RMNP Hails UN General Assembly Decision to Create an International Day to End Impunity

 

 

Pakistan: November 27 (RMNP) – President Rural Media Network Pakistan (RMNP) Ehsan Ahmed Sehar has welcomed the decision of the UN Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly in a consensus resolution declaring November 2, an international Day to End Impunity for crimes against journalists….

In his press statement he said that this resolution is a great step forward for journalists fraternity who are performing their duties in  the hostile environment and conflict zones in different part of the world.

RMNP President said that the almost majority of crimes against journalists in Pakistan are committed with impunity.

He  added that so far this year 41 journalists were killed in Pakistan since 2011, and noted that the RMNP  is  deeply  concerned that killers of not a single Pakistani journalist have been arrested since 2000 despite Pakistan government assurances.

He lauded the role of French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, for this important initiative co-sponsored by more than 70 countries and expressed hope that other initiatives for the safety of journalists will follow in the right direction which the RMNP adheres to since 2004.

The UN resolution condemns all attacks, intimidation and violence against journalists and media workers, and calls on all Member States to protect them, to ensure that all crimes against them are investigated and brought to justice, and to promote an environment in which journalists and media workers can work independently and without interference.

It also expresses support for the United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, an unprecedented step in the promotion of freedom of expression. The resolution which passed 26 November pays homage to French journalists of Radio France Internationale, Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon, killed in Mali on 2 November this year.

Rural Pakistan based Press Freedom Organization RMNP this year organized ” Safety for Journalists Conference” and trained more than two journalists in twelve safety training workshops with the support of DCMF while earlier more than one hundred  journalists with the assistance of UNESCO learnt safety techniques in different parts of Pakistan in 2011.

President RMNP Ehsan Ahmed Sehar expressed hope that more steps will be taken in 2014 to strengthen the legal aspects of protection for journalists and UNESCO will continue its leading role for the protection and safety of journalists as impunity against Pakistani media rises to unacceptable levels. He thanked UNESCO for selecting Pakistan as a 1st phase country to implement UN Plan of Action for the safety of journalists.

 Source. RMNP