UN General Assembly adopts Resolution on “The Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity” (New York, 23 November 2015)

The Resolution on “The Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity”, a Greek initiative, was adopted unanimously yesterday by the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly.

This Resolution was adopted for the first time in November 2013 and was promoted this year, for the third consecutive year, on Greece’s initiative. The Resolution, which was supported by Argentina, Austria, Costa Rica, France and Tunisia, was co-sponsored by a total of 83 states, including all of the EU member states, a significant number of Latin American countries, and a number of Arab and African states.

This Resolution recognizes, among other things, the efforts countries have made to revise practices that limit the ability of journalists to work independently and unhindered, and calls for the more effective implementation of the legal framework for the protection of media workers. Finally, it stresses that the measures states are taking against terrorism should not arbitrarily obstruct the work and safety of journalists or contravene obligations deriving from international law.