Canada, Chili,

Irak (Kurdistan), Israël, Japon, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kirghizistan, Liban, Portugal, République démocratique du Congo, Tadjikistan, Togo,

Turquie, Suisse et Zimbabwe.

La moyenne d’âge des journalistes décédés en novembre (ceux dont on connaît l’âge, soit les trois quarts des 47 décès recensés) est de 56 ans.

Un peu plus du tiers des victimes avait moins de 60 ans.

Le chiffre réel des victimes est certainement plus élevé, car la cause des décès de journalistes n’est parfois pas précisée ou leur mort pas

annoncée. La statistique peut être trompeuse, parce que les pays qui informent sont en tête, alors que dans d’autres pays il n’y a pas

d’information fiable.

Le décompte de la PEC est basé sur les informations des médias locaux, des associations nationales de journalistes et des correspondants

régionaux de la PEC.

بيان صحفي

كورونا يتسبب في مقتل نحو 500 صحفي

جنيف في 1 ديسمبر 2020 (حملة الشارة) – أعلنت حملة الشارة الدولية من مقرها في جنيف عن مقتل نحو 500 صحفي بعد الإصابة بكورونا في 56 دولة خلال الأشهر التسعة الماضية، وفي نوفمبر قتل 47 من العاملين في مجال الصحافة والإعلام بالمقارنة بـ 22 خلال شهر أكتوبر.

وصرح سكرتير عام الحملة بليز لمبان أن الوباء ينال المزيد من الضحايا بين الصحفيين، مشيراً إلى أن عدد الضحايا من الصحفيين في البرازيل والأرجنتين والمكسيك في تزايد.

وطبقا لنقابة الصحفيين في بيرو فإن 93 صحفيا قُتِلوا من الوباء منذ مارس، وهو الرقم الأعلى بين الدول. ثم تأتي الهند في المرتبة الثانية: 51 ضحية بزيادة 4 في شهر نوفمبر، ثم البرازيل 43 بزيادة 7، إكوادور: 41، بنجلاديش: 29 بزيادة 4، المكسيك: 33 بزيادة 7.

ثم تأتي الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية: 25 بزيادة 3، باكستان: 12 بزيادة 1، بنما 11 وبوليفيا 9. وفي إنجلترا تُوفى 2 من الصحفيين ليكون إجمالى العدد في أكثر الدول الأوروبية تضرراً 10 من الصحفيين. فنيجيريا 8، أفغانستان 7، جمهورية الدومينيكان 7، هندوراس 7 الأرجنتين 6 بزيادة 4، نيكاراجوا 6، فنزويلا 6، ثم 5 في كلٍ من كولومبيا وروسيا وإسبانيا و فرنسا، و4 في إيطاليا.

كما قُتِل 3 من الصحفيين في كلٍ من إيران والكاميرون ومصر وجواتيمالا ونيبال والسلفادور. و2 في كلٍ من جنوب إفريقيا والجزائر وإندونيسيا والمغرب وباراجواي والسويد. ومقتل صحفي واحد في كلٍ من الـ 21 دولة التالية: النمسا، بلجيكا، بلغاريا، كندا، شيلي، جمهورية الكونغو الديمقراطية، ألمانيا، كردستان العراق، إسرائيل، اليابان، كازاخستان، كينيا، كيرجيزتان، لبنان، البرتغال، المملكة العربية السعودية، سويسرا، طاجيكيستان، توجو، تركيا وزيمبابوي. 

أمريكا اللاتينية هي أكثر القارات تضرراً من وباء كورونا، حيث قُتِل من بين الإجمالي 489 من الصحفيين أكثر من نصف هذا العدد: 276 بزيادة 25 في الشهر الماضي، ثم آسيا: 124 بزيادة 9 ثم أوروبا: 37 بزيادة 7، فأمريكا الشمالية 26 بزيادة 3، فإفريقيا 24 بزيادة 2. 

وتشير الأرقام إلى أن متوسط عمر الصحفيين الذين قُتِلوا من كورونا هو 56، وأن ثلث العدد أقل من 60 عاما.

لمزيد من العملومات برجاء تصفح موقع الحملة: 

17.11.2020. PEC interview published by the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN): Journalist Deaths from COVID-19 Rise Seven-Fold; Nearly 500 Dead Worldwide.

Spanish and Portuguese below

By Rowan Philp

Back in May, when the COVID-19 pandemic was gaining strength and spreading worldwide, we took a look at the high toll on journalists in the crisis. Like health professionals, caregivers, and other essential workers, journalists face heightened risks as they pursue stories on the pandemic. 

We came across the Geneva-based Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), a nonprofit focused on press freedom and journalist safety, which was attempting to track confirmed COVID-19-related deaths among journalists globally. By May 5, the PEC had recorded 64 deaths in 24 countries, a number it said was almost certainly an undercount. We checked back with the PEC this week to see its latest data. 

The numbers are rather grim: As of November 15, the toll had risen to at least 462 journalists lost to COVID-19, from 56 countries — a more than seven-fold increase. Since that time, the number of total worldwide pandemic deaths has risen five-fold, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. 

Latin American countries account for more than half the tally of journalist deaths, with a recent surge striking India and Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, the PEC has found that most recent deaths involve reporters under the age of 60. One journalism group in Bangladesh told GIJN that an increasing fear of layoffs has meant that many reporters are taking additional infection risks, including congregating in newsrooms that have not been altered for social distancing.

In an interview with GIJN, Blaise Lempen, PEC secretary general, said the true tally was likely much higher than 462, as researchers were limited to cases officially confirmed to be virus-related, through testing or certification.

Their count shows that Peru’s journalism community has been the hardest hit, with 93 reporter deaths, followed by India with 47, Ecuador with 41, and Brazil with 36. 

“By region, Latin America leads by far with more than half of the victims, or 251 deaths,” said Lempen. “Thousands of reporters have been infected with the virus, and the death of more than 450 media workers over a period of months is an unprecedented loss for the profession.”

“We fear a hundred more victims by the end of the year,” Lempen added. “But in some countries, like in Europe, journalists have now learned to take essential precautions such as wearing a mask, keeping a distance, avoiding direct contacts and travel, and we have seen a decrease in casualties among them.”

Lempen said India and Bangladesh had suffered a sharp increase in reporter deaths in the past few months compared to the first half of the pandemic, but noted that mortality rates remained far worse in several Latin American countries, given their smaller population sizes compared to India and Bangladesh.

“What surprises me is that, contrary to common belief, many journalists have died relatively young,” he said. “Since early October, more than half of these journalists were under 60 — in their 40s or 50s — according to our count. It is always difficult to know the origin of the infection, but many have been infected at work.”

Individual profiles on the Poynter Institute’s tribute page underscore the youthfulness of many recent journalist victims.

The PEC has recorded 35 reporter deaths in Bangladesh. In addition, the Dhaka-based journalism group Our Media, Our Rights, has counted 1,010 COVID-19 infections from 191 media houses in Bangladesh, as well as 942 recoveries

. 

“I knew many of the journalists who have died,” says Ahammad Foyez, who is the coordinator of Our Media, Our Rights and a senior staff correspondent for the Dhaka newspaper New Age.

Foyez is concerned that mounting economic pressures — including the fear of layoffs — are forcing staff reporters to take greater infection risks both in the field and within newsrooms.

“A large number of journalists are attending their offices to secure their jobs, as a huge number of media workers have lost their jobs during the pandemic,” he said. “Some are doing office work even when colleagues there are positive for COVID-19. Media houses should make guidelines immediately on how they cover events and the seating arrangements within the offices.”

“All of these are tragic,” Lempen said of the human toll, but he pointed to the death of Bolivian TV presenter Marcos Montero on September 30 as symbolic of the loss the industry has suffered.

After his diagnosis on May 25, Bolivian journalists rallied with public appeals for plasma for Montero. “He died after a four-month struggle with the virus,” Lempen said.

Making matters worse is the attitude of certain political leaders, he added,  singling out the presidents of Brazil and the United States: “I personally regret that political leaders like Donald Trump or Jair Bolsonaro are so oblivious that they endanger the journalists they speak to.”

Reportear en pandemia: aumentan más de siete veces las muertes de periodistas por COVID-19

Rowan Philip (GIJN)

En mayo, cuando la pandemia del COVID-19 se fortalecía y esparcía en todo el mundo, observamos los estragos que causó a los periodistas en medio de la crisis. Al igual que los profesionales de la salud, cuidadores y otros trabajadores esenciales, los periodistas enfrentan grandes riesgos al investigar reportajes sobre la pandemia.

En ese entonces nos topamos con la Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), una organización sin fines de lucro ubicada en Ginebra, que se centra en la libertad de prensa y la seguridad de los periodistas, la cual intentaba rastrear 19 muertes confirmadas relacionadas con el COVID-19 de periodistas de todo el mundo. Hasta el 5 de mayo, la PEC había registrado 64 muertes en 24 países, una cantidad que casi sin dudas es conservadora. Comprobamos esta semana los datos de la PEC para tener información más reciente.

Las cifras son bastante desalentadoras: para el 15 de noviembre, la cifra había alcanzado al menos 462 periodistas fallecidos por COVID-19 en 56 países, aumentando más de siete veces. La cantidad de muertes por la pandemia en total en todo el mundo también ha aumentado siete veces, según el Centro de Recursos sobre el Coronavirus de Johns Hopkins. 

Los países latinoamericanos representan más de la mitad de la cuenta de muertes de periodistas, pero también se registra un aumento reciente en India y Bangladesh.

Mientras tanto, la PEC registra que las muertes más recientes se tratan de periodistas menores a 60 años. Un grupo de periodismo en Bangladesh le dijo a GIJN que el creciente miedo a los despidos ha resultado en que muchos periodistas están tomando riesgos adicionales, incluyendo reunirse en salas de redacción que no se han modificado para respetar la distancia social.

En una entrevista con GIJN, Blaise Lempen, Secretario General de PEC, afirmó que la cuenta real probablemente sea mucho más alta que 462, ya que los investigadores estaban limitados a los casos confirmados oficialmente como relacionados con el virus a través de pruebas o la certificación.

Su cuenta muestra que la comunidad periodística de Perú ha sido la más afectada, con 93 muertes de periodistas, seguida por India con 47, Ecuador con 41, y Brasil con 36.

“Por regiones, Latinoamérica lleva la delantera con ventaja con más de la mitad de las víctimas, 251 muertes”, afirmó Lempen. “Miles de periodistas se han infectado con el virus, y la muerte de más de 450 trabajadores de los medios en un período de meses es una pérdida sin precedentes para la profesión”.

“Tememos que haya 100 víctimas más para el fin de año”, agregó Lempen. “Pero en algunos países, como en Europa, los periodistas han aprendido a tomar precauciones esenciales como usar mascarilla, mantener distancia, evitar el contacto directo y los viajes, y hemos visto entre ellos una disminución de las víctimas”.

Lempen expresó que en India y Bangladesh se observa un rápido aumento en las muertes de periodistas en los últimos meses, en comparación con la primera mitad de la pandemia, pero señaló que las tasas de mortalidad se mantuvieron peor en países latinoamericanos, dada la diferencia de los números en cuanto a población con India y Bangladesh.

“Lo que me sorprende es que, contrario a la creencia popular, muchos periodistas han muerto relativamente jóvenes”, dijo. “Desde principios de octubre, más de la mitad de estos periodistas tenían menos de 60 años, estaban en sus 40 o 50, según nuestro registro. Siempre es difícil conocer el origen de la infección, pero muchos se han infectado en el trabajo”.

Los perfiles individuales en la página tributo del Instituto Poynter muestran la edad de muchos de los periodistas fallecidos recientemente.

El PEC ha registrado 35 muertes de periodistas en Bangladesh. Además, el grupo periodístico ubicado en Daca, Our Media Our Rights, ha contado 1.010 infecciones por COVID-19 en 191 entidades mediáticas en Bangladesh, así como 942 recuperaciones.

“Conocí a muchos de los periodistas que han fallecido”, expresó Ahammad Foyez, quien es el coordinador de Our Media, Our Rights y corresponsal senior para el periódico de Daca llamado New Age.

A Foyez le preocupa que las presiones económicas que cada vez son mayores, incluyendo el miedo a los despidos, está forzando a los periodistas a tomar mayores riesgos de infección, tanto en el trabajo de campo como en las salas de redacción.

“Una gran cantidad de periodistas asisten a sus oficinas para garantizar sus puestos laborales, ya que muchos trabajadores de la prensa han perdido su trabajo durante la pandemia”, afirmó. “Algunos hacen trabajo de oficina incluso cuando hay colegas que han dado positivo para COVID-19. Las entidades mediáticas deben establecer directrices inmediatamente sobre cómo cubrir eventos y la disposición de asientos en las oficinas”.

“Todas son trágicas”, dijo Lempen sobre las pérdidas humanas, pero señaló la muerte del presentador de televisión boliviano Marcos Montero el 30 de septiembre como una muerte simbólica que ha sufrido la industria.

Luego de su diagnóstico el 25 de mayo, los periodistas bolivianos solicitaron públicamente plasma para Montero. “Murió después de luchar contra el virus por cuatro meses”, dijo Lempen.

Algo que empeora las cosas es la actitud de ciertos líderes políticos, agregó, señalando a los presidentes de Brasil y Estados Unidos: “Personalmente lamento que líderes políticos como Donald Trump o Jair Bolsonaro sean tan inconscientes de que ponen en peligro a los periodistas con los que hablan”.

Quase 500 jornalistas morreram de COVID-19 em todo o mundo - por Rowan Philp (GIJN)

Em maio, quando a pandemia de COVID-19 estava ganhando força e se espalhando pelo mundo, demos uma olhada no alto índice de jornalistas na crise. Assim como os profissionais de saúde, cuidadores e outros profissionais essenciais, jornalistas enfrentam riscos elevados ao cobrirem histórias sobre a pandemia.

Encontramos a Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), uma organização sem fins lucrativos focada na liberdade de imprensa e segurança do jornalista, que tentava rastrear mortes confirmadas relacionadas à COVID-19 entre jornalistas em todo o mundo. Em 5 de maio, o PEC registrou 64 mortes em 24 países, um número que diz ser certamente uma contagem inferior.

Verificamos o PEC esta semana para ver seus dados mais recentes.

Os números são bastante sombrios: em 15 de novembro, o número de jornalistas havia subido para pelo menos 462 jornalistas perdidos para a COVID-19 em 56 países - um aumento de mais de sete vezes. Desde então, o número total de mortes por pandemia em todo o mundo aumentou cinco vezes, de acordo com o Centro de Recurso sobre Coronavírus da Johns Hopkins.

Os países latino-americanos respondem por mais da metade da contagem das mortes de jornalistas, com um aumento recente atingindo a Índia e Bangladesh.

Enquanto isso, o PEC descobriu que as mortes mais recentes envolvem repórteres com menos de 60 anos. Um grupo de jornalismo em Bangladesh disse ao GIJN que um medo crescente de demissões significa que muitos repórteres estão correndo riscos adicionais de infecção, incluindo congregação em redações que não existiam. alterado para distanciamento social.

Em uma entrevista à GIJN, Blaise Lempen, secretário-geral do PEC, disse que o número verdadeiro era provavelmente muito maior do que 462, já que os pesquisadores se limitaram a casos oficialmente confirmados como relacionados ao vírus, por meio de testes ou certificação.

A contagem mostra que a comunidade jornalística do Peru foi a mais atingida, com 93 mortes de repórteres, seguida pela Índia com 47, Equador com 41 e Brasil com 36.

“Por região, a América Latina lidera de longe com mais da metade das vítimas, ou 251 mortes”, disse Lempen. “Milhares de repórteres foram infectados com o vírus, e a morte de mais de 450 trabalhadores da mídia em um período de meses é uma perda sem precedentes para a profissão.”

“Tememos que haverá mais de 100 vítimas até o final do ano”, acrescentou Lempen. “Mas em alguns países, como [os] na Europa, os jornalistas agora aprenderam a tomar os cuidados essenciais, como usar máscara, manter distância, evitar contatos diretos e viagens, e vimos uma diminuição de vítimas entre eles.”

Um grupo de jornalismo em Bangladesh — Our Media, Our Rights — está atualizando regularmente uma contagem de casos COVID-19 entre repórteres neste painel de mídia social (acima).

Lempen disse que a Índia e Bangladesh sofreram um forte aumento nas mortes de repórteres nos últimos meses em comparação com a primeira metade da pandemia, mas observou que as taxas de mortalidade permaneceram muito piores em vários países latino-americanos, devido ao tamanho menor de sua população em comparação com a Índia e Bangladesh.

“O que me surpreende é que, ao contrário da crença comum, muitos jornalistas morreram relativamente jovens”, disse ele. “Desde o início de outubro, mais da metade desses jornalistas tinha menos de 60 anos — na casa dos 40 ou 50 anos — segundo nossa contagem. É sempre difícil saber a origem da infecção, mas muitos foram infectados no trabalho.”

Perfis individuais na página de homenagem do Poynter Institute enfatizam a juventude de muitas vítimas jornalísticas recentes.

O PEC registrou 35 mortes de repórteres em Bangladesh. Além disso, o grupo de jornalismo Our Media, Our Rights contabilizou 1.010 infecções por COVID-19 de 191 empresas de comunicação em Bangladesh, bem como 942 recuperações.

“Eu conheci muitos dos jornalistas que morreram”, disse Ahammad Foyez, que é o coordenador do Our Media, Our Rights e correspondente sênior da equipe do jornal New Age de Dhaka.

Foyez teme que as crescentes pressões econômicas — incluindo o medo de demissões — estejam forçando os repórteres a correrem maiores riscos de infecção tanto na rua quanto nas redações.

“Um grande número de jornalistas está frequentando seus escritórios para garantir seus empregos, pois um grande número de profissionais da mídia perdeu seus empregos durante a pandemia”, disse ele. “Alguns estão fazendo trabalho de escritório, mesmo quando os colegas lá tiveram resultados positivos para COVID-19. As agências de mídia devem estabelecer diretrizes imediatamente sobre como cobrir os eventos e a disposição dos assentos nos escritórios.”

“Tudo isso é trágico”, disse Lempen sobre a perda humana, mas apontou a morte do apresentador de TV boliviano Marcos Montero em 30 de setembro como um símbolo do que a indústria sofreu.

Após seu diagnóstico em 25 de maio, jornalistas bolivianos protestaram com apelos públicos por plasma para Montero. “Ele morreu após uma luta de quatro meses com o vírus”, disse Lempen.

A atitude de alguns líderes políticos só piora a situação, disse Lempen dando como exemplo os presidentes do Brasil e dos Estados Unidos: “Lamento pessoalmente que líderes políticos como Donald Trump ou Jair Bolsonaro sejam tão alheios que colocam em perigo os jornalistas com quem falam."

17.11.2020. El Premio 2020 para la Protección de Periodistas otorgado a la periodista mexicana Carmen Aristegui //

The PEC Award for the Protection of Journalists goes to Mexican journalist Carmen Aristegui // Le prix 2020 pour la Protection des Journalistes est décerné à la journaliste mexicaine Carmen Aristegui

Read the PEC press release on our special page PEC AWARD

02.11.2020. Day against impunity. At least 442 media workers died from Covid-19 in 8 months 

PEC Press Release (French, Spanish and Arabic after English)

See also our pages NO IMPUNITY and CASUALTIES

Geneva, November 2, 2020 (PEC) Covid-19 continues to claim many victims among journalists. At least 442 media workers

from 52 countries have died from the novel coronavirus since early March, the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) said Monday,

on the occasion of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists. In addition, 63 journalists have been

murdered since January in various circumstances, which brings the total number so far this year at more than 500 fatalities.

“It is an extremely heavy and unprecedented toll. The safety of all journalists who work on the ground to inform on the pandemic

is at stake. Many victims are young; they have been infected at work. As the second wave has just begun, we urge all stakeholders

 to better protect the media workers, without preventing them from doing their job”, said PEC General-Secretary Blaise Lempen.

The actual figure is certainly higher, as some countries do not report the deaths of journalists or some of them have not been

tested before dying. The statistic can be misleading because countries where there is information, are ahead, while in other

countries there is no reliable information.

Peru remains the country with the heaviest toll, with 93 media workers who have died from the coronavirus since March (according to the Peru National Association of Journalists ANP). The rise in the number of victims of the coronavirus has been particularly strong in recent weeks in India, now the second most affected country with 47 deaths. Ecuador is third with 41 deaths, then at the 4th place Brazil follows with 36 journalists who died from Covid-19, then Bangladesh with 35 fatalities.

Among the most affected countries are Mexico, with at least 26 journalists victims of Covid-19, then the United States of

America (22), Pakistan (11), Panama (11), Bolivia (9).

In Great Britain and Nigeria, eight journalists have died in each country. Seven victims were counted in Afghanistan and

Honduras, 6 in Nicaragua, 5 in Russia, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, then 4 in Colombia, France, and Spain.

Three journalists have died from Covid-19 in Italy, as well as in Cameroon, Egypt, Guatemala, Nepal and El Salvador.

Two deaths are to be deplored in the following countries: Algeria, Argentina, Indonesia, Iran, South Africa, and Sweden.

Finally, the PEC has identified at least one fatality in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Democratic Republic

of Congo, Iraq (Kurdistan), Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Paraguay, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Togo, and Zimbabwe.

New are on the list with one fatality in each country Germany, Israel, Lebanon and Switzerland.

Latin America in the lead

By region, Latin America leads by far with more than half of the victims, or 251 deaths. Asia followed sharply with 116 fatalities,

 followed by Europe, with 30 deaths, ahead of North America (23) and Africa (22).

The count of the PEC is based on information from the local media, national associations of journalists, and regional

corespondents of the PEC.

The PEC also condemns the murder of 63 other journalists from January 1 to October 31, killed in attacks or violent incidents

or in detention. This figure is a little lower to the number of victims recorded for the same period last year (68). Mexico remains

the most dangerous country with 9 killed, ahead of Pakistan (7 killed) and India (6 killed).

The PEC renews its call to governments to enforce the resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on the safety of

journalists October 6, 2020 and to fight more firmly impunity.

Communiqué de la PEC

Journée contre l’impunité

Au moins 442 travailleurs des médias sont morts du Covid-19 en huit mois

Genève, 2 Novembre 2020 (PEC) La Covid-19 continue de faire de nombreuses victimes parmi les journalistes. Au moins  442

travailleurs dans les médias de 52 pays sont morts des suites du nouveau coronavirus depuis début mars, a indiqué lundi la Presse

 Emblème Campagne (PEC), à l’occasion de la Journée internationale pour mettre fin à l’impunité des crimes commis contre

les journalistes. En outre, 63 journalistes ont été tués depuis janvier dans des circonstances variées, ce qui porte le total des

victimes jusqu’ici cette année à plus de 500 morts.

“C’est un bilan  extrêmement lourd et sans précédent. La sécurité de tous les journalistes qui travaillent sur le terrain pour

 informer sur la pandémie est en jeu. Beaucoup de victimes sont jeunes, elles ont été contaminées au travail. Alors que la seconde

 vague vient de commencer, nous exhortons tous les acteurs concernés à mieux protéger les travailleurs des médias, sans les

entraver dans l’exercice de leur profession », a déclaré le secrétaire général de la PEC Blaise Lempen.

Le chiffre réel des victimes est certainement plus élevé, car certains pays ne signalent pas les décès de journalistes et certains

d’entre eux n’ont pas été testés avant de mourir. La statistique peut être trompeuse, parce que les pays qui informent sont en tête,

alors que dans d’autres pays il n’y a pas d’information fiable.

Le Pérou reste le pays avec le bilan le plus lourd, soit 93 travailleurs des medias décédés du coronavirus depuis mars (selon l’Association nationale péruvienne des journalistes). La hausse du nombre de victimes a été particulièrement forte au cours des dernières semaines en Inde, maintenant le deuxième pays le plus touché avec 47 décès parmi les journalistes. L’Equateur est au troisième rang avec 41 morts, puis à la quatrième place, le Brésil suit avec 36 victimes du Covid-19, devant le Bangladesh (35 décès).

Parmi les pays les plus touchés se trouvent ensuite le Mexique, avec au moins 26 victimes, puis les Etats-Unis (22), le Pakistan

 (11), le Panama (11) et la Bolivie (9).

Au Royaume-Uni et au Nigéria, huit journalistes sont morts dans chaque pays. Sept victimes ont été dénombrées en Afghanistan

 et au Honduras, six au Nicaragua, cinq en Russie, au Venezuela et dans la République dominicaine, quatre en Colombie, France,

et Espagne.

Trois journalistes sont morts du Covid-19 en Italie, ainsi qu’au Cameroun, en Egypte, au Guatemala, au Népal et au Salvador.

Deux décès sont à déplorer dans les pays suivants: Afrique du Sud, Algérie, Argentine, Indonésie, Iran, Népal et Suède.

Enfin, la PEC a identifié au moins un décès dans les pays suivants: Arabie saoudite, Autriche, Belgique, canada, Irak (Kurdistan),

 Japon, Kazakhstan, Kyrgzstan, Maroc, Paraguay, République démocratique du Congo, Tadjikistan, Togo et Zimbabwe.

Nouveaux sur la liste sont l’Allemagne, Israël, le Liban et la Suisse avec une victime.

L’Amérique latine en tête

Par région, l’Amérique latine est en tête avec de loin plus de la moitié des victimes, soit 251 décès. L’Asie suit avec 116 morts,

devant l’Europe (30 décès), l’Amérique du Nord (23) et l’Afrique (22).

Le décompte de la PEC est basé sur les informations des médias locaux, des associations nationales de journalistes et des

correspondants régionaux de la PEC.

La PEC condamne aussi le meurtre de 63 autres journalistes du 1er janvier au 31 octobre 2020,  tués dans des attaques, des

incidents violents ou en détention. Ce chiffre est un peu moins élevé que le nombre de victimes enregistré pour la même période

l’an dernier (68). Le Mexique reste le pays le plus dangereux avec 9 journalistes tués, devant le Pakistan (7 tués) et l’Inde (6).

La PEC renouvelle son appel à tous les gouvernements de respecter et faire respecter la résolution sur la sécurité des journalistes

adoptée le 6 octobre 2020 par le Conseil des droits de l’homme et de lutter plus fermement contre l’impunité.

Comunicado de prensa de la PEC

Día Internacional para Poner Fin a la Impunidad

Al menos 442 trabajadores de los medios ha muerto a causa del Covid-19 en 8 meses

Ginebra, 2 de noviembre de 2020 (PEC).- El Covid-19 sigue cobrándose muchas víctimas entre los periodistas. Al menos 442

trabajadores de los medios de comunicación, de 52 países, han muerto por el nuevo coronavirus desde principios de marzo,

dijo el lunes la Campaña Emblema de Prensa (PEC, por sus siglas en inglés.) con motivo del Día Internacional para Poner Fin

a la Impunidad de los Crímenes contra Periodistas. Además, 63 periodistas han sido asesinados desde enero de 2020, en diversas

circunstancias, lo que eleva la cifra total en lo que va del año, a más de 500 muertos.

“Es un peaje extremadamente alto y sin precedentes. Está en juego la seguridad de todos los periodistas que trabajan sobre

el terreno para informar sobre la pandemia. Muchas víctimas son jóvenes, se han infectado en el trabajo. Dado que la segunda

ola acaba de comenzar, instamos a todas las partes interesadas a proteger mejor a los trabajadores de los medios de comunicación,

 sin impedirles hacer su trabajo”, dijo el secretario general de PEC, Blaise Lempen.

La cifra real es ciertamente más alta, ya que algunos países no informan sobre las muertes de los periodistas o algunos de ellos

no han sido examinados antes de morir. La estadística puede ser engañosa porque los países donde hay información están por

delante, mientras que, en otros países no se dispone de información confiable.

Perú sigue siendo el país con el mayor número de víctimas, con 93 trabajadores de los medios que han muerto por el coronavirus

 desde marzo (según la Asociación Nacional de Periodistas de Perú, la ANP). El aumento en el número de víctimas del Covid-19

ha sido particularmente fuerte en las últimas semanas en la India, ahora el segundo país más afectado con 47 muertes. Ecuador

ocupa el tercer lugar con 41 muertes, le sigue en el cuarto lugar, Brasil con 36 periodistas, luego Bangladesh con 35.

Entre los países más afectados se encuentran México, con al menos 26 periodistas víctimas del Covid-19, luego Estados Unidos

de América (22), Pakistán (11), Panamá (11), Bolivia (9).

En Gran Bretaña y Nigeria, ocho periodistas han muerto en cada país. Se contabilizaron siete víctimas en Afganistán y Honduras,

 seis en Nicaragua, cinco en Rusia, Venezuela y República Dominicana, luego cuatro en Colombia, Francia, y España.

Tres periodistas han muerto a causa del Covid-19 en Italia, así como en Camerún, Egipto, Guatemala, Nepal y El Salvador.

Hay que deplorar dos muertes en los siguientes países: Argelia, Argentina, Indonesia, Irán, Sudáfrica y Suecia.

Finalmente, el PEC ha identificado al menos una muerte en los siguientes países: Austria, Bélgica, Canadá, República

Democrática del Congo, Irak (Kurdistán), Japón, Kazajstán, Kirguistán, Marruecos, Paraguay, Arabia Saudita, Tayikistán,

Togo y Zimbabwe. Hay nuevos en la lista con una muerte en cada país, Alemania, Israel, Líbano y Suiza.

América Latina a la cabeza

Por regiones, América Latina lidera las cifras con mucho más de la mitad de las víctimas, o sea, 251 muertes. Asia le sigue

de cerca con 116 muertes, seguida de Europa, con 30 muertes; por delante de América del Norte (23) y África (22).

El recuento se basa en información de los medios de comunicación, asociaciones nacionales de periodistas y corresponsales

regionales de la PEC.

La PEC también condena el asesinato de otros 63 periodistas entre el 1 de enero y el 31 de octubre, asesinados en atentados

o incidentes violentos o bajo custodia. Esta cifra es un poco inferior al número de víctimas registradas en el mismo período

del año pasado (68). México sigue siendo el país más peligroso con 9 muertos, por delante de Pakistán (7 muertos) e India

(6 muertos).

La PEC renueva su llamado a los gobiernos para hacer cumplir la resolución adoptada por el Consejo de Derechos Humanos

sobre la seguridad de los periodistas el 6 de octubre de 2020 y para luchar con más firmeza contra la impunidad.

حملة الشارة الدولية – بيان صحفي

اليوم العالمي للقضاء على الإفلات من العقاب

جنيف في 2 نوفمبر (حملة الشارة) – بمناسبة اليوم العالمي لوضع نهاية للإفلات من العقاب في جرائم ضد الصحفيين -2 نوفمبر-أعلنت حملة الشارة الدولية أن مازالت كورونا تنهش في أجساد الصحفيين حيث قتل 442 صحفيا في 52 دولة منذ بداية مارس من جراء وباء كورونا المتفشي عالمياً.

من ناحية أخرى قتل 63 صحفيا منذ يناير في ظروف مختلفة استهدفت الصحفيين مما يصل بعدد الضحايا من الصحفيين في العام الحالي وحتى الآن أكثر من 500 صحفي.

وصرح سكرتير عام الحملة بليز ليمبان أن هذا العدد يمثل ثقلاً غير مسبوق في الضحايا من الصحفيين فيما يبدو أن سلامة الصحفيين في الميدان في مهب الريح، مشيراً إلى بدء الموجة الثانية من الوباء مطالباً كل أصحاب الرأي بتوفير حماية أفضل للصحفيين بدون عرقلة عملهم.

وطبقا لنقابة الصحفيين في بيرو فإن 93 صحفيا قتلوا من الوباء، وقتل في الهند 47 اكوادور 42، فالبرازيل 36 فبنجلاديش 35.

وتأتي المكسيك في المرتبة التالية: 26، الولايات المتحدة: 22، وباكستان 11 وبوليفيا 9 قتل في المملكة المتحدة ونيجيريا 8 صحفيين، كما قتل 7 في أفغانستان وهندوراس و6 في نيكاراجوا و5 في كل من روسيا وفنزويلا وجمهورية الدومينكان و 4 في كل من فرنسا وأسبانيا وكولومبيا. 

وقتل 3 من الصحفيين في كل من إيطاليا والكاميرون ومصر وجواتيمالا ونيبال والسلفادور.

وإثنان في كل من الجزائر والأرجنتين وإندونيسيا وإيران وجنوب إفريقيا والسويد.

كما قتل صحفي واحد في كل من السعودية والنمسا وبلجيكا، وكندا والعراق إقليم طردستان وإيران واليابان وكازاخستان والمغرب وبنما وباراجواي وجمهورية الكونغو الديمقراطية وتاجيكيستان وتوجو وفنزويلا وزيمبابوي. وكذلك صحفي واحد في كل من إسرائيل والمانيا ولبنان وسويسرا.

أمريكا اللاتينية هي أكثر القارات تضرراً من وباء كورونا   

  بمقتل 250 من الصحفيين، ثم آسيا: 116، أوروبا: 30، وأمريكا الشمالية: 23 وإفريقيا 22. 

ودانت حملة الشارة الدولية مقتل 63 صحفياً في ظروف مختلفة من يناير إلى 31 أكتوبر وهو رقم أقل من رقم نفس الفترة من العام الماضي وكان 68. تظل المكسيك أكثر الدول خطورة للعمل الصحفي بمقتل 9 ثم باكستان 7 والهند 6.

وجددت حملة الشارة ندائها لكل الحكومات بتطبيق قرار مجلس حقوق الانسان الصادر في 6 أكتوبر 2020 وتعمل على مكافحة الافلات من العقاب بشكل حازم.

pandemic on journalists along with the casualties of media persons and their contentious working situations across the globe.

The PEC cooperates with more than 50 press organizations and NGOs around the world and has so far regional contributors in Afghanistan, Brazil, Georgia, India, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Pakistan, Palestine, Somalia, Ukraine.

Associated with the mainstream media since 1990, Thakuria serves as secretary to JFA (senior journalist Rupam Barua as its president), working president to North East Union of Working Journalists and also Press Club of Assam. A graduate from Assam Engineering College (under Gauhati University) and a journalist by passion, Thakuria writes for a
number of information outlets based in different parts of the world on socio-political, environmental and media related issues.

20.10.2020. CORONAVIRUS. HOW MANY DEATHS in BRAZIL ? Brazil "in a schizophrenic situation"

From the PEC regional contributor for Brazil Rodrigo M.

I'm sorry I took so long to give you an update on my quest for a reliable account on journalists killed by Covid-19 in Brazil. 

It's that only now I have received sufficient answers from reliable unions and associations.

It's a very complicated situation, because official numbers have been downsized or omitted before. Brazil is deliberately undertesting the population and there is so much underreporting some analysts estimate the real number of deaths and cases is 10 to 20 times greater than official account. Statistical testing seems to confirm that hypothesis and that would make us the number 1 country in Covid-19 deaths.

We had a record number of deaths officially attributed to pneumonia or simply lung infection, because public hospitals didn't have the means to test for Covid-19 until late April or May. At some point the Government authorized bodies to be buried without an official medical cause of death. Thousands of people never even saw the bodies of their dead relatives.

On the other hand, there's also suspicion that some State Governments might have artificially inflated the number of Covid-19 deaths to accrue more Federal resources and supposedly deviate them. Official investigations on such matters are still ongoing. Even if these accusations are true, we suspect this over notification fraud to be less intense than the Federal Government efforts to downplay notifications. You can see we really are in the middle of a schizophrenic situation.

This genocidal politics has been especially cruel on indigenous groups and the poor but, since the virus knows no economic classes, all society has been affected..

The really sad part is that we usually refer to banal deaths as statistics or "just numbers"; we try to sensibilize people telling them to not let preventable deaths become "just numbers." Today in Brazil people are being denied the right to even become a number. Their deaths won't even get into official accounts.

The current Government has been on a crusade against free press since day 1, mimicking the american government, so there has been no official effort to protect journalists during the coverage of the pandemic. It's actually ironic that they sponsored the resolution.

So, the best estimates on journalists deaths to Covid-19 come from the journalists themselves. 

Even in a country with 210 million inhabitants this is a reduced class, and some unions and associations have been able to practically count them personally. It's the case of ABRAJI, the Brazilian Association for Investigative Journalism. Their Executive Manager, Ms. Maria Espiridião, gave me the best account and the description of their method. They gathered notes from local newspapers and information which reached them from any sources, they reached for families and friends of journalists suspected of Covid-19 deaths and tried to get any means of confirmation. But, because of the reasons I have exposed earlier, they didn't have a death certificate for each journalist they have counted.

On September 13th, 2020, they presented the count of 31 deaths due to Covid-19 in a conference. 

Other organizations which responded to my consultation had smaller figures, either because they couldn't confirm the suspected cases or because they couldn't afford to look into every local publication or source. The Sociedad Interamericana de Prensa (Interamerican Press Society) relied on reports from unions and associations. They counted 9 deaths until August and their sources for Brazil were the aforementioned ABRAJI, FENAJ (National Federation of Journalists) and ANJ (National Association of Journalists).

By August, the ANJ had also counted 9 deaths. As I said before, many press organizations in Brazil rely on PEC's account, probably due to mistrust in our own official institutions.

Both ABRAJI and Sociedad Interamericana de Prensa presented the names and other information on all the journalists they have counted.

Sadly, I couldn't get any information from the major media vehicles which created this national press consortium to check on Covid-19 numbers. Those would be Globo Organizations and the newspaper Folha de São Paulo. It's worth mentioning these groups belong to family oligarchies and that's a driving characteristic of brazilian journalism. A few very rich families have ruled over the press for centuries, or for decades in the case of TV. They are in many ways responsible for the extreme right ascension to power and now they have to deal with that same extreme right trying to eliminate them.

So that's a portrait in wide strokes of our current situation. I'm among the few lucky ones which managed to retain a stable income, at least for the time being. The Government's objective is to make sure no worker in the country has a stable income. I also fear a probable disruption in the food supply chain in the near future, similar to the one happening right now in Venezuela. We are quickly destroying our capacity to produce food for the population with the widespread forest burnings. Nowadays the whole agriculture sector favors soy and meat production for exportation. 

There's also a legitimate fear of armed conflict, because of the political divide fueled by the Government. They are making it easier for criminal militias which are their base supporters to buy guns and ammo.

06.10.2020. UNITED NATIONS. HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 45th SESSION. PEC press release. PEC welcomes Human Rights Council's adoption of resolution on safety of journalists

Geneva, October 6, 2020 (PEC) The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) welcomes the adoption today by consensus by the Human Rights Council

 of a new resolution on the safety of journalists, in particular reporting on the pandemic. The PEC urges all States to implement, respect and

enforce all its articles.

The PEC welcomes the decision to “request the High Commissioner to present to the Human Rights Council at its forty-eighth session a report on the

impact and repercussions of measures taken by Governments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic on the safety and work of journalists and media workers,

integrating a gender perspective, and to identify trends and collect good practices, in particular on how the Office of the High Commissioner, within its mandate

and working with other relevant United Nations entities, can assist, when requested, in the development of national approaches to protect journalists”.

“An independent study of the consequences of the pandemic for the work of journalists is very welcome. The coronavirus pandemic is causing not only global health and economic crises but also a crisis for democracy, human rights and press freedom. Transparency and accountability are essential. Journalists working in the field are on the front line in the fight against the COVID-19”, stressed PEC Secretary-General Blaise Lempen.

Journalists pay a high price for the pandemic. According to research by the PEC, the virus caused the death of more than 400 media workers

from 49 countries since March, severely hampering the work of many journalists, and caused the closure of several media for health, political

and economic reasons.

Reporting on the pandemic

In the resolution adopted today, the members of the Council express their deep concern “that the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis has

significant implications for the work, health and safety of journalists and media workers, and in this regard concerned about the consequences of the economic

impact of the pandemic, which increases the vulnerability of journalists and weakens media sustainability, independence and pluralism and worsens the risks of

misinformation and disinformation spreading by limiting access to a wide range of reliable information and opinions”.

The PEC welcomes the fact that the Human Rights Council declares himself “alarmed at threats against, and arrests and involuntary disappearances,

as well as disproportionate and undue restrictions on access to information or censorship, freedom of movement or accreditation, of journalists and media workers

linked to their reporting on the pandemic”.

The resolution also calls for governments “to cooperate with journalists, the media and civil society organizations to assess the damage that the COVID-19

pandemic is inflicting on the provision of vital information to the public and the sustainability of media environments, and to consider, wherever possible,

devising appropriate mechanisms to provide financial support to the media, including local journalism and investigative reporting, and to ensure that support is given

without compromising editorial independence”.

Fight against impunity

The resolution reiterates important recommendations made in previous years by the UN. It thus condemns all attacks against media workers,

calls for the release of all journalists arbitrarily detained and “to ensure accountability through the conduct of impartial, prompt, thorough,

independent and effective investigations into all alleged violence, threats and attacks against journalists and media workers falling within

their jurisdiction, to bring perpetrators, including those who command, conspire to commit, aid and abet or cover up such crimes to justice,

and to ensure that victims and their families have access to appropriate restitution, compensation and assistance”.

Despite the adoption of several resolutions in recent years by the UN, justice is very slow and impunity persists in far too many cases,

regrets the PEC. An international mechanism remains essential in order to identify and prosecute those behind these crimes. In this regard

the UN resolutions do not go far enough.

The PEC thanks the main sponsors of the resolution: Austria, Brazil, France, Greece, Morocco, Qatar and Tunisia. A total of more than 70
countries sponsored the text.

For the full text of the resolution, go to: DOCUMENTS

General Assembly

Human Rights Council 45th session

Item 4 General Debate