HRC39 – PEC statement – item 4

General Assembly

Human Rights Council – 39th session

Item 4 – General Debate

 

Mr President,

the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) is worried by the deteriorating situation of the safety of journalists in some countries since the previous session of the Human Rights Council in June.

The PEC condemns the unjust verdict and a major step backward for press freedom in Myanmar, where Reuters journalists Kyaw Soe Oe and Wa Lone were sentenced to seven years in jail for reporting the truth on a massacre of ten Rohingyas by military. The PEC calls upon the UN Member States to obtain the quick release of the two journalists.

In Afghanistan, more journalists were killed in bomb attacks by terrorist groups. The international community must give more attention to the increased insecurity in this country and improve the protection of journalists with the cooperation of the government.

In Mexico, four more journalists were murdered while carrying their job during the past two months. The PEC calls upon the new president of Mexico to do his utmost to fight impunity in his country. The PEC is also concerned by the murder of another journalist in Brazil.

The PEC condemns the murder of three Russian journalists in the Central African Republic in an ambush by an armed group on 30 July. The PEC calls upon the Central African Republic authorities and the United Nations to carry out a thorough investigation to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice.

The PEC is following closely the situation in the Idlib province in Syria where civilians are in great danger by a new military offensive. The PEC calls on all belligerents to allow journalists on the ground to do their job safely.

Thank you for your attention

18 September 2018

Source: PEC