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UN Security Council adopts resolution on protection of journalists in armed conflict

Xinhua, May 28, 2015 Adjust font size:

The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday condemned abuses committed against journalists in armed conflict in a unanimously adopted resolution, calling on all parties to armed conflict to bring an end to such practices.

The 15-member body said media professionals and associated personnel in areas of armed conflict "shall be considered as civilians and shall be respected and protected as such, provided that they take no action adversely affecting their status as civilians," said the resolution.

The council urged the immediate and unconditional release of journalists and media workers who have been kidnapped or taken as hostages in situations of armed conflict.

It also affirmed that "UN peacekeeping and special political missions, where appropriate should include in their mandated reporting information on specific acts of violence against journalists, media professionals and associated personnel in situation of armed conflict," said the resolution.

The Security Council held an open debate on the protection of journalists in conflict situations Wednesday to review the implementation of the council's resolution in 2006 on the safety and protection of journalists

Addressing the open debate, UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson noted that between 2006 and 2013, 273 cases of killings of journalists occurred in conflict zones, adding that killings of journalists have been given extensive attention around the world, including the murders of Western media representatives in Syria.

"Yet, we must not forget that around 95 percent of the killings of journalists in armed conflict concern locally-based journalists, receiving less media coverage," said Eliasson.

In 2014 alone, 61 journalists were killed, among them 30 percent were freelances and 87 percent were local journalists. The year 2014 also witnessed the beheading of U.S. journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff by the militant group Islamic State (IS), which triggered condemnations on killings and abuses committed against journalists worldwide.

In this regard, Eliasson said the council should encourage Security Council-authorized missions to look into the safety of journalists and media workers as part of the protection of civilian mandates, and missions should also report back to the Security Council on their findings. Endite