GENEVA (Web Desk) – At the UN Security Council Pakistan unequivocally condemned all attacks and violence against journalists in the performance of their professional duties.
Participating in a debate on Protection of Journalists in Conflict Situations, Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative said that Pakistan shares the international outrage on the recent beheading and summary execution of journalists by terrorist organizations. “This barbarism must come to an end and the safety of media personnel should be fully assured”, she added.
Highlighting the role of journalists in the Information Age, she said that the role and contribution of journalists has become even more crucial, more so in situations of armed conflict as the media not only bears witness to facts on the ground but also shapes opinion and assists in presenting moral and political choices in conflict situations.
Talking about the professional risks faced by the journalists, Ambassador Lodhi said, “As a former journalist myself, I know the risks journalists take to unveil and uphold the truth”.
She said that the threats to journalists have become more complex today as some regions of the world descend into chaos and conflict. “Several new trends are now in evidence – increased use of terror tactics, rising threats to journalists’ lives in conflict zones and the media’s resort to private armed escorts for their protection”, she added.
She said that the independent journalism was vital for a free society, to hold the powerful to account and for citizens to be informed and actively engaged.
Ambassador Lodhi regretted that despite robust provisions of international legal framework for protection of journalists, deliberate violence against journalists was on the rise. To counter this alarming trend, she called for innovative thinking, approaches and responses.
In addition to promoting greater understanding and awareness as well as full and effective implementation of existing provisions of international law, Ambassador Lodhi suggested that the journalists may be identified as a special category of persons to be protected and for strengthening the role of Peace-keeping Missions for protection of journalists by providing additional resources.
Referring to the problem of impunity that remains a disturbing trend, she urged intensifying efforts to ensure that perpetrators of attacks against journalists are brought to justice.
Ambassador Lodhi also suggested that the governments and local authorities should share all available facts and relevant intelligence information for a clearer understanding of the security situation, the environment of conflict zones and tactics of warring groups and non-state actors.
She also urged journalists to give due consideration to the briefings and advice of official authorities and also respect local laws, regulations and traditions.
Ambassador Lodhi called for a review of practices like embedded journalism from the perspective of their impact on the safety of journalists. She highlighted the importance of appropriate training and practical guide to the journalists covering conflict situations to cope with the changing nature of conflict and the tactics of terrorist groups. For this purpose she advocated provision of adequate resources.
She concluded by expressing hope that the Council’s deliberations would guide future strategies to ensure the protection of journalists in a world that was transforming faster than our ability to manage the full ramifications of that change.
