Security Council Open Debate "The protection of journalists in conflict situations" (27.5.2015), Statement by Ambassador Dr. Catherine Boura

Madam President,

I would like to thank the Lithuanian Presidency for taking the initiative to organize this timely and important debate on the protection of journalists in conflict situations. I welcome the remarks made by the UN Deputy Secretary General and the Director General of Reporters without Borders. Greece aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union. In my national capacity I would like to add a few words on this issue of major significance.

As the Secretary General confirmed in his Report on the safety of journalists and the issue of impunity, there is an upward trend in the numbers of journalists killed in recent years and an increased targeting of journalists and media workers. Out of the 61 journalists killed in 2014 more than half were covering war regions; 17 were killed in Syria. The numbers of those taken hostages, tortured or fallen victims of enforced disappearance, draw an even more disappointing picture. Local journalists are the majority of victims while women journalists are regularly targeted.

The Resolution adopted today by the Security Council, which Greece co-sponsored, highlights the importance of the issue and of the new challenges that should be addressed. It is a positive development that we strongly welcome.

Over the past few years, the United Nations have been active in engaging the international community towards creating a safe and enabling environment for journalists and media workers. The UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity launched by UNESCO is a comprehensive approach for an inter-agency mechanism to create a free and safe environment for journalists and media professionals in both conflict and non-conflict situations.

In 2013 Greece, together with a cross regional group of States, introduced a Resolution for the Safety of Journalists and the issue of impunity proclaiming November 2nd as the International Day to end impunity for crimes against Journalists. The Resolution, adopted for a second consecutive year in 2014, condemns all attacks and violence against journalists and media workers.

However, the rise of awareness and the normative progress are not enough to secure the safety of journalists. The safety of journalists who work in conflict areas is by no means guaranteed and their working conditions are increasingly deteriorating. The heinous crimes committed since August 2014 by the so-called Islamic State constitute a blatant example. Only a month ago, seven journalists and media workers where found brutally assassinated near Derna, the Libyan city controlled by ISIS.

These barbaric crimes should strengthen the international community’s resolve to do what is necessary to bring perpetrators to justice. As the Secretary General stressed in his Report, impunity remains the biggest obstacle to effectively ensuring the safety of journalists.

Madam President,

To achieve these goals, it will be necessary to engage all stakeholders. Only through a comprehensive approach involving UN agencies, peacekeeping missions, civil society and States we will be able to start reversing the vicious circle of impunity and to protect journalists working in war-torn regions.

Training is necessary in order to achieve results in promoting the safety of journalists in conflict areas.

Journalists or media workers reporting in war zones should be emotionally prepared, appropriately equipped and adequately insured. These prerequisites are rarely fulfilled, especially for free-lance journalists or independent media workers. Media agencies should be encouraged to provide their employees with adequate training before sending them to conflict regions. The aim would be to train journalists in combating risks and battlefield hazards, along with providing them with emergency first-aid skills.

In this regard, States could lend their expertise through specialized agencies, military personnel and infrastructure. Greece is ready to engage in this direction offering existing infrastructure to provide relevant training. The Hellenic Multinational Peace Support Operations Training Center, located in the region of Macedonia in Northern Greece is already scheduling the launching of relevant training courses. Having developed expertise in providing essential practical knowledge to military personnel, police and civilians, the Hellenic Multinational Peace Support Operations Training Center is ready to offer training for conflict situations to journalists and media workers.

Madam President,

We must redouble our efforts to enhance the safety of journalists and to put an end to impunity. It is often said that truth is the first casualty of war. We are strongly committed to ensuring a better protection for the courageous journalists who strive to keep truth alive. Every case of a journalist or media worker harassed, injured, arbitrarily detained or killed, is an assault to freedom of expression and a threat to the foundations of an open and democratic society.

Thank you for your attention.