Issue:
Establishing measures to protect journalists in conflict
areas
Forum:
Third Committee of the General Assembly (GA3)
Position:
Chair
Name:
Caréanne Rijnja
Introduction
The issue of protecting journalists in conflict areas exists as long as there are wars
and conflict areas in our world, but since a couple of years, the protection of journalists has
become harder and harder. This mainly because of the increase in attempts to seize power
in an undemocratic way by leaders of a country in for example the middle east and by rebel
armed forces, such as Al Qaida and Islamic State.
According to Samantha Power, who was a journalist before she became an U.S.
ambassador, states that: “Power said regimes and armed groups target journalists because
they do not want people to see them for what they really are.”
This is indeed an important reason for targeting journalists in conflict areas, although the
other reason journalists are being attacked, kidnapped and even murdered is because the
groups who target journalists want to make a statement to the world and to sow fear.
Definition of Key Terms
Journalist
A journalist is someone who gathers information and reports about a certain topic,
such as war of drugs for television, radio of a newspaper.
Rebel group
Cited by Wikipedia: ”A "rebel group" is defined here as a political group that
uses armed conflict in opposition to established government or governments for reasons
such as to seek political change or to establish or maintain independence.”
War correspondent
A war correspondent is a journalist who solely reports on subjects related to war.
These journalists are also the ones in direct danger to hostile situations in conflict areas.
Conflict area
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A conflict area is a region where groups of people are clashing. These can either be
countries, rebel groups against each other or groups of people against, for example, a
government of a country.
General Overview
Since a couple of years there has been a significant increase in rebel groups trying to
seize power in an undemocratic way. There are several main groups, which we all heard
about, such as Al Qaida an Islamic State. These groups are targeting journalists for two
reasons. First of all, because they don’t want people to see them for what they really are, as
stated in the introduction. The main reason for this, is because these groups rely on the
support of individuals in the country they are based in, as well as other countries around the
world, rather than for example the support of the people a country would have. So when
journalists report on conflict areas and the people involved, rebel groups may fear the loss of
support and thus eliminate the source of their fear, the journalists.
Furthermore, rebel groups in conflict areas try to use kidnapping, torturing and even
murdering journalists to make a statement to the world.
For example, the execution of an American journalist by Islamic State in 2014 in which the
executioner send a message to the United States of America with the demand that the US
stopped the air strikes in Iraq.
Journalists are not only targeted by rebel groups trying to seize power, but also by
individuals. If we look at Brazil, one of the most dangerous countries to work in as a
journalist, we see that journalists covering, for example, drug related stories are also being
attacked and kidnapped by drug cartels. This mainly to intimidate the journalists and keep
them from reporting on drug flows in the country.
Graph showing the work-related deaths of journalists from the last couple of years
As stated before, protecting the journalists who work in the main conflict areas of the
world is very difficult, even though there are several guidelines to protect them in these
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dangerous areas.
Journalists in conflict areas are recognizable by their clothes and cars, but this doesn’t mean
they are automatically protected from hostile situations in conflict areas.
Because there are no specific rules to protect journalists, but only for official war
correspondents, non-profit organizations all over the world try to establish measures to
protect journalists on their own.
These organizations are involved in preparing journalists to work in the conflict areas and
how to handle a hostile situation. Furthermore, they contain several investigators an lawyers
to make sure journalists can be rescued, once kidnapped or missing.
Major Parties Involved
Islamic State (IS)
The Islamic State is a major rebel group, mainly situated in Syria. Islamic State is
involved in this problem, due to the fact that they publicly executed numerous journalists,
such as the American journalist in 2014.
Syria
Syria is the most dangerous country to work as a journalist right now. This is mostly
caused by the rise of Islamic State in this country.
International News Safety Institute (INSI)
The International News Safety Institute is mainly concerned with giving the right kind
of training to journalists, so they can increase their safety in conflict areas. They do not only
provide this training program, they also do research in the best ways for journalists to stay
safe in dangerous areas.
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
The committee to protect journalists is an non-profit organizations which is closely
involved not only press freedom, but also protection of the rights of journalists in conflict
areas. They raise awareness about these issues by conducting a report each year and
organizing public speeches and demonstrations.
Reporters Without Borders (RWB)
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One of the largest non-profit organizations engaged in protecting journalists and
their rights. They monitor hostile attacks on journalists all over the world and report this in
the media. Furthermore, RWB co-operates with several countries to re-eveluate their laws
on press freedom and lastly, they support journalists who were victims of attacks and their
relatives.
Other small organizations
There are several other small non-profit organizations involved in press freedom.
This is not directly related to protection journalists in conflict areas, but press freedom is a
great step towards establishing a safer environment for journalists.
Timeline of Key Events
1948
Article 19 of the Universla Declaration of Human Rights which
states that every individual has “the right of freedom of opinion
and expression”.
1981
Foundation of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
1985
Several French journalists start the organization named
Reporters Without Borders (RWB), also known as Reporters
Sans Frontières (RSF)
2004
The establishment of the International News Safety Institute
(INSI)
2014
The beheading of two American Journalists by IS
Previous attempts to resolve the issue
There is a large number of organizations that are engaged in establishing measures
to protect journalists in conflict areas. But since there is no official law stating the protection
rights of journalists working in dangerous regions, the job of organizations is quite difficult.
Several countries are also trying their hardest to protect journalists, but most of the time,
journalists are being attacked by rebel groups or individuals from for example drug cartels,
that countries involved have little to no influence.
Nevertheless, the problem is not solved by only showing effort. The issue is still here,
despite the many attempts to solve it, because of the lack of official laws.
Possible Solutions
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To find a solution for the problem, organizations and countries involved have to look
outside the box.
Making rules and laws can be a good start to protect journalists, but this will not completely
eliminate the problem, due to the fact that there are always groups and people who ignore
these rules and thus bring journalists in dangerous situation.
Although, if we look at the great technological development of the recent years, this
can be a useful addition in protection journalists in conflict areas.
Organizations can, for example, implant a chip in all their journalists who are going to conflict
or dangerous areas. These chips will follow the journey of the journalists and determine their
location at all time.
If you combine such chips with, for example, an easy access to an emergency call,
countries and organizations can come into action quicker than before. This will increase the
chance of finding journalists alive and unharmed.
The determination of their location can prevent journalists from going missing, while working
in conflict areas.
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Appendix/Appendices
-
http://www.newssafety.org/about-insi/what-we-do/
https://www.journalistsecurity.net/resources-support/
http://en.rsf.org/
Bibliography
"What We Do." : INSI. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2016.
<http://www.newssafety.org/about-insi/what-we-do/>
"ISIS Video Shows Beheading of Steven Sotloff - CNN.com." CNN. Cable News Network, n.d.
Web. 25 Jan. 2016.
<http://edition.cnn.com/2014/09/02/world/meast/isis-american-journalist-sotloff/>
"How Does International Humanitarian Law Protect Journalists in Armed-conflict Situations?" ICRC. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2016.
<https://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/interview/protection-journalists-interview-
270710.htm>
"Our Advocacy - About CPJ." - Committee to Protect Journalists. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2016.
<https://www.cpj.org/about/advocacy.php>
"Journalist, Human Rights Safety Organizations, Resources and Support."Global Journalist
Security. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2016.
<https://www.journalistsecurity.net/resources-support/>
“Committee to Protect Journalists” - Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2016.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Committee_to_Protect_Journalists>
"Reporters Without Borders." Reporters Without Borders. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2016.
<http://en.rsf.org/>
"Reporters Without Borders." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2016.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reporters_Without_Borders>
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