FAJ Calls for International Pragmatic Action to Protect Journalists and End Impunity in Africa

The Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) called on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UN HRC) to take practical, pragmatic and international urgent action to protect journalists armed conflict areas.

In a panel on protection of journalists in armed that was held during the 14th session of the council in Geneva on June 4th, the President of the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) the African regional organization of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) spoke to the UN member states on protection of journalists and pressed the urgency to  more safety for journalists in armed conflict and the end to impunity against assassinations, aggressions and violations of all media workers in Africa and around the world. 

“It is unfortunate to note that in both, conflict and non-conflict situations, independent journalism is the target of various players for whom the plight of civilian populations, caught between warring groups and natural and man-made disasters, is an inconvenient truth which they wish to keep hidden from the rest of the world. Apart from denying journalists the opportunity to reports events, they also see them as dangerous opponents” said Omar Faruk.

In some areas, journalists have been conscripted as active combatants against their will in increasingly dangerous domestic environments. Those who refuse to take orders have to choose between death, internal or external exile or simply cease to work as journalists.

For example, in Somalia, within the last three year, 25 journalists were murdered, by Islamic extremists, rogue elements, warlords, and clan militias affiliated to the transitional Federal Administration only for doing their job, reporting the news and revealing the truth. These include nine journalists who were all murdered in 2009. “This country has reached a stage where the forces engaged in the armed conflict routinely target journalists just to instill fear and demonstrate their impunity and capacity to cause violence” Omar told the UN’s human rights body.

He also presented Eritrea as the biggest prison for journalists in Africa as they are held incommunicado in inhumane conditions and many of them have died. 

In DRC, journalists often face violent death and the country is still considered as one of the most repressive on press freedom violations particularly in the Kivu region in the Eastern DRC, Omar Faruk declared before the Human Rights Council. In some other countries like Uganda, Madagascar and Sudan, journalists’ rights are always violated.

“Journalists in Africa have today become the most unprotected and persecuted defenders of human rights.  The suppression of press freedom and freedom of expression in many countries has forced the people of Africa into submissiveness in the face of ruthless rulers” added Omar.

The FAJ President called for respect and acknowledgement of the existing good laws and calls the Human rights Council to send a clear message that it will not remain idle while journalists continue to be subject of violent death and unjustified attacks. He called on the Council to impress upon its member states to live up their international obligations and promises to protect civilians and to develop mechanism to encourage member states to transpose the UN Security Council Resolution 1738 into their national legislations.

FAJ President also expressed the solidarity of African journalists and pleaded for the end of impunity against journalists in Palestine and Philippines.

For more information contact

+221 33 867 95 87 +221 33 867 95 87      
The FAJ represents over 50,000 journalists in 38 countries in Africa

- June 8, 2010 by FAJ

……………..

Source: africa.ifj.org/en/articles/faj-calls-for-international-pragmatic-action-to-protect-journalists-and-end-impunity-in-africa (accessed on 09.06.10)