04.06.2024. The PEC celebrates its 20th anniversary - More than 2000 journalists killed in 20 years

French and Spanish after English

Geneva, 4 June 2024 (PEC) Founded on 4 June 2004 in Geneva, the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) has been campaigning for 20 years to strengthen the protection of journalists in dangerous areas. In 20 years, more than 2,000 journalists have been killed around the world, an average of one hundred a year.

‘This is an extremely heavy toll’, said PEC co-founder and President Blaise Lempen on Tuesday. ‘Our main concern remains the impunity that characterizes most of the crimes committed against journalists’, he added on the occasion of the NGO's 20th anniversary.

The annual peaks in the number of victims over the past 20 years have corresponded to armed conflicts: the war in Iraq from 2003, the war in Syria from 2011, the war in Ukraine in 2022, and the conflict in Gaza from October 2023.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict since 7 October 2023 is the deadliest conflict for the media in such a short space of time (eight months), with almost 130 victims. This is equivalent to the number of victims recorded in the Syrian civil war between 2011 and 2020 (130 killed).

Mexico deadliest country

The country with by far the highest number of victims between 2004 and 2023 is Mexico, with more than 200 journalists killed in 20 years. The PEC hopes that new President Claudia Sheinbaum will be more forceful in finding and indicting those responsible for these crimes.

The next most dangerous countries since 2004 are Palestine (Gaza and the West Bank), Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, the Philippines, India, Honduras, and Somalia.

On the positive side, the PEC points to clear progress in raising awareness of the problem on the part of international organizations and governments. UNESCO has drawn up a plan for the safety of journalists, and the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council have adopted several resolutions.

However, these diplomatic efforts continue to come up against the failure to respect humanitarian law in armed conflicts, which is supposed to protect civilians, the absence of independent investigations and the lack of political will on the part of the authorities in the countries concerned.

Since its creation, the PEC has been in favor of drawing up an international convention strengthening the protection of journalists in dangerous areas. With the support of other organizations, it will continue to fight to denounce abuses, combat impunity more effectively and reduce the number of victims. More than 70 associations around the world supported the objectives of the PEC.

The PEC has had special consultative status with the UN since 2010. It is run by a ten-member steering committee and maintains a network of correspondents around the world. It publishes a biannual count of victims (https://pressemblem.ch/casualties.shtml). Since 2009, it has awarded an annual prize, based on current events, to a journalist or an organization that has fought to defend press freedom.

Read recent statements on: www.pressemblem.ch

- 02 June : PEC concerned about increasing pressure on journalists in Ukraine
- 25 May: PEC condemns series of murders in Pakistan, demands fair investigation
- 06 May: PEC denounces ban on Al-Jazeera in Israel

La PEC célèbre son 20^e anniversaire - Plus de 2000 journalistes tués en 20 ans

Genève, 4 juin 2024 (PEC) Fondée le 4 juin 2004 à Genève, la Presse Emblème Campagne (PEC) plaide depuis 20 ans pour renforcer la protection des journalistes dans les zones dangereuses. En 20 ans, plus de 2000 journalistes ont été tués dans le monde, soit une centaine par année en moyenne.

«Ce bilan est extrêmement lourd», a constaté mardi le cofondateur et président de la PEC Blaise Lempen. «Notre principale préoccupation reste l’impunité qui caractérise la plupart des crimes commis contre les journalistes», a-t-il ajouté à l’occasion du 20^e anniversaire de l’ONG.

Les pics annuels du nombre de victimes ont correspondu ces 20 dernières années à des conflits armés: guerre en Irak à partir de 2003, guerre en Syrie dès 2011, guerre en Ukraine en 2022, conflit de Gaza dès octobre 2023.

Le conflit israélo-palestinien depuis le 7 octobre 2023 est le conflit le plus meurtrier pour les médias en un laps de temps aussi court (huit mois), avec près de 130 victimes. Ce nombre équivaut à celui des victimes recensées dans la guerre civile en Syrie entre 2011 et 2020 (130 tués).

Mexique pays le plus meurtrier

Le pays avec le plus grand nombre de victimes entre 2004 et 2023 est de loin le Mexique avec plus de 200 journalistes tués en 20 ans. La PEC espère que la nouvelle présidente Claudia Sheinbaum sera plus énergique pour rechercher et inculper les responsables de ces crimes.

Suivent parmi les pays les plus dangereux la Palestine (Gaza et Cisjordanie), la Syrie, l’Irak, l’Afghanistan, le Pakistan, les Philippines, l’Inde, le Honduras et la Somalie.

Du côté positif, la PEC souligne de nets progrès dans la sensibilisation au problème de la part des organisations internationales et des gouvernements. L’UNESCO a élaboré un plan pour la sécurité des journalistes, l’Assemblée générale de l’ONU et le Conseil des droits de l’homme ont adopté plusieurs résolutions.

Ces efforts diplomatiques continuent de se heurter néanmoins au non-respect du droit humanitaire dans les conflits armés censé protéger les civils, à l’absence d’enquêtes indépendantes, au manque de volonté politique de la part des autorités des pays concernés.

Dès sa création, la PEC a été en faveur de l’élaboration d’une Convention internationale renforçant la protection des journalistes dans les zones dangereuses. Avec le soutien d’autres organisations, elle va continuer de dénoncer les abus, de lutter plus efficacement contre l’impunité afin de réduire le nombre de victimes. Plus de 70 associations dans le monde ont soutenu les objectifs de la PEC.

La PEC est dotée du statut consultatif spécial auprès de l’ONU depuis 2010. Elle est dirigée par un comité directeur de dix membres et entretient un réseau de correspondants dans le monde. Elle publie un décompte bisannuel des victimes (https://pressemblem.ch/casualties.shtml). Depuis 2009, elle décerne chaque année, en fonction de l’actualité, un prix à un journaliste ou une organisation ayant lutté pour la défense de la liberté de la presse.

Lire déclarations récentes sur : www.pressemblem.ch

- 02 juin : la PEC est préoccupée par des pressions croissantes contre des journalistes en Ukraine

- 25 mai : la PEC condamne une série de meurtres au Pakistan, exige une enquête équitable

- 06 mai : la PEC dénonce l’interdiction d’Al-Jazeera en Israël

PEC celebra su 20 aniversario - Más de 2.000 periodistas asesinados en 20 años

Ginebra, 4 de junio de 2024 (PEC) Fundada el 4 de junio de 2004 en Ginebra, la Campaña Emblema de Prensa (PEC, por sus siglas en inglés) aboga desde hace 20 años por fortalecer la protección de los periodistas en zonas peligrosas. En 20 años, más de 2.000 periodistas han sido asesinados en todo el mundo, lo que hace, en promedio, un centenar de muertes por año.  

"Este número de víctimas es extremadamente elevado", señaló el martes el cofundador y presidente del PEC, Blaise Lempen. "Nuestra principal preocupación sigue siendo la impunidad que caracteriza a la mayoría de los crímenes cometidos contra periodistas", añadió con motivo del 20º aniversario de la ONG. 

Los picos anuales en el número de víctimas corresponden, en los últimos 20 años, a conflictos armados: la guerra en Irak desde 2003, la guerra en Siria desde 2011, la guerra en Ucrania en 2022, el conflicto en Gaza desde octubre de 2023. 

El conflicto palestino-israelí, desde el 7 de octubre de 2023, es el conflicto más mortífero para los medios de comunicación en tan poco tiempo (ocho meses), con casi 130 muertes. Esta cifra equivale a un igual número de víctimas (130), registradas en la guerra civil en Siria entre 2011 y 2020.  

México es el país más mortífero  

El país con mayor número de víctimas entre 2004 y 2023 es, de lejos, México, con más de 200 periodistas asesinados en 20 años. La PEC espera que la nueva presidenta Claudia Sheinbaum sea más contundente para encontrar y procesar a los responsables de estos crímenes.

Entre los países más peligrosos también figuran Palestina (Gaza y Cisjordania), Siria, Irak, Afganistán, Pakistán, Filipinas, India, Honduras y Somalia. 

En el lado positivo, la PEC destaca claros avances en la sensibilización sobre el problema por parte de organizaciones internacionales y gobiernos. La UNESCO ha desarrollado un plan para la seguridad de los periodistas, la Asamblea General de la ONU y el Consejo de Derechos Humanos han adoptado varias resoluciones en ese sentido. 

Sin embargo, estos esfuerzos diplomáticos siguen tropezando con el incumplimiento del derecho humanitario en los conflictos armados destinados a proteger a los civiles, la ausencia de investigaciones independientes y la falta de voluntad política, por parte de las autoridades de los países afectados. 

Desde su creación, la PEC se ha mostrado a favor del desarrollo de una convención internacional que fortalezca la protección de los periodistas en zonas peligrosas. Con el apoyo de otras organizaciones, seguirá luchando para denunciar los abusos, luchar más eficazmente contra la impunidad y reducir el número de víctimas. Más de 70 ONG de todo el mundo apoyan los objetivos de la PEC. 

La PEC tiene estatus consultivo especial ante la ONU desde 2010. Está dirigida por un comité directivo de diez miembros y mantiene una red de corresponsales en todo el mundo. Publica un recuento semestral de víctimas (https://pressemblem.ch/casualties.shtml). Desde 2009, concede cada año, basándose en la actualidad, un premio a un periodista o una organización que haya luchado por defender la libertad de prensa.

Lea las declaraciones recientes de la PEC en: www.pressemblem.ch

- 2 de junio: PEC está preocupada por la creciente presión contra los periodistas en Ucrania

- 25 de mayo: la PEC condena la serie de asesinatos en Pakistán y exige una investigación justa

- 6 de mayo: la PEC denuncia la prohibición de la cadena de TV, Al-Jazeera, en Israel 

20.05.2024. PAKISTAN. Another journalist killed in Pakistan, PEC demands probe

With Nava Thakuria, PEC's South Asia Representative

Geneva: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body, expresses serious concern over the killing of another journalist in Pakistan within a fortnight and demands a fair probe into the incident, where   Mehar Ashfaq Siyal was shot dead in Muzaffargarh locality of Punjab province by the miscreants. Mehar, who was associated with an Urdu newspaper (Daily Khabrain), faced the bullets of unidentified assailants on 15 May 2024. He was shifted to a nearby hospital, but succumbed to injuries.

Mehar  is the  second journalist of Pakistan to be killed in May and fourth since 1 January in the south Asian nation. Earlier  on 3  May  Maulana Mohammad Siddique Mengal was killed in a blast that took place in Balochistan on the world press freedom day. Another journalist named Jam Saghir Ahmed Laar, who also worked for Daily Khabrain from Punjab, was shot dead on 14 March. Prior to him, a Pakpattan-based journalist (Tahira Nosheen Rana) was brutally assassinated on 11 March.

“Mehar Ashfaq Siyal is the 47th journalist killed this year across the world. Pakistan government must probe into the murder and punish the culprits under the law,” said Blaise Lempen, president of PEC (www.pressemblem.ch), adding that PEC stands with the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) in its mission for justice to the journo-victims.  PFUJ leaders are also raising voices for adequate financial compensations to the bereaved families.

PEC’s south and southeast Asia representative Nava Thakuria revealed that since 1 January 2024,  the Indian subcontinent has reported six journo-casualties comprising four in Pakistan, one in India (Ashutosh Srivastava) and another in Myanmar (Ko Myat Thu Tun). Last year, Pakistan lost Imtiaz Baig, Ghulam Asghar Khand and Jan Mohammed Mahar, and India witnessed the killing of Shashikant Warishe, Abdur Rauf Alamgir and Vimal Kumar Yadav. Similarly, Ashiqul Islam and Golam Rabbani Nadim lost their lives in Bangladesh, where Husein Naderi and Akmal Nazari were killed in Afghanistan.

04.05.2024. PAKISTAN. Journalist killed on World Press Freedom Day - PEC demands probe

With Nava Thakuria, PEC’s south Asia representative

Geneva: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body, expresses serious concern over the killing of a senior journalist in Balochistan on the world press freedom day and demands a thorough investigation over the incident that led to the death of Maulana Mohammad Siddique Mengal.

According to local media outlets, journalist Mengal was killed in a bomb explosion that took place in Chamrok area of Balochistan in western Pakistan on 3rd May. Two others were killed and many injured during the Friday’s blasts. The injured were shifted to nearby hospitals for necessary medical treatment. No group claimed its responsibility till date. Mengal, president of Khuzdar press club and a regular contributor to a newspaper titled Watan, was on his way to the mosque for prayers when the bomb exploded near his car.

“Siddique Mengal is the 43rd journalist to be killed this year around the world. We mourn his demise and urge the Balochistan government to adequately compensate the bereaved family”, said Blaise Lempen, president of PEC, adding that a few weeks back the south Asian nation lost another journalist named Jam Saghir Ahmed Lar, who used to work for Daily Khabrain from Punjab province, to assailants. Prior to him, a Pakpattan-based journalist (Tahira Nosheen Rana) was brutally assassinated.

PEC’s south and southeast Asia representative Nava Thakuria revealed that since 1 January 2024, four journo-casualties have been reported from Myanmar (which lost Ko Myat Thu Tun to military atrocities) and Pakistan. Last year, Pakistan lost Imtiaz Baig, Ghulam Asghar Khand and Jan Mohammed Mahar to assailants and India witnessed the killing of Shashikant Warishe, Abdur Rauf Alamgir and Vimal Kumar Yadav. Similarly, Ashiqul Islam and Golam Rabbani Nadim lost their lives in Bangladesh, where Husein Naderi and Akmal Nazari were killed in Afghanistan.

22.04.2024. AFGHANISTAN. Taliban jails Afghan journalist, PEC demands release of all imprisoned scribes

27. 03.2024. Human Rights Council 55th session. PEC statement - General Debate item 7

Mr President,

Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) condemns the unprecedented killings of journalists in Gaza and their consequences. Palestine has become the world’s deadliest place for journalists.

Journalists in Gaza face immense challenges in carrying out their work. The systematic targeting of Palestinians journalists compromises the ability to cover the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The Israeli army has destroyed around 50 local and international media outlets in Gaza since October 7, as reported by the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS). In addition to the killings, reports have also emerged of different forms of violent incidents with the aim of reinforcing the “news blackout.” This comprises 25 arrests, various cases of assaults, threats, cyberattacks, and censorship. Families of journalists in Gaza have also been killed by the IDF.

It amounts to collective punishment.

What we see is that this deadly pattern continues unchecked because we haven’t seen accountability. Impunity leads to the perpetuation of violence and crime. Impunity in the war in Gaza is a dangerous precedent. A full investigation is needed on all war crimes committed by the Israeli army in Gaza since October last year.

Thank you Mr. President

26.03.2024. ASSANGE: PEC relieved by the High Court decision, but the torture must stop

Geneva, 26 March 2024 (PEC) - The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) is relieved by the High Court's decision not to extradite Julian Assange until the United States provides additional guarantees. However the nightmare of the WikiLeaks founder has no end with a new deadline to decide his fate.

Julian Assange has been held since 2019 in the high-security Belmarsh prison, near London, after seven years of seclusion in the Ecuadorian embassy in London.

Judges Victoria Sharp and Jeremy Johnson have ruled that Assange will not be extradited immediately. The US has been given three weeks to provide additional guarantees. If the US provides the requested assurances by April 16, a second hearing could be held on May 20 for the court to consider whether to grant an appeal.

WikiLeaks has published an extract from the High Court ruling that lists the “satisfactory assurances” the US must provide for Assange’s extradition to be granted. They include the permission to “rely on the First Amendment to the United States Constitution (which protects free speech), that he is not prejudiced at trial (including sentence) by reason of his nationality, that he is afforded the same First Amendment protections as a United States citizen and that the death penalty is not imposed”.

Julian Assange must be released

"The torture has gone on long enough", said PEC President Blaise Lempen in Geneva. "It is time for the United States to put an end to the prosecution of a journalist who has only done his job, which is to publish information in the overriding public interest", he added. "Without courageous journalists to expose them, war crimes continue, as we are currently seeing in Ukraine and Gaza", he added.

Julian Assange must be released and returned to Australia for humanitarian and medical reasons, as well as to respect the principle of freedom of investigative journalism.

The PEC has denounced Assange's detention from the outset as contrary to freedom of expression. The public's right to information is at stake. While dictatorships imprison independent journalists, it is shameful that Great Britain and the United States are persecuting one of them.

Julian Assange, 52, faces up to 175 years in prison if extradited. He is being prosecuted for publishing, from 2010 onwards, more than 700,000 confidential documents on the military and diplomatic activities of the United States, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan.

For more information: https://speak-up-for-assange.org

20.02.2024. UKRAINE. The second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion: professionalization of military journalism, pressure on investigative journalists, and misinformation in Telegram - Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) welcomes a significant decrease in the number of casualties, condemns Russian disinformation and censorship in the occupied territories

report by Andrii Ianitsky, PEC representative in Ukraine

Kyiv (Ukraine), 20 February 2023. 

1. The professionalization of military journalism

According to the Press Emblem Campaign, 38 media personnel have been killed during Russia's war with Ukraine since February 24, 2022, but only 4 in 2023, a significant drop. They died while on editorial assignment, or as soldiers on the battlefield or from Russian missile attacks. Two have been killed by Ukrainian strikes. Dozens more journalists were wounded.

Most journalists died in the first year of the war. Over time, the number of casualties decreased thanks to better organization of journalists' work on the front lines, the localization of combat operations, and the professionalization of war journalism. Specially trained staff have been introduced in newsrooms to cover the progress of the war. These employees are now well-equipped, capable of providing first aid, and knowledgeable about the rules of conduct in combat zones.

The ukrainian journalistic community is divided into those who regularly cover the war and those who have returned to the usual peaceful topics: economics, culture, and sports news.

The Ukrainian military's approach to working with journalists has also improved. While in 2022 and early 2023, journalists often complained about the military, accusing them of having a selective approach to representatives of different news outlets, excessive bureaucracy, and constantly changing rules, now such complaints are fewer. In early 2024, the Armed Forces of Ukraine even made positive changes to the rules for journalists covering the war, extending the validity of accreditation cards from six months to one year.

2. The new media law has yet to pose a problem for editorial work

Last year, we wrote that the new Ukrainian media law raised concerns and that it could be used to pressure journalists. Fortunately, our concerns have not been justified. The process of re-registering media according to the new media law is ongoing. For the first time in Ukraine, online media can register as media and thus gain greater legitimacy — in previous years, such publications were operating outside the law. Official media pages on social networks can also be registered to gain more trust from their readers.

Ukraine’s media law was one of seven conditions laid down by Brussels for fast-track EU-candidate status. The Parliament of Ukraine approved it at the end of 2022.

The new legislative changes have also relieved Ukrainian journalists of the obligation to coordinate interviews with their interviewees. Previously, such a requirement was contained in copyright laws. 

At the same time, the issue with state and quasi-state media has not yet been resolved. In Ukraine, both the state and municipalities can have their own media outlets, and these publications are often not editorially independent, distort the advertising market, and compete with independent media in the labor market.

3. Authorities are attempting to control the information space

The so-called Telethon continues to operate — the Unified News channel, which is run by several private companies and a public broadcaster. This channel broadcasts on multiple frequencies. “Unified News” was created immediately after the Russian invasion to mobilize Ukrainian society in the face of the threat of external aggression. Initially, it served such functions: providing the population with timely news and psychological support to Ukrainians. Over time, it became clear that the unified channel distorts reality in favor of the authorities. United News Channel is de facto controlled by the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine.

During the period from May 2022 to October 2023, trust in unified news decreased from 69% to 48%, according to data from a sociological survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS). And the viewership share decreased over the past year from approximately 13% to approximately 10% according to Nielsen company measurements.

At the same time, in 2022 three Ukrainian TV channels were taken off the air, allegedly due to links with former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, an opponent of Volodymyr Zelensky. These TV channels continue to broadcast via satellite, the Internet, and cable networks, but their audience has declined markedly. 

4. Social media as a threat to the spread of misinformation

According to USAID-Internews research, Ukrainians mostly read news on social networks, in particular, on the social network Telegram. And it is social networks that are becoming the main channel spreading Russian disinformation in Ukraine, WP writes, citing European intelligence.

Ukrainian intelligence also sees a threat from the social network Telegram. At the same time, it is impossible to ban the work of this social network. And it is not so much a question of the technical side of the issue — Ukraine has already banned the work of Russian social networks VKontakte, Odnoklassnik, and several Russian websites. However, this time many official Ukrainian authorities themselves are effectively using Telegram for their promo.

5. Russian-occupied territories remain news deserts

The work of independent journalists in the occupied territories remains impossible. Russia has introduced a regime of strict censorship, and any manifestations of honest journalism are suppressed. The occupiers kill Ukrainian journalists, and arrest or deport them. 

Occasionally, they organize fully controlled press tours for Western journalists to show the “normal life” of Ukrainians under occupation. For example, on January 29, 2024, a film crew from the German TV channel ZDF visited occupied Mariupol. The journalists were there in violation of Ukrainian law, through the territory, and with Russia's permission. They devoted part of their report to retelling Russian propaganda narratives. This caused great anger among Ukrainian journalists and officials. The Ukrainian public broadcaster and the Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated the matter. 

The situation in the occupied territories is still being reported anonymously by individual journalists or citizen journalists who, for various reasons, cannot leave. Even in Crimea, which Russia seized ten years ago, there are still such brave people. They use all the measures of secrecy: encrypted communication channels, pseudonyms, and contacts only with trusted persons. It is also difficult for them to get paid for their work due to sanctions and lack of economic ties, but money is not the main motivation for such journalists.

Another part of the truth about life in the occupied territories can be obtained through critical analysis of propaganda messages from there, monitoring of Russian social media, and documents of the occupation administrations.

6. Pressure on investigative journalists

Investigative journalism is strongly developed in Ukraine thanks to the support of Western grantors. A high-profile investigation by Bihus.info (named after its creator Denys Bihus) about theft in the army under former President Petro Poroshenko was one of the reasons for his defeat in the 2019 elections. 

A series of publications about corruption in the army by another well-known investigative journalist, Yuriy Nikolov (NashiGroshi project and publications in Dzerkalo Tyzhnia), led to the resignation of Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov in 2022. It was under President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and during a full-scale war with Russia. 

At the beginning of 2024, both these journalists were attacked. The Security Service of Ukraine conducted surveillance, phone tapping, and covert video recordings to discredit Denys Bihus and his team. Additionally, unknown individuals intimidated Yuriy Nikolov and attempted to break into his apartment. Other Ukrainian media outlets are also facing pressure, mostly in the informational sphere via anonymous channels on Telegram.

The scandals involving Bihus and Nikolov have caused a wide resonance both within the country and abroad. Ambassadors from G7 countries personally met with both journalists. President Volodymyr Zelensky was forced to dismiss the head of the Security Service of Ukraine department that monitored the journalists. At the same time, in the case of Yuriy Nikolov, the police only arrested the perpetrators but not the instigators of the provocation.

It cannot be said yet that this is a consistent policy of President Volodymyr Zelensky. Rather, the above-mentioned facts are the result of initiatives by certain individuals within Zelensky's circle who are involved in corruption and fear the results of journalistic investigations.

Andrii Ianitsky is a journalist now based in Lviv and PEC Representative in Ukraine (a.ianitskyi@gmail.com)

15.02.2024. AFGHANISTAN. PEC is very concerned by the deterioration of press freedom in Afghanistan and supports the recommendations of the report delivered for the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the United Nations in Geneva by the Afghanistan Journalists Center.

1-      Presentation of the Organization

This statement is delivered on behalf of the Afghanistan Journalists Center(AFJC), a not-for-profit, independent, non-partisanorganization set up to defend and promote press freedom in Afghanistan.

2-      Plan of the Statement

This statement addresses the following issues: (1) state of media freedom in Afghanistan under Taliban rule (with a focus on Taliban directives on media freedom) (2) Press freedom violations after Taliban takeover of Afghanistan  

3-      Statement

i. state of media freedom in Afghanistan under Taliban rule

a. Follow-up to the previous review

In Afghanistan’s 2019 UPR, the then Afghan government accepted several recommendations on media and journalists’ rights calling for making further efforts to ensure freedom of expression, and a safe and secure environment for the work of journalists, taking steps to protect against obstruction of journalists' work and to establish a favourable and secure working environment for them. Additionally, taking concrete measures to improve conditions for journalists and adopting specific measures that enable them to work freely, without fear of reprisal or attack.¹

₁/HRC/32/2019/ Recommendation 136.127 (Republic of Korea) 136.126 (Norway); 136.125 (Lithuania); 136.124 (Italy); 136.123 (Iceland); 136.122 (France); 136.121 (Estonia); 136.120 (Chile);136.95 (Canada)

     b. New developments since the previous review

However, the former elected government of Afghanistan, which was weakened by the Taliban insurgency as well as violence, corruption, and flawed elections, did still uphold a wide range of individual rights, including supporting journalists and promoting a free and vibrant media before its collapse in August 2021. Nevertheless, the Taliban, while acknowledging the media laws and access to information of the previous government, have issued at least 15 directives that contradict the former media laws and propose amendments to the Media Law and Access to Information. These directives, though not following standard legal procedures, serve as the basis for the media and journalism policies of the Taliban government. The mass media law ensures freedom of thought and speech while overseeing mass media activities in Afghanistan and the access to information law guarantees the right of all Afghan citizens to obtain information from state departments.

The directives include the prohibition of women working in national radio and television, restrictions on media coverage of demonstrations and civil protests, restrictions on information, news access, and content production. It also mandates journalists and media to refer to the Taliban as Afghanistan's government, prohibits music publications in the media, bans women from appearing in TV dramas and prohibits film and serial publication. There is also media gender segregation and a ban on interviews between genders. Furthermore, the directives prohibit interviews with Taliban opponents and critics, forbid the broadcasting of international television programs in Afghanistan, require commercial announcements to align with political, security, and social content, and prohibit media from criticizing the performance of Taliban officials. Initially, there was a prohibition on photography and video interviews in Helmand province, but it was later canceled after a month. Additionally, there is a ban on women's voices in media in Helmand province. The directives also prohibit collaboration with "Prohibited Media" and media outlets from using "foreign terms".

    c. Recommendations:

We urge that media freedom and journalists' rights in Afghanistan be made prominent issues in the upcoming UPR. We call for the cancellation of the Taliban media directives and make the following recommendations:

1. End the ban on women working in state-owned radio and television.

2. End the prohibition on media coverage of demonstrations and civil protests.

3. End the restrictions on information, news access, and content production.

4. End the mandatory use of the term "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan" instead of Taliban, as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.

5. End the prohibition of music publications in the media.

6. End the ban on women appearing in television dramas and the prohibition of publishing films and serials.

7. End the gender segregation in media, the prohibition of interviews between men and women, and the obligation for women to cover their faces.

8. End the prohibition of interviews with Taliban opponents and critics.

9. End the prohibition of broadcasting international television programs in Afghanistan.

10. End the prohibition of coordination with the Taliban government on commercial announcements

11. End the prohibition of criticizing the performance of Taliban officials by the media.

12. End the ban on the publication of women in media (in Helmand province).

13. End the prohibition of collaboration between Afghan journalists and exiled media.

14. End the restriction on media on how to use of the national and official languages.

 ii. Press freedom violations                                                                               

       a. Follow-up to the previous review

During the Afghanistan previous UPR in 2019, the then Afghan government accepted several recommendations aimed at safeguarding journalists, ensuring their safety while working, and thoroughly investigating any attacks made against them. These measures are devised to put an end to the prevailing culture of impunity and hold accountable those who instigate violence or intimidation towards journalists, even if they happen to be government officials.²

₂/HRC/32/2019/ Recommendation 136.127 (Republic of Korea) 136.125 (Lithuania); 136.124 (Italy); 136.123 (Iceland); 136.122 (France); 136.121 (Estonia); 136.102 (Albania); 136.101 (Greece); 136.95 (Canada); 136.94 (Argentina); 136.93 (United States)

The previous Afghan government established the Joint Committee for the Safety and Security of Journalists (JCSSJ) to tackle instances of violence against journalists. Established in 2016, this committee included representatives from security and legal institutions, senior government officials, as well as journalists and press freedom groups. Its primary objective was to ensure a secure environment for media workers. Regrettably, the committee was unable to fulfill its mandate due to several factors, such as the government's limited access to the Taliban and ISIS group, which were deemed as the main culprits behind attacks on journalists. Additionally, the judicial system's weaknesses and corruption, as well as inadequate law enforcement, further hindered the committee's implementation efforts.

     b. New developments since the previous review

Since the collapse of the former republican government and the Taliban's return to power on August 15, 2021, journalists and media personnel in Afghanistan have faced numerous obstacles and witnessed violations of their basic rights and legal protections. More than half of the 600 media outlets, including radio, television, print, and online platforms, have been forced to close down due to severe restrictions and economic difficulties. As a result, a significant number of media personnel, particularly women, have lost their jobs, and hundreds of journalists have been compelled to seek refuge in Europe, the US, or Canada. Many others remain in neighbouring countries, notably Pakistan and Iran, facing a state of uncertainty as they persistently strive for relocation to a third country.

According to the Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC), several media outlets are facing imminent collapse due to a range of factors, including dwindling funding, a shortage of trained media professionals, the absence of rights and business advertisements, and escalating restrictions on the media by the Taliban government, in particular the ministry of Vice and Virtue and General Directorate of Intelligence(GDI). Notably, the AFJC has documented a staggering 366 instances of media freedom violations in Afghanistan within a two-year period spanning the Taliban's rule from August 15, 2021, to August 15, 2023.

These incidents include the tragic loss of three media personnel, injuries sustained by 23 journalists, and the unjust detention of 176 individuals, often accompanied by physical violence, verbal abuse, and even torture. Shockingly, some of these detentions have persisted for months. Additionally, the report sheds light on at least 139 instances of threats and 25 cases of physical harassment and assaults against journalists.

According to the Afghanistan press freedom tracker run by the AFJC, responsibility for the imprisonment of journalists and media personnel, along with the ongoing deterioration in media freedom and freedom of expression, mainly rests with the Taliban General Directorate of Security (GDI). The GDI, which is the successor of the previous government's National Directorate of Intelligence (NDS), actively seeks to capture, intimidate, and coerce media professionals, hindering their capacity to report and express their views without constraints, both directly and indirectly.

      c. “Positive developments”

According to AFJC’s findings, at least 125 journalists and media workers lost their lives in Afghanistan during the two-decade tenure of the republic government. The primary causes of these casualties include targeted attacks attributed to ISIS and the Taliban, as well as incidents occurring during the former government, and US and NATO allies war against Taliban. However, targeted attacks on journalists have decreased drastically since the Taliban regained power on August 15, 2021, leading to a significant decrease in the overall death toll. Conversely, during the Taliban's rule spanning over two and a half years, there have been three reported deaths among journalists and media workers, with only one being a result of a targeted attack.

       d. Recommendations

The Taliban Ministry of Information and Culture has announced proposed amendments to the Afghanistan Media Law and the Law on Access to Information of the Republic Government. These amendments are expected to be approved by the Taliban leader in Kandahar in the near future. However, while the Taliban government states that the previous laws remain applicable until the ratification of the new ones, we strongly urge  to prioritize the implementation of these laws in order to foster an environment of free media activity. Therefore, we recommend that the following steps be taken:

a. Taliban government:

1. Respect and uphold press freedom as a fundamental human right, and ensure the safety and protection of journalists and media workers in accordance with the provisions of the media law.

2. Cease arbitrary detention of journalists and media personnel and immediately release any individuals currently held in custody.

4. Address the media violations through the Media Complaints and Rights Violations Commission, in accordance with the provisions of the media law.

5. Address cases of violence against journalists in a timely manner, and establish a special, single authority, in accordance with the legal requirements, so that journalists and media organizations have a contact point in the Taliban government to track and pursue these cases.

b. International community:

1. Enhance support for the resilient and dynamic Afghan media community, focusing on bolstering the independence and diversity of media outlets both domestically and in exile.

2. Enhance support for Afghan journalists who face immediate threats, including provisions for emergency visas, relocation assistance, and financial aid.

3. Enhance support for independent journalism and content that serves the public interest in Afghanistan, while concurrently providing essential humanitarian and development assistance.

4. Prioritize the protection of fundamental rights and the empowerment of Afghan women journalists, ensuring their active participation in the media landscape. 

06.02.2024. AZERBAIJAN. PEC is very concerned by the wave of repression against journalists, human rights defenders and opposition activists on the occasion of Azerbaijan's snap presidential election and condemns the Azerbaijani authorities for expelling from Azerbaijan a short-term observer of the OSCE/ODIHR mission, Swiss parliamentarian Nik Gugger (with AZEX).

Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) joined the Azerbaijani Exiled Civic Coalition (AZEX), represented by the Institute for Human Rights (IHR) and the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS), in condemning the Azerbaijani authorities for unleashing a new wave of repression against journalists, human rights defenders and opposition activists ahead of Azerbaijan's snap presidential election and call on the head of state, Ilham Aliyev, to immediately release all of his critics, as well as to ensure all fundamental freedoms in the country.

PEC, IHR and IRFS are particularly concerned about the brutality of the Azerbaijani authorities' pre-election crackdown on freedom of expression, which has resulted in the imprisonment of journalists Ulvi Hasanli, Mahammad Kekalov, Sevinj Vagifgizi, Nargiz Absalamova, Hafiz Babaly, Elnara Gasimova, Teymur Kerimov, Shamo Eminov, Aziz Orujev, Arshad Ibrahimova, Ibrahim Humbatov, Gabil Veliyev and Shahin Rzayev.

PEC and AZEX Coalition call on the Azerbaijani authorities to release all political prisoners and guarantee the respect of all fundamental rights in the country.

"Despite the fact that almost all recently detained journalists are accused of absurd charges of receiving illegal funding from abroad, the real reason for their prosecution is the implementation of high-profile journalistic anti-corruption investigations and daily publications revealing systematic and massive violations of socio-economic and political rights of Azerbaijani citizens", said AZEX co-chairman Emin Huseynov. The dynamics of intensified repression, which has lasted for more than a year and was marked by the arrests of such prominent critics of the authorities as journalist Avaz Zeynalli, human rights activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, eco-activist Nazim Beydemirli, and economist Gubad Ibadoglu, as well as the toughening of legislation regulating the work of the media and political parties, indicates that the Azerbaijani authorities intend to completely destroy independent civil society institutions inside the country in the next two years. "In order to systematically and objectively respond to the suppression of civil, political, and socio-economic rights in Azerbaijan, we have established a new civic initiative and will call on all international structures to which Azerbaijan is a member to respond promptly to egregious human rights violations in the country," Huseynov concluded.

The IHR and IRFS are shocked by the ongoing politically motivated persecution of representatives of civil society in Azerbaijan, in the run-up to the elections. As a result: the famous trade union activist Elvin Mustafayev was sentenced to 3 years in prison; blogger Rashad Ramazanov was sentenced to 5 years and 4 months in prison; social activist and blogger Arzu Sayadoglu was kidnapped by the State Security Service and brought as a defendant in a criminal case.

The intimidation organized by the authorities through controlled media is of particular concern as non-governmental civil organizations specializing in monitoring elections are presented as illegal entities whose activities are directed against the state interests of Azerbaijan. Thus, a campaign of harassment has been launched against Anar Mammedli, winner of the Vaclav Havel Prize awarded to him by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, in which he is accused of receiving illegal funding in the run-up to the elections with the aim of deliberately discrediting the presidential elections.

PEC also joined the Azerbaijani Exiled Civic Coalition (AZEX) in condemning the Azerbaijani authorities for expelling from Azerbaijan a short-term observer of the OSCE/ODIHR mission, Swiss parliamentarian Nik Gugger, and considers this step to be integral part of a large-scale campaign of denigration and demonization of international organizations that demand that Azerbaijan comply with its obligations in the field of ensuring democracy and respecting human rights in the country.

Despite the fact that Nik Gugger had accreditation and was nominated by the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he was subjected to demonstrative deportation under the pretext of membership in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

“The above actions are the actual political arbitrariness of the Azerbaijani authorities, they challenge the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in response to the just suspension of the powers of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE, starting on January 24, 2024, for systematic violations of human rights and the country’s disregard towards its obligations to the Council of Europe,” said co-chairman of AZEX Emin Huseynov.

03.01.2024. PEC annual report - 2023 the deadliest year for journalists since 2012

(French and Spanish after English)

Geneva, 3 January 2024 (PEC) With 140 journalists killed, 2023 was the deadliest year in ten years, the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) announced in Geneva on Wednesday. Two-thirds of the victims were in the Middle East, with almost one killed every day in the last three months of the year in Gaza.

Of the 140 media workers killed in 28 countries, at least 81 have been killed in the Gaza Strip since 7 October (106 according to Gaza Media Office, the differences in the figures are due to differences in the qualification of the journalist profession). All were Palestinian, most of them working for several media, including foreign media. They were killed in indiscriminate Israeli strikes, often in their homes, along with members of their families.

Systematic destruction

"We condemn these indiscriminate strikes, which do not distinguish between civilians and Hamas fighters. While it is difficult to verify whether journalists were intentionally targeted or not, the Israeli army has systematically destroyed the Palestinian media in Gaza by bombing their offices and facilities", said PEC President Blaise Lempen.

This is the highest media death toll in a conflict in such a short space of time. The PEC regrets that foreign media access to Gaza remains impracticable due to the security conditions, which prevents independent reporting from the parties to the conflict.

Mexico, Guatemala, Ukraine

Outside the Gaza Strip, 59 journalists have been killed in 27 countries. The situation did not improve in Mexico, where 9 journalists have been killed, and deteriorated in Guatemala, where 5 were killed. Four journalists died in the war in Ukraine (1 Italian, 1 French, 2 Russians), as did 4 in Israel during the Hamas attack on 7 October.

Three victims were recorded in Cameroon, India, Lebanon and Pakistan. Two victims were reported in the following countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Haiti, Nigeria, the Philippines and the United States of America.

Lastly, the PEC recorded one journalist killed in the following countries: Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Egypt, Honduras, Lesotho, Mali, Mozambique, Paraguay, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan and Syria.

By region, the Middle East led the way with 64% of cases, or 90 deaths, followed by Latin America with 20, Asia with 12, Africa with 11, Europe with 4 and North America with 3.

The PEC strongly condemns all these attacks and sends its condolences to the victims' families and loved ones. The Geneva-based NGO calls for those responsible for these crimes to be brought to justice as quickly as possible. In particular, the UN must investigate the exact circumstances in which Palestinian journalists have been killed since 7 October.

More than 20% increase

Compared with 2022 (116 killed), a year marked by the start of the war in Ukraine, the increase in the number of victims is just over 20%. In 2012, the deadliest year since the beginning of the century, 141 journalists were killed (including 35 in the war in Syria).

Over the last five years (2019 to 2023), the most dangerous countries for media workers were the Gaza Strip (Palestine) with 81 killed, followed by Mexico with 61 and Ukraine with 39. Next came Pakistan with 32 deaths, India 31, Afghanistan 29, the Philippines 19, Honduras 14 and Syria 14, followed by Haiti 12 and Somalia 10.

Over the last ten years (2014 to 2023), 1,147 media workers have been killed, an average of 2.2 per week.

The PEC includes in its statistics all journalists killed, whether or not their death was related to their professional activity. It is difficult to prove that a crime was committed in connection with a journalist's work without a full and independent investigation, which is often lacking.

List of victims, graphs on : https://pressemblem.ch/casualties.shtml

PEC rapport annuel - 2023 année la plus meurtrière pour les journalistes depuis 2012

Genève, 3 janvier 2024 (PEC) Avec 140 journalistes tués, l’année 2023 a été la plus meurtrière de ces dix dernières années, a annoncé mercredi à Genève la Presse Emblème Campagne (PEC). Les deux tiers des victimes ont été recensées au Moyen-Orient, avec près d’un tué par jour au cours des trois derniers mois de l’année à Gaza.

Sur les 140 travailleurs des médias tués dans 28 pays, au moins 81 l’ont été à Gaza depuis le 7 octobre dernier (106 selon le bureau des médias à Gaza, les différences dans les chiffres sont dues à des différences dans la qualification de la profession de journaliste). Il s’agit exclusivement de Palestiniens, la plupart travaillant pour plusieurs médias dont des médias étrangers. Ils ont été tués lors de frappes israéliennes indiscriminées, souvent à leur domicile, avec des membres de leur famille.

Destruction systématique

«Nous condamnons ces frappes indiscriminées qui ne font pas la différence entre civils et combattants du Hamas. S’il est difficile de vérifier si les journalistes ont été intentionnellement ciblés ou non, l’armée israélienne a procédé à la destruction systématique des médias palestiniens à Gaza en bombardant leurs bureaux et leurs installations», a déclaré le président de la PEC Blaise Lempen.

Il s’agit du bilan le plus élevé dans les rangs des médias lors d’un conflit en un si court laps de temps. La PEC regrette que l’accès des médias étrangers à Gaza reste impraticable en raison des conditions de sécurité, ce qui empêche une information indépendante des parties au conflit.

Mexque, Guatemala, Ukraine

En dehors de la bande de Gaza, 59 journalistes ont été tués dans 27 pays. La situation ne s’est pas améliorée au Mexique avec 9 tués, elle s’est détériorée au Guatemala avec 5 tués. Quatre journalistes sont morts dans la guerre en Ukraine (1 Italien, 1 Français, 2 Russes), ainsi que 4 en Israël lors de l’attaque du Hamas le 7 octobre.

Trois victimes ont été recensées au Cameroun, en Inde, au Liban, et au Pakistan. Deux victimes sont à déplorer dans les pays suivants : Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Haïti, Nigeria, Philippines, États-Unis d’Amérique.

Enfin, la PEC a dénombré un journaliste tué dans les pays suivants : Argentine, Canada, Colombie, Égypte, Honduras, Lesotho, Mali, Mozambique, Paraguay, Rwanda, Somalie, Soudan et Syrie.

Par région, le Moyen-orient arrive en tête avec 64 % des cas, soit 90 tués, devant l’Amérique latine 20 tués, l’Asie 12, l’Afrique 11, l’Europe 4 et l’Amérique du Nord 3.

La PEC condamne fermement toutes ces attaques et adresse ses condoléances aux familles et proches des victimes. L’ONG basée à Genève demande que les responsables de ces crimes soient poursuivis en justice le plus rapidement possible. En particulier, l’ONU doit enquêter sur les circonstances exactes dans lesquels les journalistes palestiniens ont trouvé la mort depuis le 7 octobre.

Hausse de plus de 20 %

Par rapport à 2022 (116 tués), année marquée par le début de la guerre en Ukraine, la hausse du nombre de victimes est d’un peu plus de 20 %. Lors de l’année 2012, la plus meurtrière depuis le début du siècle, 141 journalistes avaient été tués (dont 35 dans la guerre en Syrie).

Sur les cinq dernières années (2019 à 2023), les pays les plus dangereux pour les travailleurs des médias ont été la bande de Gaza (Palestine) avec 81 tués, devant le Mexique 61 tués et l’Ukraine 39 tués. Suivent le Pakistan avec 32 tués, l’Inde 31, l’Afghanistan 29, les Philippines 19, le Honduras 14 et la Syrie 14 également, puis Haïti 12 et la Somalie 10 tués.

Au cours des dix dernières années (2014 à 2023), 1147 travailleurs des médias ont été tués, soit2,2 par semaine en moyenne.

La PEC considère dans sa statistique tous les journalistes tués, que leur décès soit lié ou non à leur activité professionnelle. Il est en effet difficile de prouver qu’un crime est commis en relation avec le travail d’un journaliste sans une enquête indépendante et complète qui fait souvent défaut.

Liste des victimes, graphiques sur : https://pressemblem.ch/casualties.shtml

Informe Anual de la PEC 2023 - 2023 ha sido el año más mortífero para los periodistas desde 2012

Ginebra, 3 de enero de 2024 (PEC).- Con 140 periodistas asesinados, el año 2023 fue el más mortífero de los últimos diez años, anunció el miércoles en Ginebra la Campaña Emblema de Prensa (PEC, por sus siglas en inglés). Dos tercios de las víctimas se registraron en Medio Oriente, con casi un muerto por día en los últimos tres meses del año en Gaza.

De los 140 trabajadores de los medios asesinados en 28 países, al menos 81 han sido asesinados en Gaza desde el 7 de octubre (106 según la Oficina de Medios de Gaza, las diferencias en las cifras se deben a diferencias en la calificación de la profesión periodística). Se trata de palestinos, la mayoría de los cuales trabajan para varios medios de comunicación, incluidos medios extranjeros. Murieron en ataques israelíes indiscriminados, a menudo en sus hogares, junto con sus familiares.

Destrucción sistemática

“Condenamos estos ataques indiscriminados que no diferencian entre civiles y combatientes de Hamás. Si bien es difícil verificar si los periodistas fueron atacados intencionalmente o no, el ejército israelí llevó a cabo la destrucción sistemática de los medios palestinos en Gaza bombardeando sus oficinas e instalaciones”, afirmó el presidente de la PEC, Blaise Lempen.

Se trata del mayor número de víctimas entre los medios de comunicación durante un conflicto en tan poco tiempo. La PEC también lamenta que el acceso de los medios extranjeros en Gaza siga siendo intransitable debido a las condiciones de seguridad, lo que impide una información independiente de las partes en conflicto.

México, Guatemala, Ucrania

Fuera de la franja de Gaza, 59 periodistas fueron asesinados en 27 países.

La situación no mejoró en México con 9 muertos, empeoró en Guatemala con 5 muertos. Cuatro periodistas murieron en la guerra de Ucrania (1 italiano, 1 francés, 2 rusos), así como 4 en Israel durante el ataque de Hamás el 7 de octubre.

Se registraron tres víctimas en Camerún, India, Líbano y Pakistán.

De la misma manera, hay que lamentar dos víctimas en los siguientes países: Afganistán, Bangladesh, Haití, Nigeria, Filipinas y Estados Unidos de América.

Finalmente, la PEC contabilizó un periodista asesinado en los siguientes países: Argentina, Canadá, Colombia, Egipto, Honduras, Lesoto, Mali, Mozambique, Paraguay, Ruanda, Somalia, Sudán y Siria.

Por regiones, Oriente Medio ocupa el primer lugar con el 64% de los casos, o 90 muertes, por delante de América Latina con 20 muertes; Asia 12; África, 11; Europa, 4; y América del Norte, 3.

La PEC condena enérgicamente todos estos ataques y envía sus condolencias a las familias y seres queridos de las víctimas. La ONG con sede en Ginebra pide que los responsables de estos crímenes comparezcan ante la justicia lo antes posible. En particular, la ONU debe investigar las circunstancias exactas en las que han muerto periodistas palestinos desde el 7 de octubre.

Un aumento de más del 20%

En comparación con 2022 (116 muertos), año marcado por el inicio de la guerra en Ucrania, el aumento del número de víctimas es de poco más del 20%. En 2012, el año más mortífero desde principios de siglo, 141 periodistas fueron asesinados (incluidos 35 en la guerra en Siria)

En los últimos cinco años (2019 a 2023), los países más peligrosos para los trabajadores de los medios de comunicación han sido la Franja de Gaza (Palestina) con 81 muertos, por delante de México con 61 muertos; y Ucrania con 39 muertos.

Le sigue Pakistán con 32 muertos, India 31, Afganistán 29, Filipinas 19, Honduras 14 y Siria también 14, luego Haití 12 y Somalia 10 muertos.

En los últimos diez años (de 2014 a 2023), 1.147 trabajadores de los medios han sido asesinados, o 2,2 por semana en promedio.

La PEC considera en sus estadísticas a todos los periodistas asesinados, esté o no relacionada su muerte con su actividad profesional. De hecho, es difícil demostrar que se ha cometido un delito en relación con el trabajo de un periodista sin una investigación independiente y completa, que a menudo falta.

Consúltese la lista de víctimas y gráficos en: https://pressemblem.ch/casualties.shtml

07.12.2023. ISRAEL-GAZA. Record number of journalists killed in 2 months of war in Gaza

(en français après l'anglais)

Geneva, 7 December 2023 (PEC) The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) is appalled by the large number of journalists killed in two months of war in Gaza. Since the Hamas attack on 7 October, at least 65 media workers have died as a result of the hostilities, more than one casualty a day: 58 Palestinian journalists in Gaza, 4 Israelis on 7 October and 3 in Lebanon.

"Since the creation of the PEC nearly 20 years ago, never before have so many journalists died in a conflict in such a short time", said Blaise Lempen, President of the Geneva-based NGO.

"We salute the courage of the Palestinian journalists who remain on the ground in Gaza to continue reporting despite the high risks involved", he added.

Warning measures were insufficient. Many of them have been killed with their families. The PEC recalls that under humanitarian law all civilians are protected from direct attack and the effects of conflict, as long as they are not taking a direct part in hostilities.

The PEC urges:

- the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to investigate in order to shed full light on the circumstances of these murders and to identify those responsible

- Israeli commanders responsible for the conduct of hostilities on the ground to distinguish between civilians and combatants and to respect the press emblem worn by journalists

- media companies to exercise the utmost caution so as not to endanger their employees

- the international community to launch work on an international convention to strengthen the protection of the media in wartime

- the Israeli government to propose a credible diplomatic solution to end the conflict.

Since the beginning of the year, at least 110 journalists have been killed in the world, according to the PEC figures.

Communiqué PEC -  Nombre record de journalistes tués en 2 mois de guerre à Gaza

Genève, 7 décembre 2023 (PEC) La Presse Emblème Campagne (PEC) est consternée par le grande nombre de journalistes tués en deux mois de guerre à Gaza. Depuis l’attaque du Hamas le 7 octobre, au moins 65 travailleurs des médias sont morts à cause des hostilités, soit plus d’une victime par jour : 58 journalistes palestiniens à Gaza, 4 Israéliens le 7 octobre, 3 au Liban.

«Depuis la création de la PEC il y a près de 20 ans, jamais autant de journalistes ne sont morts dans un conflit en un si court laps de temps», a affirmé le président de l’ONG basée à Genève Blaise Lempen.

«Nous saluons le courage des journalistes palestiniens qui restent sur le terrain à Gaza pour continuer à informer malgré les risques élevés encourus», a-t-il ajouté.

Les mesures d'avertissement ont été insuffisantes. Beaucoup d’entre eux ont été tués avec leur famille. La PEC rappelle que selon le droit humanitaire tous les civils sont protégés contre les attaques directes et les effets du conflit, tant qu'ils ne participent pas directement aux hostilités .

La PEC demande instamment :

- au Haut Commissariat aux droits de l’homme de l’ONU d’enquêter afin de faire toute la lumière sur les circonstances de ces meurtres et d’en identifier les responsables

- aux commandants israéliens responsables de la conduite des hostilités sur le terrain de distinguer entre civils et combattants et de respecter l’emblème de la presse porté par les journalistes

- aux entreprises de médias de faire preuve de la plus grande prudence afin de ne pas mettre en danger leurs collaborateurs

- à la communauté internationale de lancer les travaux d’une convention internationale chargée de renforcer la protection des médias en temps de guerre

- au gouvernement israélien de proposer une solution diplomatique crédible pour mettre un terme au conflit.

Depuis le début de l’année, au moins 110 journalistes ont été tués dans le mode, selon le décompte de la PEC.

14.10.2023. ISRAEL/GAZA/LEBANON.  Dramatic increase of journalists killed and injured in one week

Geneva, October 14, 2023 (PEC) - Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) is shocked and deeply saddened by the dramatic increase of journalists killed and injured in one week. Since the start of the fighting between Hamas and Israel on October 7^th, at least 7 journalists were killed and ten injured. The killings underscore the need for immediate action to protect journalists working in conflict zones.

On Friday October 13^th, an Israeli shell landed in a gathering of international journalists covering clashes on the border, killing Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah and injuring six other journalists. Reuters said that two of its journalists, Thaer Al-Sudani and Maher Nazeh, were wounded in the shelling of the border area. According to Al-Jazeera TV, two of its employees, Elie Brakhya and reporter Carmen Joukhadar, also were among the wounded and Agence France-Presse said two of its journalists were injured. The shelling occurred during an exchange of fire along the Lebanon-Israel border between Israeli troops and members of Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah group.

PEC calls for a transparent, rapid, complete and impartial investigation so that those responsible are identified and held accountable.

At least six other journalists were killed in Gaza, according to Palestinian media. PEC condemns the killings during military operations between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip and calls for an impartial investigation into their deaths. Other journalists are missing or injured. Israeli retaliatory airstrikes also completely or partially destroyed the headquarters of several media outlets, in violation of international law.

Journalist Saeed al-Taweel, editor-in-chief of Al-Khamsa News website, and two other members of the press were killed on Tuesday as they went to film a building that Israel would soon bomb in Gaza City. “Unfortunately, they have sent a warning notice to the Hiji building just now that it will be bombed,” al-Taweel said in his last words, shortly before being killed, according to a recording obtained by Al Jazeera. “The area has been evacuated entirely. Women, men, the elderly, kids have all completely fled the area.” Al-Taweel, Mohammed Subh and Hisham Alnwajha had been standing at a safe distance, hundreds of metres from the stated target. But the air attack instead hit a different building, much closer to them. The crew was wearing flak jackets and helmets clearly identifying themselves as members of the press.

PEC reminds all belligerents that journalists are civilians protected by the international law and calls on all combatants in this conflict to do their utmost to safeguard media professionals.

PEC is also saddened by the death of one journalist this week in Sudan, Halima Idris Salim, from Sudan Bukra, killed in Omdurman by the army on October 10^th. This brings the number of journalists killed in one week to eight.

28.09.2023. AFGHANISTAN. The Taliban's 13 Directives: Implications for Media Freedom (AFJC)​

The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) announced today, on the occasion of the International Day of Access to Information, that the Taliban has issued a series of at least 13 directives over the past two years, which have resulted in severe restrictions on media work and an unprecedented setback in access to information in Afghanistan.

In recognition of the importance of universal access to information, UNESCO passed a resolution on November 17, 2015, designating September 28 as the International Day of Universal Access to Information. This designation highlights the two crucial aspects of universal access to information, both of which should be carefully considered. Firstly, the right to access information must be clearly established by laws, as without proper legal provisions, access will inevitably be limited. Secondly, it is crucial to ensure practical access to information for people, particularly in today's world where new information and communication technologies have significantly enhanced accessibility.

While Afghanistan has acknowledged the right to access information through the passage of the country's information access law in 2019 during the Republican regime, there is a concerning disregard for this law. Since the downfall of the republic in August 2021, the Taliban has issued at least 13 directives which contradicted former media laws, and further advanced proposed amendments to the laws governing Media Law and Access to Information. While these directives were not issued through the standard legal procedures, they undeniably form the basis of the Taliban government's policy towards the media and journalists.

These directives cover a wide array of matters concerning the media, including, but not limited to, the prohibition of women's employment in national radio and television, the banning of news coverage related to demonstrations and civil protests, the imposition of constraints on news preparation, publication, reporting, and content production, the requirement for the Taliban to be referred to as the government of Afghanistan, the prohibition of music publications, the compulsory veiling of female reporters, the ban on the presence of women in theatrical plays and media entertainment programs, the segregation of women and men in the media, prohibiting women from interviewing men and vice versa.

Furthermore, the media faces restrictions in conducting interviews with opponents and critics of the Taliban, banning the broadcasting of international television programs in Afghanistan, prohibiting the airing of commercial announcements with political, security, and social content without coordination from the responsible authorities, prohibiting criticism of Taliban officials, banning the filming and video interviews and, the publication of women's voices in the media(in Helmand province), and banning collaboration with "Exiled Media".

 The implementation of these extensive and often ambiguous guidelines has had profound implications for both the quantity and quality of media work and content production. The severe restrictions on access to information and the increase in self-censorship have been significant consequences of these directives. Moreover, officials of the Taliban rarely grant interviews to the media, and official spokespersons are often inaccessible to reporters or simply refuse to address substantial and probing questions. While these directives prohibit certain actions by journalists and the media, they do not outline the consequences of non-compliance. However, the Afghanistan Journalists Center’s investigation and analysis reveal that journalists who have disregarded these orders have faced threats or imprisonment, and media organizations have been subject to punitive measures, including temporary or permanent bans.

The findings of AFJC regarding these directives and the seriousness with which the Taliban has implemented them suggest that the proposed amendments to media laws are likely to go beyond the "minor changes" previously announced.

Monsieur le Secrétaire d’Etat,

Depuis quatre ans, un photojournaliste suisse indépendant, établi depuis plus de quarante ans à Hong Kong, Marc Progin (78 ans), subit les foudres des autorités judiciaires de la région administrative spéciale. Il est victime de la terrible aggravation des conditions qui y sont appliquées aux journalistes et aux professionnels des médias, lesquelles visent à restreindre drastiquement la liberté d’opinion et de la presse, sous couvert d’atteintes à la sécurité de l’Etat.

Marc Progin se trouve actuellement dans une situation kafkaïenne : poursuivi pour avoir couvert une manifestation en tant que photographe à Hong Kong en 2019, il a été jugé et acquitté à deux reprises en 2020 et en 2022. En dépit de cette double décision le disculpant de tout acte répréhensible, il s’est récemment vu refuser l’indemnisation de ses frais de justice, lesquels se montent à 500'000.- HK$ (56'500.- CHF). Marc Progin dispose d’un délai de 28 jours pour faire opposition à cette nouvelle décision prise à son encontre ; cela lui coûterait 1 million de HK$ supplémentaires (113'000.- CHF), avec le risque de tout perdre si son recours est rejeté.

Les organisations de journalistes suivantes, à savoir la section suisse de l’Union de la presse francophone, Reporters sans frontières – Suisse et la PressEmblemCampaign (PEC), représentées par leurs dirigeants respectifs, appellent le Département fédéral des affaires étrangères à intervenir en faveur du citoyen suisse Marc Progin auprès des autorités compétentes à Hong Kong, à entreprendre tout ce qui est en son pouvoir pour que justice lui soit rendue en vertu du double acquittement dont il a bénéficié, ou à tout le moins à lui accorder la protection diplomatique et juridique qui lui est due.

 Vous trouvez sous les liens suivants des informations complémentaires sur la situation de Marc Progin :

• RSF-Suisse : https://rsf-ch.ch/le-calvaire-judiciaire-du-photojournaliste-suisse-marc-progin-a-hong-kong-se-poursuit/
• Hong Kong Free Press : https://hongkongfp.com/2023/08/25/press-freedom-ngo-denounces-hk500k-legal-bill-for-journalist-cleared-of-disorder-charge/

 En vous remerciant par avance d’intercéder en faveur du photojournaliste suisse, nous vous prison de croire, Monsieur le Conseiller fédéral, Monsieur le Secrétaire d’Etat, à l’expression de nos sentiments les meilleurs.

***********

S.E.M. WANG Shihting,

Monsieur l’Ambassadeur,

Depuis quatre ans, un photojournaliste suisse indépendant, établi depuis plus de quarante ans à Hong Kong, Monsieur Marc Progin (78 ans), subit les foudres des autorités judiciaires de la région administrative spéciale, pour ne pas parler d’acharnement à son égard. Il est victime de l’aggravation des conditions qui y sont appliquées aux journalistes et aux professionnels des médias, lesquelles visent à restreindre drastiquement la liberté d’opinion et de la presse, sous couvert d’atteintes à la sécurité de l’Etat.

 Monsieur Marc Progin se trouve actuellement dans une situation kafkaïenne, intolérable pour lui : poursuivi pour avoir couvert une manifestation en tant que photographe à Hong Kong en 2019, il a été jugé et acquitté à deux reprises en 2020 et en 2022. En dépit de cette double décision le disculpant de tout acte répréhensible, il s’est récemment vu refuser l’indemnisation de ses frais de justice, lesquels se montent à 500'000.- HK$ (56'500.- CHF). Monsieur Marc Progin dispose d’un délai de 28 jours pour faire opposition à cette nouvelle décision prise à son encontre ; cela lui coûterait 1 million de HK$ supplémentaires (113'000.- CHF), avec le risque de tout perdre si son recours est rejeté.

 Les organisations de journalistes suivantes, à savoir la section suisse de l’Union de la presse francophone, Reporters sans frontières – Suisse et la PressEmblemCampaign (PEC), représentées par leurs présidents respectifs, en appellent à votre haute autorité pour intervenir en faveur du citoyen suisse Marc Progin auprès des autorités compétentes à Hong Kong, à entreprendre tout ce qui est en votre pouvoir pour que justice lui soit rendue en vertu du double acquittement dont il a bénéficié.

En vous remerciant par avance d’intercéder en faveur du photojournaliste suisse, sur la base des décisions de justice qui l’ont innocenté de tout acte répréhensible au regard de la loi hongkongaise, nous vous prions de croire, Monsieur l’Ambassadeur, à l’expression de nos sentiments respectueux.

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03.07.2023. Russia bans independent outlet Novaya Gazeta Europe, adds to undesirable list. 

Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) is outraged by the decision of Russian authorities and asks them to reverse this unacceptable measure targeting a newspaper that received the PEC Award last year. PEC condemns this measure which marks a new stage in the persecution of independent journalists also targeting editorial offices located abroad. On Wednesday, June 28, the Russian general prosecutor’s office declared the activity of the outlet’s legal entity, BDR Novaja Gazeta-Europe, “undesirable” . Organizations that receive the undesirable classification are banned from operating in Russia, and anyone who participates in them or works to organize their activities faces up to six years in prison and administrative fines. The designation also makes it a crime to distribute the outlet’s content or donate to it from inside or outside Russia.

Ekaterina Glikman, deputy editor of Novaya Gazeta Europe, who received last year the PEC Award in Geneva, said to the PEC : «In fact, what the Russian authorities are saying is this: we don't want you to exist. But we exist despite their wishes, but because of our own desire to continue our journalistic work, to inform our readers about what is happening in the war, in Russia and in the world. It is for this simple journalistic work that the authorities persecute us. Now there will be more obstacles to our work, but of course we are not going to stop».

«Yes, the risks for journalists are increasing, but they are also increasing for our speakers and our readers. Not only are our readers now unable to read us without a VPN (our website has been blocked since the beginning) and donate to us, but it is now also dangerous for them to repost our articles on their social networks or quote our articles. The only thing you can still do safely while in Russia is to read us. There is no punishment for reading yet. So we keep working», said to the PEC Ekaterina Glikman, who lived in Switzerland.

PEC asks its readers to support the Swiss association Friends of Novaya Gazeta Europe: https://fonge.org

Statement of Novaya Gazeta Europe :

«Russian authorities are waging a war against Ukraine, their own people, and the whole world. Russian independent media outlets have been truthfully documenting and reporting about this war and the Kremlin’s dictatorship for many years. When the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, Russia adopted war-time censorship laws, which decimated hundreds of outlets in the country. Just like many of our colleagues, we made the difficult choice of leaving our country to have the right to speak. We believe that the Russian public deserves to know the truth about the war and its consequences for the country.

Having failed to completely stamp out every independent voice and outlet in the country or force us to stay silent, the Kremlin has now labelled us as criminals. On 28 June 2023, Russia designated Novaya Gazeta Europe as an “undesirable organisation”. A day earlier, the Russian authorities launched a missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk, killing 11 people, among them children, and injuring 61 more. The Russian authorities are persecuting journalists because they do not want ordinary Russians to know about this crime and many others.

The Prosecutor General’s Office claims that Novaya Gazeta Europe “disseminates tendentious information to Russia’s detriment”. We, in turn, believe that nothing causes more detriment to Russia than this criminal war along with those who unleashed and supports it, including the officials in the Prosecutor General’s Office.

“The main topics of the publications [by Novaya Gazeta Europe] include false information about alleged mass violations of rights and freedoms of citizens in Russia, accusations pressed against Russia of waging an aggressive war in Ukraine, committing war crimes against civilians, and repressions,” the agency continues. Novaya-Europe’s journalists are essentially branded criminals for telling it like it is.

And we will continue to do so.

The atrocities that the Russian authorities are committing in Ukraine are much more horrifying than any “legal status” that they slap on anyone who dares to speak out. Hundreds of fellow Russians are persecuted for standing up for what’s right and for speaking out against the war — we cannot betray them or stay silent about their ordeals.

Cooperation with “unfavourable organisations” can result in fines and even prison sentences for Russians. But this status is practically the last tool that the Kremlin can use against us. This measure is meant to threaten journalists, writers, and readers. Russian officials want us to be gone — along with any smidgeon of truth. But we cannot do them such a favour.

We plead with our audiences in Russia to be careful, remove any links to our articles from their social media accounts, and refrain from quoting us in the future.

But you can and should read what we have to say!

We are calling on our colleagues for solidarity and mutual support. It is clear that the Kremlin will continue to stamp out any dissent in the form of independent media outlets since they failed to achieve this after the Ukraine war began.

Novaya-Europe is not going anywhere».

Since 2021, Russian authorities have labeled dozens of organizations “undesirable,” including independent news website Meduza and investigative outlets iStories, The Insider, Bellingcat, and Proekt. Since Novaya Gazeta was founded in 1993, at least 5 of its journalists have been murdered in connection to their work.

22.03.2023. UNITED NATIONS. HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL - 52nd session - PEC statement item 4 general debate: PEC urges the Russian and Iranian authorities to allow media to report unimpeded by government interference.

General Assembly

Human Rights Council 52nd session

General Debate item 4

Mr President,

Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) is very worried by the deterioration of freedom of expression in Russia since the start of the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. About hundred new laws restricting press freedom have been passed in Russia. There is military censorship, almost all independent media have been banned, blocked, or declared “foreign agents”. And hundreds of journalists left the country.

PEC condemns the systematic campaign of repression and restriction of civic space that has taken place in Russia. The criminalisation of protest, the silencing of the free press, and the massive propagation of disinformation are all factors which enabled the Kremlin to perpetrate his war of aggression in Ukraine.

PEC is also deeply concerned by the worsening of press freedom in Iran. Many journalists have reportedly been detained to prevent them from exposing Iran’s human rights abuses. We call on Iran to release all arbitrarily detained individuals, including all journalists. We condemn the Iranian authorities’ actions to restrict the access to the Internet and disrupt social media platforms.

PEC urges the Russian and Iranian authorities to allow media to report unimpeded by government interference.

Thank you, Mr President

Geneva, 22 March 2023

08.03.2023. UNITED NATIONS. HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL - 52nd session - PEC statement item 2 general debate: PEC very worried by the further deterioration in Afghanistan and Myanmar, urges to release all journalists detained 

General Assembly

Human Rights Council 52nd session

General Debate item 2

Mr President,

Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) thanks the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett for his report (A/HRC/52/84) and the High Commissioner for his report on Myanmar (A/HRC/52/21).

These two countries are of deep concern for the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC). We are very worried by the further deterioration of the Afghan media landscape. The recent detention of Franco-Afghan journalist Mortaza Behboudi is one more example of an alarming escalation in the Taliban persecution of journalists. The media, including foreigners, are increasingly subject to surveillance, threats, violence, and arrests, and 60 per cent of Afghan journalists have lost their jobs since August 2021.

In Myanmar, over 140 media employees were arrested by the Myanmar junta since February 2021. No less than 45 journalists are still under the military custody with fake cases imposed on them. Several media outlets have closed their offices inside Myanmar after repeated threats by the militaries. Two journalists were killed in one year.

PEC fully supports the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur and the High Commissioner and asks Members of the Council to devote all the necessary attention to these two country situations to uphold the freedom of the press and the safety of journalists.

Thank you, Mr President

Geneva, 7 March 2023

20.02.2023. UKRAINE. A year after the Russian attack: the safety of journalists, the new media law and the decline of television influence

texte en français ci-dessous

by Andrii Ianitsky, PEC representative in Ukraine

Lviv (Ukraine)/Geneva, 20 February 2023 

1. Working as a journalist in Ukraine has become safer, but more difficult
   
   

43 media workers were killed by Russian occupiers in Ukraine in 2022 according to the Institute of Mass Information (IMI). At least 8 of them died while performing journalistic activities and 35 died as participants in hostilities or became victims of shelling, not while performing journalistic duties.

Despite these terrible figures, the security situation for journalists has improved markedly during the year. This was facilitated by such factors: the localization of hostilities in the south and east of Ukraine, the tightening of the military accreditation system, and the growth of the professionalism of journalists. Finally, humanitarian organizations provided personal protective equipment (body armor and helmets, first aid kits) for the media and train hundreds of journalists in first aid.

The journalistic community is divided into those who regularly cover the war, and those who have returned to the usual peaceful topics: economics, culture, and sports news.

However, the work of journalists on the frontline has become more difficult due to tighter military restrictions. We have noted several cases in which the military has withdrawn military accreditation from journalists under dubious pretexts. The most scandalous case was connected with the liberation of Kherson by Ukrainian troops from Russian invaders – a southern city on the right bank of the Dnipro River. The military revoked the accreditation of all journalists who arrived in Kherson before the official press tour. After a scandal in the professional environment, all journalists had their permissions restored.

2. Controversial media law passed

Ukraine’s new media law was one of seven conditions laid down by Brussels for fast-track EU-candidate status. The Parliament of Ukraine approved it at the end of 2022, despite the protests of journalistic organizations.

Ukrainian journalists and the international media community criticized the law. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) argued that the draft amounted to “forced regulation” by the authorities. Ukraine’s journalists’ union also agreed that the law would limit freedom of speech. 

The real impact of the new law is not yet clear, because it will come into force only in April. The law increases the government's regulatory power over TV, radio, and news websites. However, the law was significantly softened after almost 1,000 revisions before the final vote.

Journalists fear that the new law will be used not only to limit Russian propaganda, but also to limit critics of the Ukrainian government. Their fears are based on the fact that in 2022 three pro-Ukrainian TV channels were taken off the air, allegedly due to links with former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, an opponent of Volodymyr Zelensky. These TV channels continue to broadcast via satellite, the Internet, and cable networks, but their audience has declined markedly. Almost all other sociopolitical TV channels have been united by the Ukrainian authorities into a United News Channel, which is de facto controlled by the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine.

3. The interest of Ukrainians in television continues to fall

The interest of Ukrainians in television is steadily declining year by year. In the latest survey by the research company Gradus Research over 60% of Ukrainians get news on social networks and online media, while a little less than half of the country's residents watch the news on TV.

Another USAID-supported survey showed an even higher level of influence of social networks – over 70% of Ukrainians get news from there. It is worrying that of all social networks, Telegram, created by a Russian, occupies the primacy, and the most popular feeds on it are anonymous gossip, rumors and unverified news. 

The reasons for the decline in interest in linear television may be not only technical progress. As we wrote above, the authorities removed part of the TV channels from the air, and the other part was merged into United News. As a result, the choice for TV viewers has been reduced, and TV critics talk about the low quality of United News content. 

4. Problems with access to information, in particular to registries

The work of journalists is complicated by the lack of full access to government datasets that were open before the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022. For greater cybersecurity, the Ukrainian authorities have closed or restricted access to government registries, ranging from military procurement data to business enterprise registries. The access of journalists to meetings of local governments and central authorities is still limited. All this increases the risk of corruption.

5. Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine are turning into news deserts

The work of independent journalists in the territories occupied by Russia is impossible. The media receive information from anonymous informants via messengers or from people who managed to leave the occupation. At the same time, Russian propagandists (the so-called war correspondents) work in the occupied territories and report on the successes of the Russian army. Often these messages turn out to be fake.

Immediately after seizing new territories, the Russians begin to persecute independent journalists and seize the editorial offices of independent media. This was the case in Crimea, Donetsk, and Lugansk in 2014, and the same thing happened in 2022. For example, in Kherson, the Russians smashed the office of the public television Suspilne.Kherson. Now, after the liberation of Kherson by Ukrainian troops, the non-governmental organization Lviv Media Forum is collecting donations to restore the work of the local Kherson media. Thus, journalists from the very west of the country, near the border with the European Union, help their colleagues from the south, who find themselves in a difficult situation.*

Andrii Ianitsky is a journalist now based in Lviv and PEC Representative in Ukraine (a.ianitskyi@gmail.com) - His first report was published on 19 March 2022, the second on 28 March 2022, the third on 5 April 2022, fourth on 11 April, fifth on 22 April, sixth on 10 May, seventh on 27 June, eighth on 6 November 

20.02.2023. UKRAINE. Un an après l'attaque russe : la sécurité des journalistes, la nouvelle loi sur les médias et le déclin de l'influence de la télévision


par Andrii Ianitsky, représentant de la PEC en Ukraine


Lviv (Ukraine)/Genève, 20 février 2023.

1.Travailler comme journaliste en Ukraine est devenu plus sûr, mais plus difficile

Selon l'Institut de l'information de masse (IMI), 43 professionnels des médias ont été tués par les occupants russes en Ukraine en 2022. Au moins 8 d'entre eux sont morts dans l'exercice de leurs activités journalistiques (selon le Comité pour la protection des journalistes, on dénombre 14 décès de ce type), et 35 sont morts en participant aux hostilités ou ont été victimes de bombardements, et non dans l'exercice de leurs fonctions journalistiques.

Malgré ces chiffres terribles, la situation de la sécurité des journalistes s'est nettement améliorée au cours de l'année. Cette évolution a été facilitée par des facteurs tels que la localisation des hostilités dans le sud et l'est de l'Ukraine, le renforcement du système d'accréditation militaire et l'accroissement du professionnalisme des journalistes. Enfin, les organisations humanitaires ont fourni des équipements de protection individuelle (gilets pare-balles et casques, trousses de premiers secours) aux médias et formé des centaines de journalistes aux premiers secours.

La communauté journalistique se divise entre ceux qui couvrent régulièrement la guerre et ceux qui sont revenus aux sujets pacifiques habituels : économie, culture et informations sportives.

Cependant, le travail des journalistes sur la ligne de front est devenu plus difficile en raison des restrictions militaires plus strictes. Nous avons relevé plusieurs cas dans lesquels l'armée a retiré l'accréditation militaire à des journalistes sous des prétextes douteux. Le cas le plus scandaleux est lié à la libération de Kherson par les troupes ukrainiennes des envahisseurs russes - une ville du sud située sur la rive droite du fleuve Dnipro. Les militaires ont révoqué l'accréditation de tous les journalistes qui sont arrivés à Kherson avant la tournée de presse officielle. Après un scandale dans le milieu professionnel, tous les journalistes ont vu leurs autorisations rétablies.

2. Adoption d’une loi controversée sur les médias

La nouvelle loi ukrainienne sur les médias était l'une des sept conditions fixées par Bruxelles pour obtenir le statut de candidat accéléré à l'UE. Le Parlement ukrainien l'a approuvée à la fin de l'année 2022, malgré les protestations des organisations journalistiques.

Les journalistes ukrainiens et la communauté internationale des médias ont critiqué la loi. La Fédération européenne des journalistes (FEJ) a fait valoir que le projet équivalait à une "réglementation forcée" par les autorités. Le syndicat des journalistes ukrainiens a également estimé que la loi limiterait la liberté d'expression.

L'impact réel de la nouvelle loi n'est pas encore clair, car elle n'entrera en vigueur qu'en avril. La loi accroît le pouvoir réglementaire du gouvernement sur la télévision, la radio et les sites d'information. Cependant, la loi a été considérablement adoucie après près de 1 000 révisions avant le vote final.

Les journalistes craignent que la nouvelle loi soit utilisée non seulement pour limiter la propagande russe, mais aussi pour limiter les critiques du gouvernement ukrainien. Leurs craintes sont fondées sur le fait qu'en 2022, trois chaînes de télévision pro-ukrainiennes ont été retirées des ondes, prétendument en raison de leurs liens avec l'ancien président ukrainien Petro Porochenko, un opposant de Volodymyr Zelensky. Ces chaînes de télévision continuent à émettre par satellite, sur Internet et sur les réseaux câblés, mais leur audience a nettement diminué. Presque toutes les autres chaînes de télévision sociopolitiques ont été réunies par les autorités ukrainiennes au sein de la chaîne United News Channel, qui est contrôlée de facto par le ministère de la Culture de l'Ukraine.

3. L'intérêt des Ukrainiens pour la télévision continue de baisser

L'intérêt des Ukrainiens pour la télévision ne cesse de diminuer d'année en année. Selon la dernière enquête de la société de recherche Gradus Research, plus de 60 % des Ukrainiens s'informent sur les réseaux sociaux et les médias en ligne, tandis qu'un peu moins de la moitié des habitants du pays regardent les informations à la télévision.

Une autre enquête financée par l'USAID a révélé un niveau d'influence encore plus élevé des réseaux sociaux : plus de 70 % des Ukrainiens s'y informent. Il est inquiétant que de tous les réseaux sociaux, Telegram, créé par un Russe, occupe la primauté, et que les flux les plus populaires sur ce réseau soient des potins anonymes, des rumeurs et des nouvelles non vérifiées.

Les raisons de la baisse d'intérêt pour la télévision linéaire ne sont peut-être pas seulement dues au progrès technique. Comme nous l'avons écrit plus haut, les autorités ont retiré une partie des chaînes de télévision de l'antenne, et l'autre partie a été fusionnée dans United News. En conséquence, le choix des téléspectateurs a été réduit, et les critiques de la télévision parlent de la faible qualité du contenu de United News.

4. Problèmes d'accès à l'information, en particulier aux registres

Le travail des journalistes est compliqué par l'absence d'un accès complet aux registres de données gouvernementales qui étaient ouverts avant l'invasion russe du 24 février 2022. Pour plus de cybersécurité, les autorités ukrainiennes ont fermé ou restreint l'accès aux registres gouvernementaux, allant des données sur les marchés publics militaires aux registres des entreprises commerciales. L'accès des journalistes aux réunions des gouvernements locaux et des autorités centrales est toujours limité. Tout cela augmente le risque de corruption.

5. Les territoires ukrainiens occupés par la Russie se transforment en déserts d'informations

Le travail des journalistes indépendants dans les territoires occupés par la Russie est impossible. Les médias reçoivent des informations d'informateurs anonymes via des messagers ou de personnes qui ont réussi à quitter l'occupation. Dans le même temps, des propagandistes russes (les "correspondants de guerre") travaillent dans les territoires occupés et relatent les succès de l'armée russe. Souvent, ces messages s'avèrent être faux.

Immédiatement après s'être emparés de nouveaux territoires, les Russes ont commencé à persécuter les journalistes indépendants et à saisir les rédactions des médias indépendants. C'était le cas en Crimée, à Donetsk et à Lougansk en 2014, et la même chose s'est produite en 2022. Par exemple, à Kherson, les Russes ont fracassé le bureau de la télévision publique Suspilne.Kherson. Maintenant, après la libération de Kherson par les troupes ukrainiennes, l'organisation non gouvernementale Lviv Media Forum collecte des dons pour restaurer le travail des médias locaux de Kherson. Ainsi, les journalistes de l'extrême ouest du pays, près de la frontière avec l'Union européenne, aident leurs collègues du sud, qui se trouvent dans une situation difficile.


Andrii Ianitsky est un journaliste désormais basé à Lviv et représentant de la Press Emblème Campagne (PEC) en Ukraine (a.ianitskyi@gmail.com).

Son premier rapport a été publié le 19 mars 2022, le deuxième le 28 mars 2022, le troisième le 5 avril 2022, le quatrième le 11 avril, le cinquième le 22 avril, le sixième le 10 mai, le septième le 27 juin et le huitième le 6 novembre 2022.

21.12.2022. BENIN. Presse Emblème Campagne demande la libération immédiate sans condition du journaliste Virgile Ahouansé

PEC Presse Emblème Campagne demande la libération immédiate sans condition du journaliste Virgile Ahouansé convoqué à la Brigade Criminelle le 20 décembre et placé en garde à vue. Le Directeur de l’information de la radio en ligne Cristal-News est accusé d’avoir publié de fausses informations reprises par les réseaux sociaux.

«La PEC est très préoccupée par les manquements à la liberté de la presse au Bénin. Des exécutions sommaires auraient lieu depuis l’avènement au pouvoir de Patrice Talon. Des journalistes ont osé malgré les menaces de représailles mettre à nu des cas d’exécutions avec témoins à l’appui. Ils sont maintenant pourchassés seulement pour avoir fait leur boulot», a dénoncé le représentant de la PEC pour le Sahel Hamidou ElHadji Touré.

Virgile Ahouansé a été interpellé le lundi 19 décembre, quelques jours après la publication d’une enquête où il a évoqué un cas d’exécution sommaire, mettant en cause la police béninoise dans un article intituté : « Panique à Porto-Novo : la Police Républicaine procède à des exécutions sommaires dans une école ». L’enquête a été  publiée le 14 décembre 2022.

Virgile Ahouansè n’est pas le premier à publier des informations sur ces exécutions sommaires de la police républicaine béninoise. La commission béninoise des droits de l’homme notamment les a dénoncées. Les témoins dont il a relayé les propos sont cependant revenus sur leur témoignage. Deux des témoins, notamment le  gardien de l’Epp Dowa où auraient lieu les exécutions et le Chef quartier ont été aussi interpellés quelques jours après la diffusion de l’information. Gardés à vue, ils seraient tous revenus sur leur parole, à en croire l’avocat Barnabé Gbago. Le journaliste risque d’être déféré à la Criet (Cour  de Répression des Infractions Economiques et du Terrorisme).

«Nous demandons la libération immédiate du journaliste qui a fait un travail essentiel d’enquête afin de briser le silence et de mettre fin à des abus inacceptables», a déclaré à Genève le président de la PEC Blaise Lempen.

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14.12.2022. PEC annual report. Ukraine and Mexico most dangerous countries in 2022 for journalists

French and Spanish after English - list of victims on CASUALTIES

Geneva, December 14, 2022 (PEC) Ukraine and Mexico were the most dangerous countries for media work this year, the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) said in its annual report published in Geneva on Wednesday. Since January, 115 media workers have been killed in 29 countries around the world.

«The number of journalists killed increased by 45% compared to last year (79 victims). It is the highest number of casualties since 2018 with a brutal deterioration in Europe due to the war in Ukraine», said PEC President Blaise Lempen.

By region, Latin America is ahead with 39 journalists killed, followed by Europe with 37 victims, then Asia 30, Africa 7 and North America 2.

Many victims in Ukraine

Europe experienced the worst deterioration in the safety of journalists since the wars in former Yugoslavia from 1992 to 1999. In Ukraine, it is very difficult to establish the exact circumstances of the deaths of journalists in the absence of an independent investigation. PEC counted 34 victims since the beginning of the Russian invasion on February 24.

At least 8 journalists were clearly killed in the line of duty, 12 others on Russian shelling attacks or other crimes and at least 14 as fighters in the Ukrainian army (source: Institute of Mass Information, Kyiv). Among the 34 victims, 8 were foreigners (Brent Renaud, Maks Levin, Pierre Zakrzewski, Frédéric Lerclerc-Imhoff, Mantas Kvedaravicius and 3 Russians : Oksana Baulina, Svetlana Babayeva and Oleg Klokov).

After Ukraine, Mexico was the most dangerous country with 17 victims, the highest annual death toll since at least the beginning of the century in this country. They were the target of criminal gangs in a climate of violence and impunity.

At the third place with 8 victims, Haiti has experienced significant deterioration due to growing insecurity.

Six deaths were recorded in Pakistan, 5 in the Philippines, 4 in Colombia and 4 in India.

Three victims were registered in the following countries : Bangladesh, Honduras, Israël/Palestine, and Yemen.

Two deaths were recorded in Brazil, Chad, Ecuador, Myanmar, Somalia, Syria, United States of America. Finally, one victim has been identified in the following countries : Central African Republic, Chile, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guatemala, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Paraguay, Russia, Sweden, Turkey, and Vietnam.

PEC strongly condemns these attacks and calls for those responsible for these crimes to be brought to justice as quickly as possible.

As a positive note, there was no casualties among journalists so far in Afghanistan in 2022 instead of 12 in 2021. However, many journalists were obliged to flee the country.

On average more than 2 journalists killed each week

Over the last 5 years, Mexico has recorded the greatest number of victims (69), ahead of Afghanistan (44), then India (37), Ukraine (36), Pakistan (34), Syria (24), the Philippines (21), Yemen (17), Honduras (13), Somalia (13), Brazil (12) and Haiti (11).

In ten years, from 2013 to 2022, 1135 journalists were killed, or 113 per year, 2.2 per week, according to figures from the PEC.

Press Emblem Campaign hopes that the international community will start in 2023 the work for an international convention to enhance the safety of journalists. It would be a great step forward to better fight against impunity.

The PEC lists all killed media workers, whether or not their deaths are related to their professional activity. It is indeed difficult to prove that a crime takes place connected to the work of a journalist without independent and comprehensive investigations which are often lacking.

Rapport annuel de la PEC. L'Ukraine et le Mexique pays les plus dangereux en 2022 pour les journalistes

Genève, 14 décembre 2022 (PEC) L'Ukraine et le Mexique ont été les pays les plus dangereux pour le travail des médias cette année, 
a déclaré la Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) dans son rapport annuel publié mercredi à Genève. Depuis janvier, 115 professionnels 
des médias ont été tués dans 29 pays à travers le monde.

« Le nombre de journalistes tués a augmenté de 45% par rapport à l'année dernière (79 victimes). C'est le plus grand nombre de victimes 
depuis 2018 avec une détérioration brutale en Europe due à la guerre en Ukraine », a déclaré le président de la PEC, Blaise Lempen.

Par région, l'Amérique latine arrive en tête avec 39 journalistes tués, devant l'Europe avec 37 victimes, puis l'Asie 30, l'Afrique 7 
et l'Amérique du Nord 2.

Nombreuses victimes en Ukraine

L’Europe a connu la pire dégradation de la sécurité des journalistes depuis les guerres dans l’ex-Yougoslavie entre 1992 et 1999. En Ukraine, 
il est très difficile d'établir les circonstances exactes de la mort des journalistes en l'absence d'enquête indépendante. La PEC a dénombré 
34 victimes depuis le début de l'invasion russe le 24 février.

Au moins 8 journalistes ont été clairement tués dans l'exercice de leurs fonctions, 12 autres dans des bombardements russes et autres attaques 
et au moins 14 en tant que combattants dans l'armée ukrainienne (source : Institute of Mass Information, Kiev). Parmi les 34 victimes, 
8 étaient des étrangers (Brent Renaud, Maks Levin, Pierre Zakrzewski, Frédéric Lerclerc-Imhoff, Mantas Kvedaravicius et 3 Russes : 
Oksana Baulina, Svetlana Babayeva et Oleg Klokov).

Après l'Ukraine, le Mexique a été le pays le plus dangereux avec 17 victimes, le bilan annuel le plus élevé depuis au moins le début 
du siècle dans ce pays. Elles ont été la cible de gangs criminels dans un climat de violence et d'impunité.

À la troisième place avec 8 victimes, Haïti a connu une détérioration importante en raison de l'insécurité croissante.

Six décès ont été enregistrés au Pakistan, 5 aux Philippines, 4 en Colombie et 4 en Inde.

Trois victimes ont été dénombrées dans les pays suivants : Bangladesh, Honduras, Israël/Palestine et Yémen.

Deux décès ont été enregistrés au Brésil, au Tchad, en Équateur, au Myanmar, en Somalie, en Syrie, aux États-Unis d'Amérique. Enfin, 
une victime a été identifiée dans les pays suivants : République centrafricaine, Chili, République démocratique du Congo, Guatemala, 
Kazakhstan, Kenya, Paraguay, Russie, Suède, Turquie et Vietnam.

La PEC condamne fermement ces attaques et demande que les responsables de ces crimes soient traduits en justice aussi rapidement que possible.

Point positif, il n'y a eu jusqu'à présent aucune victime parmi les journalistes en Afghanistan en 2022 au lieu de 12 en 2021. Cependant, 
de nombreux journalistes ont été contraints de fuir le pays.

En moyenne plus de 2 journalistes tués chaque semaine

Au cours des 5 dernières années, le Mexique a enregistré le plus grand nombre de victimes (69), devant l'Afghanistan (44), puis l'Inde (37), 
l'Ukraine (36), le Pakistan (34), la Syrie (24), les Philippines (21 ), le Yémen (17), le Honduras (13), la Somalie (13), le Brésil (12) et Haïti (11).

En dix ans, de 2013 à 2022, 1135 journalistes ont été tués, soit 113 par an, 2,2 par semaine, selon les chiffres de la PEC.

La PEC espère que la communauté internationale entamera en 2023 les travaux pour une convention internationale visant à renforcer la sécurité
 des journalistes. Ce serait un grand pas en avant dans la lutte contre l'impunité.

Le PEC répertorie tous les travailleurs des médias tués, que leur décès soit lié ou non à leur activité professionnelle. Il est en effet difficile 
de prouver qu'un crime est commis en rapport avec le travail d'un journaliste sans enquête indépendante et complète qui fait souvent défaut.

Informe anual de la PEC. Ucrania y México, los países más peligrosos para los periodistas en 2022 

Ginebra, 14 de diciembre de 2022 (PEC).- Ucrania y México fueron los países más peligrosos para el trabajo de los medios de comunicación
 este año, dijo la Campaña Emblema de Prensa (PEC, por sus siglas en inglés) en su informe anual publicado en Ginebra este miércoles. 
Desde enero, 115 trabajadores de los medios han sido asesinados en 29 países de todo el mundo.

“El número de periodistas asesinados aumentó en un 45 % con respecto al año pasado (79 víctimas). Este es el número más alto de bajas 
desde 2018 con un deterioro brutal en Europa debido a la guerra en Ucrania”, dijo el presidente de la PEC, Blaise Lempen. 

Por regiones, América Latina está a la cabeza con 39 periodistas asesinados, seguida de Europa con 37 víctimas, luego Asia 30, África 7 y 
América del Norte 2. 

Muchas víctimas en Ucrania 

Europa experimentó el peor deterioro de la seguridad de los periodistas desde las guerras en la ex Yugoslavia de 1992 a 1999. En Ucrania 
es muy difícil establecer las circunstancias exactas de las muertes de los periodistas en ausencia de una investigación independiente. La PEC 
contabilizó 34 víctimas desde el comienzo de la invasión rusa, el 24 de febrero pasado. 

Al menos 8 periodistas murieron claramente en el cumplimiento de su deber, otros 12 en ataques de bombardeos rusos y otros delitos y 
al menos 14 como combatientes en el ejército ucraniano (fuente: Institute of Mass Information, Kyiv). Entre las 34 víctimas, 8 eran extranjeros
 (Brent Renaud, Maks Levin, Pierre Zakrzewski, Frédéric Lerclerc-Imhoff, Mantas Kvedaravicius y 3 rusos: Oksana Baulina, Svetlana 
Babayeva y Oleg Klokov). 

Después de Ucrania, México fue el país más peligroso con 17 víctimas, la mayor cifra anual de muertos desde al menos principios de siglo 
en este país. Eran blanco de bandas criminales en un clima de violencia e impunidad. 

En el tercer lugar, con 8 víctimas, Haití ha experimentado un deterioro significativo debido a la creciente inseguridad. 

Se registraron seis muertes en Pakistán, 5 en Filipinas, 4 en Colombia y 4 en India. Se registraron tres víctimas en los siguientes países: 
Bangladesh, Honduras, Israel/Palestina y Yemen. 

Se registraron dos muertes en Brasil, Chad, Ecuador, Myanmar, Siria, Somalia, Estados Unidos de América. Finalmente, se ha identificado 
una víctima en los siguientes países: República Centroafricana, Chile, República Democrática del Congo, Guatemala, Kazajstán, Kenia, 
Paraguay, Rusia, Suecia, Turquía y Vietnam. 

La PEC condena enérgicamente estos ataques y pide que los responsables de estos crímenes sean llevados ante la justicia lo mas rápido posible.

Como nota positiva, hasta ahora no ha habido víctimas entre los periodistas en Afganistán en 2022, país que tuvo el lugar de 12 en el 2021. 
Sin embargo, muchos periodistas se vieron obligados a huir del país. 

En promedio más de 2 periodistas asesinados cada semana 

En los últimos 5 años, México ha registrado el mayor número de víctimas (69), por delante de Afganistán (44), luego India (37), Ucrania (36), 
Pakistán (34), Siria (24), Filipinas (21 ), Yemen (17), Honduras (13), Somalia (13), Brasil (12) y Haití (11). 

En diez años, de 2013 a 2022, 1,135 periodistas fueron asesinados, es decir, 113 por año, 2,2 por semana, según cifras de la PEC. 

La Campaña Emblema de Prensa espera que la comunidad internacional comience en 2023 el trabajo para lograr una convención internacional 
con el fin de mejorar la seguridad de los periodistas. Sería un gran paso adelante para luchar de una manera más eficaz en contra de la impunidad. 

La PEC enumera a todos los trabajadores de los medios asesinados, estén o no relacionados con su actividad profesional. De hecho, es difícil
probar que se comete un delito relacionado con el trabajo de un periodista sin investigaciones independientes y exhaustivas que a menudo faltan. 

01.11.2022. International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists : more needs to be done

en français après l'anglais

Geneva, November 1rst (PEC) More needs to be done to fight impunity on the ground, said the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) to mark the 2022 International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on 2 November. Slow progress are made, but still very insufficient. PEC appeals to launch the work for an international convention.

Recently, five years after the killing of Daphne Caruana Galizia in October 2017 in Malta, two brothers were sentenced to 40 years in prison on 14 October, Justice is very slow but better than nothing.

In Mexico, three persons were condemned on 28 October for the murder of journalist Lourdes Maldonado killed on 23 January 2021.

Despite these rare examples, impunity is prevailing in most crimes. The masterminds of the crime are not prosecuted. According to a recent UNESCO report, 86% of the crimes against journalists remained unpunished. In 10 years the drop is only 9%.

UNESCO reported an upward trend of resolved cases worldwide from 11% in 2018 to 14% in 2022.

2022 will be a particularly deadly year for journalists with already 107 media workers killed (see our list of casualties : https://pressemblem.ch/casualties.shtml )

It is an increase of 57% in 10 months compared to last year. Ukraine, Mexico, Pakistan, Haiti are so far the most dangerous countries for journalists this year.

It iy very important that the killings in Ukraine don’t go unpunished and that the circumstances of those crimes are investigated independently.

PEC is calling again on governments to support the adoption of a UN Convention on the safety of journalists and other media professionals. Despite 13 resolutions on the safety of journalists adopted at the United Nations and the adoption of the United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of journalists and impunity which commemorates its 10th anniversary, journalists continue to be attacked for doing their job. It is urgent to adopt a binding instrument that would force governments to address impunity for violence targeting journalists and media personnel, investigate and prosecute those responsible.

In this regard, PEC welcomes the global campaign for the adoption of an International Convention dedicated to the protection of journalists and media professionals, formally launched by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) at the 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on 30 September 2022.

The Convention highlights existing weaknesses and loopholes in international humanitarian and human rights law and the lack of effective enforcement mechanisms. Over 60 journalists and media unions, associations, media representative bodies, media organisations and NGOs across the world have already backed the convention.

PEC calls upon the European Union to take the lead in the process of the adoption of the Convention. EU must show its commitment to press freedom and freedom of expression not just with words but with deeds.

28.10.2022. IRAN. Iranian authorities must immediately release all journalists arrested because of their coverage of Mahsa Amini’s death and the protests that have followed. Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) demands the immediate release of these journalists and the immediate lifting of all restrictions on Iranians’ right to be informed.

Report by Iran Human Rights Monitor

The Islamic Republic of Iran is carrying out a dark criminal project by detaining journalists and cutting off the internet. The summons and detentions of journalists in Iran started from the beginning of the nationwide protests on September 16, 2022, in protest to the murder of Mahsa Amini and has continued. Based on the received news and news collected from other news and personal accounts of lawyers and families, at least 20 journalists and media outlets have been summoned or arrested. Some of these people were first summoned under the pretext of asking a few questions, but then they were taken to prison. Some are in prison now, and some are missing.

Among the arrested journalists, we can mention Nilofar Hamidi, reporter of Sharq newspaper. She is the one who appeared in Kasri Hospital in Tehran for the first time and published the picture of Mahsa Amini in coma. The news that became a spark for the start of nationwide protests in Iran. She was subsequently detained and has been arrested for 37days.

Also, Yalda Meiri is the same photographer who showed the image of a girl in the middle of smoke and fire during the protests of 2016, an image that became one of the symbols of the protests of December 2016, and later the president of the United States, Donald Trump, tweeted about it in Persian. Elaheh Mohammadi, the reporter of HamMihan newspaper, was arrested by intelligence agents on September 29, 2022. Elaha Mohammadi is a journalist who went to Saqqez city and gave coverage to Mahsa Amini's funeral, which was published in Ham Mihan newspaper.

Also, after the arrest of Ahwazi journalist Mehrnoosh Tafian, there is no news about his whereabouts.

Names and details of journalists summoned or arrested during the nationwide uprising in Iran

1- Nilofar Hamedi, journalist of Sharq newspaper, place of arrest: Tehran, date of arrest: 22 September

2- Yalda Moiri, journalist, place of arrest: Hijab Street, Tehran, date of arrest: 20 September - she was then transferred to Qarchak Varamin prison.

3- Marzieh Talai, journalist and media activist at Mokarian News Agency, place of arrest: Saqqez, date of arrest: 20 September (arrested along with Ali Khatib while walking in one of the streets of Saqqez after seizing their mobile phone)

4- Ali Khatibzadeh, journalist and media activist at Mokrian News Agency, place of arrest: Saqqez, date of arrest: 20 September - arrested along with Marzieh Talai.

5- Khosro Kordpour, senior manager of the Mokrian news website, place of arrest: Saqez, date of arrest: 20 September

6- Masoud Kordpour, senior manager of the Mokarian news website, place of arrest: Saqez, date of arrest: 21 September Twitter: @IranHrm - Website: https://iran-hrm.com

7- Batool Blaai, journalist, place of arrest: Sirjan, date of arrest: 21 September (arrested together with Samira Alinejad. These two journalists were summoned by the police forces in one of the protest gatherings in Sirjan for some explanations. Upon arrival to one of police centers in Sirjan, they were arrested and transferred to the prison of this city

8- Samira Alinejad, place of arrest: Sirjan, date of arrest: 21 September (together with Batool Balai)

9- Fatemeh Rajabi, journalist and women's rights activist, place of arrest: Tehran, date of arrest: 23 September

10- Elahe Mohammadi, the reporter of Ham Mihan newspaper, her lawyer announced in a tweet that this journalist, who had prepared a report on Mehsa Amini, was arrested in Tehran on September 29, after being summoned by phone

11- Mojtaba Rahimi, journalist, place of arrest: at his home in Qazvin, date of arrest: 22 September, he had informed about the presence of protesters in the streets

12- Alireza Khoshbat, journalist, place of arrest: Tehran, date of arrest: 22 September

13- Rohollah Nakhai, media activist and journalist, place of arrest: Tehran, date of arrest: 22 September

14- Vida Rabbani, journalist, place of arrest: Piranshahr, date of arrest: October 1, 2022

15- Elnaz Mohammadi, a journalist, was arrested along with Elaha Mohammadi

16- Hamid Shafiei, date of arrest: 23 September 2022

17- Ahmad Halabi Saz, photographer and journalist, place of arrest: Tehran, date of arrest: 22 September, he was then transferred to Evin 18- Mehrnoosh Tafian - journalist and civil activist, place of arrest: Ahvaz, date of arrest: 27 September

19- Farshid Gurbanpour, literary journalist and manager of Soren Book virtual bookstore, place of arrest: Tehran, date of arrest: 25 September

20- Alireza Jabari Darestani, journalist and activist, place of arrest: Tehran, date of arrest: 23 September 2022

25.10.2022. PAKISTAN/KENYA. PEC demands probe into murder of Pak journalist in Nairobi

With Nava Thakuria PEC South Asia Representative

Geneva, Switzerland: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body, condemned the murder of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif (50) in Nairobi, who becomes the 102nd media victims so far in 2022 and urged the Kenya government to fairly probe into the incident that led to his demise. The broadcast journalist in exile, who was critical to the Pak military agencies, was shot dead by armed personnel on Sunday night, stated his wife Javeria Siddique.

A former reporter with ARY TV Arshad fled to Kenya in August following troubles in his country. A Karachi-born Arshad started his journalistic career three decades back and emerged as a popular media personality with his investigative reports. A master’s degree holder in media studies, Arshad also worked with Aaj News, Dunya TV, Dawn News, etc. Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists along with a large number of media workers condoled his untimely demise.

“We demand a transparent judicial investigation into Arshad’s killing and urge Kenyan President William Ruto to punish the culprits, involved with his murder, under the relevant laws,” said Blaise Lempen, president of PEC, adding that the brave journalist had to leave Pakistan following sedition charges were framed against him following an interview with an opposition politician.

Pakistan earlier lost journalists Muhammad Younis, Iftikhar Ahmed, Hasnain Shah, Murtaza Shar and Athar Mateen to assailants this year, said PEC’s south Asia representative Nava Thakuria adding that India witnessed the murder of journalists Rohit Kumar Biswal, Sudhir Saini, Juned Khan Pathan and Subhash Kumar Mahato since 1 January. Journalists namely Hashibur Rahaman Rubel, Mohiuddin Sarker Nayeem and Abdul Bari were killed in Bangladesh and Myanmar witnessed the death of photojournalist Aye Kyaw and journalist Pu Tui Dim in military atrocities.

07.10.2022. UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL.  PEC welcomes the nomination by the Human Rights Council of a special rapporteur on Russia

Geneva, 7 October (PEC) Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) welcomes the nomination by the Human Rights Council of a Special rapporteur on Russia. The resolution presented by the European Union has been adopted today in Geneva by 17 votes in favour, 6 against (Russia, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Kazakhstan, Venezuela) and 24 abstentions at the end of the 51rst session.

«This international support, despite the large number of abstentions among African and Latin American countries, shows that Russia cannot escape the scrutiny of the international community. An independent monitoring of the situation in Russia is imperative due to the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in the country. It will be important for the civil society in Russia to have a focal point at the United Nations», said PEC President Blaise Lempen.

«Permanent Members of the Security Council of the United Nations are not above the law. The veto power in the Council in New York does not allow them to arbitrarily arrest opponents, close down independent media and commit war crimes», he added.

The resolution adopted expresses in particular its concern «at the mass forced shutdowns of civil society organizations, including the International Human Rights Centre “Memorial” and the Centre for Support of Indigenous Peoples of the North, and independent media outlets, including radio channels, television channels, online media and newspapers, including Novaya Gazeta, Echo of Moscow and the television channel Dozhd, the bans of foreign media and the targeted revocation of registration of foreign organizations by the Russian authorities, and also at the limited access of Russian civil society to information and communications infrastructure and the increase in censorship and disinformation».

Russia’s latest crackdown on independent journalists is another step to silence dissenting voices on the war in Ukraine. According to various sources, at least 27 journalists were arrested since President Vladimir Putin announced a “partial mobilization” of military reservists on Wednesday, September 21.

New resolution on the safety of journalists and UN Convention

PEC also welcomes a new resolution on the safety of journalists adopted by consensus at the HRC. This resolution is the 13th of the United Nations on the safety of journalists and the 6th at the HRC since 2012. “It is an important testimony of the awareness of the problem at the diplomatic level the last ten years", said PEC President. "The new one is very comprehensive and contains a detailed catalogue of measures which, if implemented, would improve the situation of media workers. We can only urge States to implement them", he added.

Words are not enough, actions are needed. To better fight impunity, there is a need of an international binding instrument. In this respect, PEC supports the new campaign for an international Convention dedicated to the safety of journalists launched at a side event at the 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on 30 September by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). Read more on : https://www.ifj.org/media-centre/news/detail/category/press-releases/article/un-ifj-leads-call-for-action-to-fight-impunity.html

A record number of journalists have been killed this year, 97 until the end of September (79 for the whole year of 2021) see our list of casualties on: https://pressemblem.ch/casualties.shtml

The PEC hopes that the 10th anniversary of the UN Plan of action in November 2022 will be an opportunity to strengthen the fight against ever-growing threats to freedom of expression, at at time where many of ou colleagues are taking risks to cover the war between Russia and Ukraine.

- Protecting media to protect democracy, high-level conference, Vienna, 3-4 November : 10tth anniversary of the UN Plan of Action on the safety of journalists

- Annual PEC award for the Protection of Journalists. Geneva, mid-November

- PEC Annual report on Journalists killed in 2022, Geneva, mid-December

La PEC salue la nomination par le Conseil des droits de l'homme d'un rapporteur spécial sur la Russie

Genève, 7 octobre (PEC) Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) se félicite de la nomination par le Conseil des droits de l'homme d'un

rapporteur spécial sur la Russie. La résolution présentée par l'Union européenne a été adoptée vendredi à Genève par 17 voix

pour, 6 contre (Russie, Chine, Cuba, Erythrée, Kazakhstan, Venezuela) et 24 abstentions à l'issue de la 51ème session.

"Ce soutien international, malgré le grand nombre d'abstentions parmi les pays d'Afrique et d'Amérique latine, montre que la

Russie ne peut échapper à l’examen de la communauté internationale. Un suivi indépendant de la situation en Russie est impératif

en raison de la détérioration rapide de la situation des droits de l'homme dans le pays. Il sera important pour la société civile russe

d'avoir un point de contact aux Nations Unies", a déclaré Blaise Lempen, président de la PEC.

"Les membres permanents du Conseil de sécurité des Nations unies ne sont pas au-dessus des lois. Le droit de veto au Conseil à

New York ne leur permet pas d'arrêter arbitrairement des opposants, de fermer des médias indépendants et de commettre des

crimes de guerre", a-t-il ajouté.

La résolution adoptée exprime notamment sa préoccupation "face aux fermetures massives et forcées d'organisations de la

société civile, dont le Centre international des droits de l'homme "Memorial" et le Centre de soutien aux peuples indigènes du

Nord, et de médias indépendants, dont des chaînes de radio, des chaînes de télévision, des médias en ligne et des journaux,

notamment Novaya Gazeta, Echo of Moscow et la chaîne de télévision Dozhd, les interdictions de médias étrangers et la

révocation ciblée de l'enregistrement d'organisations étrangères par les autorités russes, ainsi que l'accès limité de la société civile

russe aux infrastructures d'information et de communication et l'augmentation de la censure et de la désinformation".

Les dernières mesures de répression prises par la Russie à l'encontre des journalistes indépendants constituent une nouvelle

étape pour faire taire les voix dissidentes sur la guerre en Ukraine. Selon diverses sources, au moins 27 journalistes ont été

arrêtés depuis que le président Vladimir Poutine a annoncé une "mobilisation partielle" des réservistes militaires le mercredi 21

septembre.

Nouvelle résolution sur la sécurité des journalistes et Convention de l'ONU

La PEC salue également une nouvelle résolution sur la sécurité des journalistes adoptée par consensus au Conseil des droits de

l’Homme (CDH). Cette résolution est la 13ème des Nations Unies sur la sécurité des journalistes et la 6ème au CDH depuis 2012.

"C'est un témoignage important de la prise de conscience du problème au niveau diplomatique ces dix dernières années", a

déclaré le président de la PEC. "La nouvelle résolution est très complète et contient un catalogue détaillé de mesures qui, si elles

étaient appliquées, amélioreraient la situation des travailleurs des médias. Nous ne pouvons qu'exhorter les États à les mettre en

œuvre", a-t-il ajouté.

Les mots ne suffisent pas, des actions sont nécessaires. Pour mieux combattre l'impunité, il est nécessaire de disposer d'un

instrument international contraignant. A cet égard, la PEC soutient la nouvelle campagne pour une Convention internationale

dédiée à la sécurité des journalistes, lancée lors d'un événement parallèle à la 51ème session du Conseil des droits de l'homme

de l'ONU à Genève le 30 septembre par la Fédération internationale des journalistes (FIJ). Plus d'informations sur :

https://www.ifj.org/media-centre/news/detail/category/press-releases/article/un-ifj-leads-call-for-action-to-fight-impunity.html

Un nombre record de journalistes ont été tués cette année, 97 jusqu'à la fin du mois de septembre (79 pour l'ensemble de l'année

2021) ; voir notre liste de victimes sur : https://pressemblem.ch/casualties.shtml.

La PEC espère que le 10ème anniversaire du Plan d'action de l'ONU en novembre 2022 sera l'occasion de renforcer la lutte

contre les menaces croissantes pour la liberté d'expression, à l'heure où beaucoup de nos collègues prennent des risques pour

couvrir la guerre entre la Russie et l'Ukraine.

Prochainement à notre agenda :

- Journée internationale de la fin de l'impunité pour les crimes contre les journalistes, le 2 novembre.

- Protéger les médias pour protéger la démocratie, conférence de haut niveau, Vienne, 3-4 novembre : 10e anniversaire du plan d'action des Nations unies pour la sécurité des journalistes.

- Prix annuel PEC pour la protection des journalistes, Genève, mi-novembre

- Rapport annuel de la PEC sur les journalistes tués en 2022, Genève, mi-décembre.

Lviv (Ukraine), 06 October 2022. 

1. The safety of the work of journalists in Ukraine has increased

Despite the fact that the war in Ukraine continues, the number of deaths of journalists has changed little over the past three months. If in the first four months after the full-scale invasion in Ukraine, 33 media figures died, then over the past three months, The Institute of Mass Information recorded 7 deaths (that is, a total of 40 deaths in March-September 2022).

The death rate of journalists has declined due to a number of factors. 

First, active hostilities have been localized in the east and south of Ukraine, where the Ukrainian army can restrict the access of journalists. 

Secondly, the Ukrainian military closes access to the front line completely during the most intense battles. 

Thirdly, the Ukrainian army worked out the accreditation scheme and the process of escorting journalists in the combat zone. 

An important factor is a fact that interest in the events in Ukraine in the world has subsided, and in general, there are far fewer journalists working in Ukraine today than in the first months of the war.

Finally, humanitarian organizations were able to provide all journalists with personal protective equipment (body armor and helmets, first aid kits) and train hundreds of journalists in first aid.

2. Ukraine Debates New Media Law

Ukraine’s new media law has been years in the making and should see the light by late autumn. The new law is one of seven conditions laid down by Brussels for fast-track EU-candidate status. 

The legislation has encountered stiff criticism from Ukrainian journalists and the international media community. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) argued that the draft amounted to “forced regulation” in the hands of a regulator “controlled by the authorities”. Ukraine’s journalists’ union agreed that the law would limit freedom of speech. 

On August 30, Ukrainian deputies adopted the media law in the first reading. There are still debates and amendments to the law ahead, which can make it more compromising and acceptable to the media community.

3. Large Ukrainian media holding ceased to exist
   
   

In July, Rinat Akhmetov, Ukraine’s wealthiest businessman, announced he had relinquished the control of his Media Group Ukraine (MGU), leading to the dismissal of around 4,000 people.

Thousands of media employees will find themselves without a job in a market that is already suffering due to war and lack of funds. The advertising market of Ukraine decreased by 70 per cent after the escalation of the war in February, according to the official figures.

Akhmetov has not yet waived content property rights and copyrights, which could allow MGU to return, although in some other format.

4. Investigative journalists record war crimes of Russians in Ukraine

Ukrainian and international investigative journalists are documenting more and more Russian war crimes in Ukraine. Such investigative groups as Slidstvo.info, Bihus.info, Schemes, investigation department of the Ukrainian Pravda do a great job of identifying war criminals and individuals or companies that evade sanctions.

Special mention should be made of Bellingcat's investigations into Ukraine, as well as the NYT and Washington Post teams that closely monitor events in Ukraine.

Special mention should be made of Bellingcat's investigations into Ukraine, as well as the NYT and Washington Post teams that closely monitor events in Ukraine.

As well as an Ukraine Justice Report project by the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (disclosure: the author of the report also collaborates with this Institute, but works on a different project) and a war crimes tracker by the Associated Press and PBS' Frontline.

The work of journalists is of great importance for documenting war crimes and for the subsequent punishment of the perpetrators.

(Andrii Ianitsky is journalist now based in Lviv and PEC Representative in Ukraine (a.ianitskyi@gmail.com).

27.09.2022. RUSSIA. UN Human Rights Council 51rst session. Joint Civil Society Letter to the HRC on Russia.

To Permanent Representatives of Member and Observer States of the UN Human Rights Council

Excellency,

Russian Federation: The Human Rights Council should take urgent action to address the dire human rights situation in Russia

We are writing to call on your delegation to stand with Russian human rights defenders, activists, and civil society organizations by supporting the resolution at the 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC51) on the establishment of a Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Russia.

Over the last several years, the Russian authorities have engaged in a systematic campaign of repression of human rights and restriction of civic space including by shutting down independent media, intimidating and harassing human rights defenders and activists, banning peaceful protest, and imposing impermissible restrictions on the operations of independent civil society organizations in the country, including those that seek justice and effective remedies for human rights violations.

Human rights defenders, activists, and civil society organizations targeted by the Russian authorities include those campaigning for free and fair elections, women’s human rights, and the rights of religious, ethnic, sexual, and gender minorities, as well as those fighting against politically motivated persecution and against corruption and environmental degradation. During the last months, the intimidation, harassment, and attacks have risen to a new level. Indeed, it has never been more difficult or dangerous for human rights defenders, activists, and civil society organisations to operate in the post-Soviet Russian Federation. Today, we stand in solidarity with a growing chorus of Russian human rights defenders, activists, and civil society organizations calling for the establishment of a Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Russia.

Since the adoption of the March 2022 censorship legislation criminalizing the spreading of supposed “fake news” and independent media reporting on Russia’s armed conflict with Ukraine, authorities blocked access to dozens of independent media and opened scores of criminal cases against human rights defenders, grass roots activists, prominent independent bloggers, journalists and opposition politicians, including Vladimir Kara-Murza, and over 1250 administrative cases throughout Russia. Bogus criminal cases against anti-war protesters are also being opened on various other charges, including criminal hooliganism. Over 15,000 anti-war protesters have been detained. The authorities have instrumentalized counter-extremism and counter-terrorism legislation to fabricate criminal cases against the dissenters. Scores of people, including political opposition figure Alexei Navalny, remain behind bars on politically motivated grounds.

The Russian Federation’s growing repressive policies, combined with the country’s exclusion from the Council of Europe – victims of new human rights violations committed by the Russian Federation from 17 September lost protection under the European Convention on Human Rights– and its diplomatic isolation from those States which have been supportive of human rights and civil society in Russia, make it increasingly difficult for Russian human rights defenders, activists, and civil society organizations to engage with the international community and there is no end in sight. Without robust and genuine international support, and a monitoring mechanism, independent Russian civil society organizations will continue to be left isolated and dangerously exposed.

Given the escalating repression, restrictions on the operations of independent civil society organizations and suppression of civic space, a rigorous monitoring of the human rights situation in Russia is imperative. A dedicated Special Rapporteur mandate would independently collect information and analyse the human rights situation in Russia, allowing Human Rights Council Members to be informed by in-depth and authoritative reports and to make recommendations on how to improve the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in the country. A Special Rapporteur could also serve as a point of contact for Russian human rights defenders, activists, and civil society organizations, within the UN human rights infrastructure at a time when such a role is critical. A Special Rapporteur would provide an important independent voice to speak up against deepening restrictions to human rights in Russia and on behalf of those facing intimidation, harassment, and reprisal for their activism or their human rights work.

While it is important that existing thematic Special Procedures continue to address the situation of the Russian Federation within the scope of their respective mandates, it is critical that there be a single expert that can tie the various strands together and address the situation in a holistic manner and who can more fully engage with Russian authorities, as well as with human rights defenders, activists, and civil society organizations.

We count on your delegation to show solidarity with Russian human rights defenders, activists, and independent civil society organizations by supporting a resolution establishing a Special Rapporteur mandate on the human rights situation in Russia.

19.09.2022. MALI. La PEC préoccupée par la détérioration de la liberté de la presse au Mali

Avec Hamidou El Hadji Touré, représentant de la PEC pour le Sahel

Genève, 19 septembre 2022 (PEC) La Presse Emblème Campagne (Press Emblem Campaign www.pressemblem.ch) est très préoccupée par la détérioration de la liberté de la presse au Mali. L’ONG basée à Genève demande que le sort des journalistes disparus soit éclairci et que le Conseil des droits de l’homme de l’ONU, lors de son débat sur les disparitions forcées, exhorte les autorités à respecter leurs engagements en matière de droits humains et à garantir la sécurité des journalistes.

La liberté d’expression est compromise par des menaces anonymes et des emprisonnements sans procès. «Soit on se tait, soit on fait la propagande des militaires et on s’aligne, soit on quitte le pays», résume un observateur ayant requis l’anonymat. Depuis le coup d’État ayant balayé le président légalement élu Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta le 18 août 2020, la liberté de la presse n’a cessé de se dégrader.

Multiples enlèvements

Les responsables des organisations de journalistes sont plus qu’inquiets et multiplient les appels. Ils ont vivement dénoncé les enlèvements de journalistes au centre et au nord du pays, notamment Olivier Dubois, Amadou Dicko et Hamadou Nialibouly. Le dossier n’avance toujours pas sur le cas de Birama Touré, disparu à Bamako le 29 janvier 2016. Selon une enquête de RSF, il est très probablement mort sous la torture dans les locaux des services de renseignement en 2016.

Le journaliste français Olivier Dubois a été enlevé à Gao le 8 avril 2021 et est l’otage du Groupe de soutien à l’islam et aux musulmans (GSIM). Né en 1974 à Paris, correspondant pour Le Point et Libération, c’est un spécialiste du Sahel qui vit au Mali depuis 2015.

Hamadoun Nialibouly, journaliste malien travaillant pour la radio Dande Douentza (la Voix de Douentza) a été descendu d’un car le 27 septembre 2020 à Mandjo, dans la région de Mopti, alors qu’il rentrait de Bamako après y avoir suivi un atelier de formation de journalistes dans le cadre du projet Mali Media. Ses ravisseurs ne seraient pas des djihadistes mais une milice de chasseurs traditionnels. Il est retenu depuis près de deux ans et l’on reste sans aucune nouvelle de son sort. Les enquêtes de police n’ont pas permis de retrouver les ravisseurs.

Moussa M’Bana Dicko, journaliste malien chef des programmes de la radio Dande Haire (La Voix de Hairé) a été enlevé chez lui à Boni (secteur de Douentza) le 18 avril 2021 par des présumés djihadistes. Ils ont expliqué à sa famille qu’il aurait tenu des propos critiques à leur encontre. Deouis son enlèvement seul un ex-codétenu a donné de ses nouvelles il y a plus de trois mois.

Recrudescence de la violence

Selon l’Expert indépendant sur le Mali, Alioune Tine, le pays d’Afrique de l’Ouest subit une grave recrudescence de la violence, perpétrée à la fois par les soldats djihadistes affiliés à Al-Qaïda et à l'État Islamique (EI), ainsi que les groupes communautaires et les forces maliennes. Les populations civiles sont les premières touchées, avec de nombreuses disparitions forcées et des allégations de torture. Un rapport de la mission de l'ONU au Mali (MINUSMA) avait déjà confirmé l'assassinat de 584 civils en 2021, un chiffre qui pourrait augmenter en 2022. « Le grand problème aujourd’hui, c’est l’impunité », affirme l’expert indépendant, qui soulignait, le 29 mars devant le Conseil des droits de l’homme, le manque d’enquêtes, la lenteur des procédures judiciaires et l’absence de juges d’instruction.

Le Mali, comme tout le Sahel, est devenu un pays encore plus dangereux après le départ des derniers soldats français de l’opération Barkhane le 15 août dernier. Deux reporters de RFI Ghislaine Dupont et Claude Verlon y ont été assassinés en 2013. Les journalistes espagnols Roberto Fraile et David Beriain, ont été tués lors d'une attaque au Burkina Faso le 26 avril 2021.

Les autorités maliennes se sont depuis tournées vers la Russie pour le soutien militaire, avec des instructeurs que Paris et Washington accusent d’être des mercenaires du groupe Wagner. Le président de la Maison de la presse au Mali place néanmoins toute sa confiance en la justice malienne et invite les autorités à œuvrer pour retrouver et libérer les journalistes détenus.

25.08.2022. AFGHANISTAN. AFJC Records 245 Cases of Media Violation During the First Year of Taliban Rule in Afghanistan

(Kabul) - Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) issued its report about the state of media freedom in Afghanistan during the first year of Taliban rule, which has noticed a significant increase in cases of violation of media freedom and the closure of almost half of media outlets in the country.

The report finds a deterioration in press freedom over the past year, marked by censorship, detentions, assaults, and restrictions on media outlets, journalists, and in particular women journalists.

The report which covers one year of Taliban’s rule (August 15, 2021, to August 15, 2022), underlines that a total of 245 cases of violations against media freedom in Afghanistan, including 130 cases of short-term detention of journalists, which lasted from one hour to several hours and even some months that often included physical violence, insults and even torture of journalists. Additionally, during this period, at least 80 cases of threats, 28 cases of physical harassment mostly by the Taliban security forces, and five cases of injuries by the Taliban were documented.

Meanwhile, AFJC recorded two cases of killings, including the death of Alireza Ahmadi a reporter for Raha News Agency, and Najma Sadeqi a former presenter of Jahan-e-Sehat TV channel in the deadly explosion at Kabul Airport, who were trying to flee the country following fall of Kabul in mid-August 2021.

The report indicates that over half of 600 media outlets, including radio and television, print and online, have ceased operations and over 60% of journalists and media employees have not been able to work after the Taliban took power. The findings suggest that over 30% of the remaining media outlets are on the verge of collapse for certain reasons which include a significant decrease in the media funds, absence of media professionals, lack of rights and business advertisements, and the increasing restrictions imposed on media. The restrictive directives have opened the way to censorship and persecution, and largely deprive journalists of their independence. Female journalists are largely banned from state-run media outlets, and those in the private sector can appear on TV only if their faces are covered.

Media outlets require to seek permission before publishing. With media no longer able to broadcast music and entertainment programs, sources of advertising revenue have shrunk and many outlets ceased work.

There are fears that the current environment of apprehension could be used to harass female journalists, many of whom have already fled the country in the wake of the Taliban’s takeover last year.

AFJC calls for press freedom to be respected in Afghanistan, as well as an end to all forms of violation of press freedoms. It calls on the Taliban to implement the Afghan media laws including mass media and access to information laws to ensure press freedom and to reinstate the joint media and government committee which was established in 2016 to address the security concerns and press freedom violations.

The AFJC calls on the international community to stand in solidarity with Afghan journalists and help ensure their safety and media freedom, given the role they play in a peaceful and democratic transition during and after the peace negotiations. AFJC also urges the international community to increase its support for Afghanistan’s media, which will help press freedom and freedom of expression to be maintained.

30.06.2022. PEC press release (French and Spanish after English) - The number of journalists killed has doubled

Geneva, June 30, 2022 (PEC) Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) is appalled by the large number of journalists killed in the first six months of 2022. The year-on-year increase is 100% with 72 victims in 18 countries since January compared to 36 deaths in the same period last year.

"The war in Ukraine and the rampant criminality in Mexico are the main reasons of this alarming deterioration", said PEC President Blaise Lempen.

In Ukraine, the conflict triggered by Russia has claimed in 4 months 30 victims among media workers, 16 in the line of duty and 14 journalists killed in fightings as soldiers or volunteers in the army. The circumstances of each death must be independently clarified and those responsible must be brought to justice. Russian and Ukrainian authorities must ensure that journalists are not targeted while covering the ongoing fighting and that they can work freely.

In six months, Mexico with 12 victims exceeded the figure for the whole of last year (10 killed).

With 4 killed, India comes after Ukraine and Mexico. Haiti, Pakistan and Yemen followed with 3 killed in each country.

PEC also recorded 2 victims in Bangladesh, Brazil, Honduras, Israel/Palestine, and Philippines, and 1 victim in each of the following countries: Chad, Chile, Guatemala, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, Turkey and the United States.

There must be no impunity. All these crimes must be fully investigated without exception.

In light of this very worrying deterioration, PEC has renewed its call to the United Nations for the adoption of an international convention strengthening the protection of journalists with investigation and prosecution mechanisms. By 2021, 79 media workers had been killed and 92 by 2020 for the whole year.

List of victims on our page Casualties. For journalists killed in Ukraine, read below the report of the PEC correspondent

Le nombre des journalistes tués a doublé

Genève, 30 juin 2022 (PEC) La PEC (Presse Emblème Campagne) est consternée par le grand nombre de journalistes tués au cours des six premiers mois de 2022. La hausse d’une année sur l’autre atteint 100% avec 72 victimes dans 18 pays depuis janvier contre 36 morts pour la même période de l’an dernier.

«La guerre en Ukraine et la criminalité galopante au Mexique sont les principaux responsables de cette détérioration alarmante», a déclaré le président de la PEC Blaise Lempen.

En Ukraine, le conflit déclenché par la Russie a fait 30 victimes parmi les travailleurs des médias, dont 16 dans l’exercice de leurs fonctions et 14 comme soldats ou volontaires dans l’armée.

Les circonstances de chaque mort devront être élucidées de manière indépendante et leurs responsables jugés. Les autorités russes et ukrainiennes doivent s’assurer que les journalistes ne sont pas visés en couvrant les combats en cours et qu’ils peuvent travailler librement.

En six mois, le Mexique avec 12 victimes a dépassé le bilan de l’ensemble de l’année dernière (10 tués). L’inde vient après l’Ukraine et le Mexique avec quatre tués.

Haiti, le Pakistan et le Yémen déplorent trois tués dans chaque pays. La PEC a aussi recensé deux victimes au Bangladesh, Brésil, Honduras, Israel/Palestine, et aux Philippines, ainsi qu’une victime dans chacun de ces pays: Chili, Guatemala, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, Tchad, Turquie et États-Unis.

Il ne doit pas y avoir d’impunité. Tous ces crimes doivent faire l’objet d’enquêtes complètes sans exception. Compte tenu de cette détérioration très préoccupante, la PEC a réitéré son appel à l’ONU pour l’adoption d’une convention internationale renforçant la protection des journalistes avec des mécanismes d’enquête et de poursuite. En 2021, 79 travailleurs des médias avaient été tués et 92 en 2020 sur l’ensemble de l’année.

Liste des victimes sur notre page Casualties. Pour le détail des journalistes tués en Ukraine, lire le rapport de notre correspondant ci-dessous

SE DUPLICA EL NÚMERO DE PERIODISTAS ASESINADOS

Ginebra, 30 de junio de 2022 (PEC).- La Campaña Emblema de Prensa (PEC, por sus siglas en inglés) está consternada por la gran cantidad de periodistas asesinados en los primeros seis meses de 2022. El aumento interanual es del 100% con 72 víctimas en 18 países desde enero, en comparación con 36 muertes en el mismo período del año pasado.

“La guerra en Ucrania y la criminalidad desenfrenada en México son las principales razones de este alarmante deterioro”, dijo el presidente de la PEC, Blaise Lempen.

En Ucrania, el conflicto desencadenado por Rusia se ha cobrado, en 4 meses, 30 víctimas entre los trabajadores de los medios (16 en el cumplimiento de su deber y 14 periodistas muertos en combates como soldados o voluntarios del ejército).

Las circunstancias de cada muerte deben esclarecerse de forma independiente y los responsables deben comparecer ante la justicia. Las autoridades rusas y ucranianas deben garantizar que los periodistas no sean atacados mientras cubren los combates en curso y que puedan trabajar libremente.

En seis meses, México, con 12 víctimas, superó la cifra de todo el año pasado (10 muertos).

Con 4 muertos, India viene detrás de Ucrania y México.

Le siguen Haití, Pakistán y Yemen con 3 muertos en cada país; la PEC también registró 2 víctimas en Bangladesh, Brasil, Honduras, Israel/Palestina y Filipinas, y 1 víctima en cada uno de los siguientes países: Chad, Chile, Guatemala, Kazajstán, Myanmar, Turquía y Estados Unidos.

No debe haber impunidad. Todos estos crímenes deben ser investigados a fondo sin excepción. Ante este preocupante deterioro, la PEC ha renovado su llamado a las Naciones Unidas para la adopción de una convención internacional que fortalezca la protección de los periodistas con mecanismos de investigación y enjuiciamiento.

Para 2021, 79 trabajadores de los medios habían sido asesinados y 92 para 2020 durante todo el año.

22.06.2022. INTERVIEW PARUE DANS EDITO, le magazine suisse des médias

« Lutter contre l’impunité est essentiel»

Début avril, l’ONG Presse Emblème Campagne (PEC) s’alarmait, de Genève, du grand nombre de

journalistes tués au cours des trois premiers mois de l’année. La hausse atteignait plus de 150% avec 38

victimes dans 15 pays par rapport à la même période de l’an dernier. Entretien avec le président de la PEC

(www.pressemblem.ch), Blaise Lempen.

PAR JEAN-LUC WENGER, rédacteur en chef d'EDITO

Journaliste et écrivain, Blaise Lempen nous reçoit chez lui, à Féchy, un village tranquille plus connu pour ses étiquettes de chasselas (et le contenu de ses bouteilles) que pour la géopolitique mondiale. Pas loin d’Aubonne, donc de Morges, entretien dans son paisible jardin.

EDITO : Nous venons de vivre deux crises mondiales affectant la sécurité des journalistes, la pandémie du Covid et la guerre en Ukraine. Qu’est-ce qui a changé pour les journalistes avec l’apparition du Covid ?

Blaise Lempen : Depuis le début de la crise sanitaire, les journalistes ont été particulièrement exposés. De par leur profession, certains d’entre eux ont dû rester au contact des gens, témoigner sur le terrain. Ils ne pouvaient évidemment pas pratiquer le télétravail ! Ils ont été au contact de personnes porteuses du virus et ont dû se rendre dans les hôpitaux. Or, ils manquaient souvent de protection dans plusieurs pays. Nous avons plaidé pour une vaccination prioritaire avec le soutien d’associations locales.

Où ces problèmes étaient-ils les plus aigus ?

En Amérique latine en général, au Brésil en particulier. Là, les difficultés ont été énormes, faute de politique de santé publique correcte. En 2 ans de pandémie, au moins 2000 journalistes ont succombé au virus dans le monde. Les pays avec la plus forte mortalité ont été le Brésil, l’Inde, le Pérou, le Mexique, la Colombie puis les Etats-Unis.

Comment jugez-vous la situation des journalistes aujourd’hui en Ukraine ?

L’Ukraine vit une situation dramatique. J’ai l’impression d’assister à une répétition de la situation en Syrie entre 2011 et 2019, avec ses nombreux journalistes tués. Dans les deux cas, les violations des Conventions de Genève qui protègent les travailleurs des médias en tant que civils se sont multipliées. Il suffit de penser à Boutcha ou à Irpin, au nord de Kyiv. Ailleurs aussi, des journalistes, des fixeurs, ont été attaqués et assassinés alors qu’ils affichaient clairement le badge « presse ».

Rappelez-nous ce qu’il s’est passé à Irpin.

Dans le cas d’Irpin, il s’agissait d’un professionnel expérimenté qui travaillait pour le New York Times et qui avait sur lui un matériel adéquat. Photographe et réalisateur indépendant, Brent Renaud restera comme le premier journaliste étranger tué depuis l’invasion russe de l’Ukraine le 24 février. Maks Levin, Pierre Zakrzewski et le journaliste français Frédéric Leclerc-Imhoff, correspondant de BFMTV, ont également payé de leur vie leur passion d’informer aux côtés de courageux journalistes ukrainiens.

Comment recueillez-vous les informations sur le terrain ?

Nous répertorions les victimes au jour le jour, grâce à nos correspondants sur place, aux réseaux sociaux, aux médias locaux. En Ukraine, nous collaborons par exemple avec un journaliste Andrii Ianitskyi qui publie une synthèse chaque semaine. C’est une forme de soutien. Aujourd’hui, à la différence d’il y a 20 ans, les sources d’informations sont multiples, grâce aux réseaux sociaux qui nous apportent directement des témoignages. Les images satellites (prises sans risques) sont également précieuses, tout comme celles prises avec des drones. Les photographes, qui sont souvent les plus visés, sont moins exposés grâce à l’utilisation d’images filmées avec des drones. Néanmoins, il faut aller sur le terrain. Le journaliste indépendant genevois Guillaume Briguet peut en témoigner. Attaqué par des soldats russes, il a été blessé et son matériel volé. Oui, les freelances prennent le plus de risques pour rentabiliser leur voyage.

Qu’en est-il de la possibilité d’informer en temps de guerre ?

Cette liberté est limitée, parce que des combattants ne respectent pas les Conventions de Genève. Outre les tués, il y a les blessés, par exemple victimes d’éclats d’obus. Dans les parties qu’elle occupe, la Russie a un total contrôle de l’information. Les journalistes sont embarqués, et leurs informations censurées. Certains professionnels russes indépendants doivent travailler depuis la Pologne. Le plus important est de lutter contre l’impunité. C’est la raison pour laquelle il faut faire connaître ces crimes. Leurs responsables doivent être identifiés et jugés.

Comment est organisée la PEC ?

J’en suis le cofondateur avec une Égyptienne Hedayat Abdel Nabi, malheureusement décédée en mars dernier au Caire. La PEC est née en 2004, en réaction à la guerre menée par les Américains en Irak, à l’initiative de journalistes de plusieurs nationalités accrédités à l’ONU à Genève. Nous militons pour une Convention internationale, renforçant la protection des journalistes, mais nous sommes confrontés aux résistances des États autoritaires. Même les Etats-Unis et la France, qui ont des troupes un peu partout dans le monde, ne se sont pas ralliés à cette idée jusqu’ici. Nous le regrettons. La Fédération internationale des journalistes (FIJ) défend le projet de Convention, les syndicats français aussi. A chaque conflit, la question se repose de manière aigue. Que cela soit au Yémen ou en Ukraine. Les témoignages de crimes de guerre ne suffisent pas comme preuves pour la Cour pénale internationale, il faut des enquêtes indépendantes. Mais nous restons confiants : la justice se mettra en marche.

Quel est le levier politique de la PEC ?

Nous avons soutenu à l’ONU une dizaine de résolutions sur la sécurité des journalistes, deux sont parvenues jusqu’au Conseil de sécurité. Grâce à ce travail d’information, avec d’autres ONG, comme la FIJ, RSF, le CPJ, l’IPI, le problème a gagné en visibilité. Il y a des avancées, au Mexique, où la criminalité est galopante, les autorités ont par exemple pris des mesures de protection, hélas insuffisantes.

Le 2 novembre a été déclaré « Journée internationale de la fin de l’impunité pour les crimes commis contre des journalistes ». Un petit pas. Il ne faut pas oublier l’Irak, la Syrie, le Yémen, l’Afghanistan, les territoires palestiniens occupés, où une journaliste très connue d’Al-Jazeera Shireen Abu Akleh vient d’être tuée d’une balle dans la tête…

Parlez-nous d’un livre qui décrirait votre engagement.

J’ai écrit « Massacres sans témoins » en 2007. Le livre relate la mort d’un cameraman sur le balcon de l’Hôtel Palestine à Bagdad en 2003. J’évrivais déjà alors : «Le journaliste a une mission essentielle dans l’exercice des droits démocratiques : il doit informer, quels que soient les pressions, les menaces ou les risques ».

Encadré :

Pour une convention internationale

La Presse Emblème Campagne (PEC) est une organisation non gouvernementale avec statut consultatif spécial à l’ONU. La PEC a été fondée en juin 2004 par un groupe de journalistes de plusieurs pays. Basée à Genève, l’organisation non gouvernementale est indépendante et à but non lucratif. Son objectif est de renforcer la protection et la sécurité des journalistes dans les zones de conflits. La PEC est en faveur de l’adoption d’une nouvelle convention internationale pour améliorer la protection des travailleurs des médias. Elle est soutenue par près de 60 ONG et associations de journalistes dans le monde. En 2021, 79 travailleurs des médias avaient été tués et 92 en 2020. Ils sont déjà près de 60 jusqu’au 31 mai de cette année.

Bio express

Blaise Lempen est né en 1950 à Berne. Il a grandi au gré des affectations de son père diplomate : Belgrade, Paris, Rome. Il est diplômé du Centre universitaire d’enseignement du journalisme à Strasbourg et docteur en sciences politiques de l’Université de Lausanne. Entre 1975 et 1990, il est journaliste de politique étrangère à La Tribune de Lausanne-Le Matin. Il travaille ensuite

quatre ans à La Suisse, puis est correspondant auprès des Nations unies à Genève pour l’Agence télégraphique suisse (ATS) entre 1994 et 2015. Son dernier ouvrage : « La dictature numérique en marche, société de l’hypersurveillance : un appel à la vigilance » est paru en 2021 aux Editions L’Harmattan. Il est par ailleurs l’auteur de quatorze autres essais.

Exergue :

« Il ne faut pas oublier l’Irak, la Syrie, l’Afghanistan, le Yémen, la Palestine… »

10.05.2022. UKRAINE. 6th report on the State of Media in Ukraine during the War (April 22 - May 10) – Pulitzer special citation for Ukrainian journalists amid rising death toll

by Andrii Ianitsky, PEC representative in Ukraine

Lviv (Ukraine), 10 May 2022. 

Key Ukrainian topics: fear of nuclear war, fuel shortage and life in Russian-occupied territories

We have identified three main topics in the Ukrainian media space, which caused the most attention during the observation period, empirically.

Fear of nuclear war. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the topic of nuclear war has been in the news. A few days after the invasion, when Vladimir Putin realized his failure, he put nuclear missiles on alert. Later, this topic was discussed by many experts and politicians, and recently the head of the Russian state-owned rocket company Roscosmos wrote on his Twitter that "in a nuclear war, we will destroy NATO in half an hour, but we must not allow it." The media began to write instructions on what to do during a nuclear explosion, which only heightened the concerns.

Economic problems during the war, in particular fuel shortages. After two months of active hostilities, Ukrainians in the rear began to feel the consequences. With rising prices and unemployment, the people of Ukraine have already reconciled. The exchange rate of the national currency hryvnia is fixed. But until recently, automobile fuel was in abundance. Russian bombing of oil storage facilities and oil refineries, coupled with an attempt by the authorities to regulate prices, led to fuel shortages. 

In 2014, Russian troops occupied 4 out of 27 administrative centers of Ukraine: Sevastopol, Simferopol, Donetsk, Luhansk. In 2022, the Russians captured the 5th administrative center, Kherson, and several other cities. Ukrainian media are closely following the life of the occupied regions, but this is not easy. The first thing Russians do in the territories they occupied is to turn off Ukrainian media, harass journalists, and often cut off communications and monitor Internet traffic.

More and more journalists die in the war in Ukraine

Already 26 journalists and media persons were killed (local and international both), dozens wounded. 

The list of killed journalists in the line of duty:

1. Yevhen Sakun, cameraman of LIVE TV channel (died on March 1 during the Russian rocket attack on the TV tower in Kyiv);

2. Brent Renaud, a former correspondent for The New York Times (shot dead by Russians on March 13 in Irpen at a checkpoint);

3. Pierre Zakrzewski, cameraman for Fox News, an Irish citizen (killed on March 14 during an artillery shelling by Russian troops in the village of Gorenka, Kyiv region).

4. Oleksandra Kuvshynova, Ukrainian producer, journalist (killed on March 14 together with Pierre Zakrzewski during an artillery shelling by Russian troops in the village of Gorenka, Kyiv region).

5. Oksana Baulina, a journalist for Russia's The Insider and Oleksiy Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation (killed on March 23 during an Russian shelling in Kyiv while performing an editorial assignment).

6. Dilerbek Shakirov, a civilian journalist of the information weekly "Around You" (was shot dead by Russians at a blockpost in the suburbs of Kherson on February 26)

7. Viktor Diedov, cameraman of Sigma TV from Mariupol (died on March 11 as a result of shelling of his house)

8. Maks Levin, famous Ukrainian photojournalist, has not been heard from since 13 March, when he was reporting in the Vyshgorod district, north of Kyiv. On April 2 he was found dead in the Kyiv region in places of massacre of civilians.

9. Eugene Bal, 78 yo journalism veteran, died near Mariupol on April 2. He was kidnapped and tortured by the Russian military for three days in late March. After his release, his health deteriorated and he died.

10. Olexander Lytkin, journalist dtp.kiev.ua. The circumstances of his death are unknown. His name among the dead was published by the office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine without details. 

11. Roman Nezhyborets, video technician was killed in the Ukrainian village of Yahidne. His body was found by Ukrainian volunteers on 6 April after Russian troops withdrew from the area. Nezhyborets’ body had gunshot wounds in the knees and his hands were tied. 

12. Zoreslav Zamoysky, local residents in Bucha found his body on a street in the city in early April, according to statements by the Ukrainian National Union of Journalists (NUJU) and the Irpin city council. Those sources did not state the exact date his body was found. 

13. Oksana Gaydar, Ukrainian journalist and blogger died because of shelling on 11-12 April near Brovary city in Kyiv region, according to NUJU.

14. Vira Gyrych, journalist and produser of Radio Liberty local branch, was killed as result of Russian missile hitting building in Kyiv on April 29. 

Journalists who were killed not in the line of duty (as soldiers or volunteers).

15. Victor Dudar, who was a military journalist and served as a part of the Armed forces, was killed in battle on March 6, near Mykolaiv.

16. Oleg Yakunin, the editor of the Zaporizhia site Misto.zp.ua, was killed in battle on March 25 on military service. 

17. Yuriy Oliynyk, the operator of the 24th channel was killed in battle on March 23 in the Luhansk oblast, near Popasna. Yuriy was a volunteer in the 24 separate mechanized brigade named after King Danylo.

18. Pasha Lee, Ukrainian actor and TV host, has been killed by shelling in the city of Irpin.

19. Serhyi Pushenko, graphic artist and painter who worked with media, killed by Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups in Kyiv region on 2 March.

20. Sergey Zaikovsky, publicist and translator who worked with media, killed in Kyiv region on 24 March. 

21. Denis Kotenko, one of press-officers of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, killed in Kyiv region on 24 March.

22. Maxim Medinskiy, a local online journalist from Odesa region, died on May 6 in a fight.

23. Evgen Starinets, mediamanager of Cherkasy branch of the Ukrainian public Suspilne TV, died in the eastern front on Aplril 30.

24. Oleksandr Makhov, Ukrainian TV journalist from ‘Ukraine’ and ‘Ukraine24’ channels was killed by Russian shelling on May 4. 

Killed media persons (people who are connected with the media, but were not directly journalists):

25. Mantas Kvedaravičius, Lithuanian documentary filmmaker and director of the Mariupol film about the war in Donbass, died on April 3 in Mariupol.

26. Lilia Gumyanova, a journalism teacher was killed by Russian shelling in Mariupol on March 19.

The Pulitzer Board awards a special citation to the journalists of Ukraine

On May 10 the Pulitzer Board awarded a special citation to the journalists of Ukraine. They were awarded for their "courage, endurance, and commitment to truthful reporting during Vladimir Putin’s ruthless invasion of their country and his propaganda war in Russia". Journalists in Ukraine, especially in the war zone and in the zones of Russian occupation, are forced to work in conditions of constant risk to their lives and health.

Local media in Ukraine are in dire need of resources

In a recent study of the state of local media in Ukraine, the Media Development Foundation NGO writes that the hostilities exacerbated and highlighted all the problems that remained unresolved in Ukrainian regional newsrooms before the February 24 invasion.

Many teams have vague job descriptions and responsibilities, 29% of respondents said that each member of the team performs the duties of several specialists at the same time. 

38.4% of respondents indicated that one of the problems in their work is the inability to plan ahead. The vast majority of newsrooms now plan their work only a week in advance - 35.84%. These problems are compounded by a lack of resources: 69.12% of respondents noted a lack of funds to continue the normal functioning of newsrooms. 

The data was collected through surveys and in-depth interviews. 39 media organizations took part in the research.

Restrictions on freedom of speech in Ukraine remain

As we wrote in previous reports Ukrainian authorities have tightened control over the media during wartime. Three national news channels tied to former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko have been taken off the digital air. They continue to broadcast on satellite, cable networks, and online but have lost, according to our sources in management, from 20 to 40 percent of their audience.

(Disclosure: the report's author also works for a TV channel that has been taken offline from digital broadcasting)

Other national news channels (both private and public) work together and create the United News marathon. 

The reasons for the restrictions are still unclear, and their legality is questionable. However, the TV channels affected by the restriction have so far refrained from harsh statements and litigation due to the military situation.

Andrii Ianitsky is journalist now based in Lviv and PEC Representative in Ukraine (a.ianitskyi@gmail.com)

His first report was published on 19 March 2022, the second on 28 March 2022, the third on 5 April 2022, fourth on 11 April, fifth on 22 April (read below)

02.05.2022. Press Freedom Day 2022 - PEC press release: Brutal deterioration

(French and Spanish after English)

Geneva, 2 May 2022 (PEC) Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) is alarmed at the sharp deterioration of press freedom caused by the war in Ukraine. Since the beginning of the year, 52 media workers have paid with their lives for doing their job. In Russia, the Kremlin's controls have created a regression in media space unprecedented since the communist era.

On the occasion of Press Freedom Day on 3 May, the PEC is making an urgent appeal for a halt to hostilities in Ukraine and for the independence of the media in Russia to be respected.

"The year-on-year increase in the number of journalists affected by violence is 116%, a very worrying development," said PEC President Blaise Lempen. At least 21 media workers have been killed in the fighting in just over two months of war in Ukraine, many others were wounded, kidnapped, are missing, were threatened, hacked, forced to cease their work.

Access to the war zones in Ukraine is increasingly difficult and dangerous due to the volatile nature of the fighting. Some military units do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. PEC strongly condemns indiscriminate attacks targeting civilians.

"The war in Ukraine, as it was the case in Syria from 2011 to 2019, shows once again the difficulties of testifying for media representatives, in the absence of respect for humanitarian law," denounced Blaise Lempen. The PEC hopes that the investigations carried out by several bodies will shed light on these crimes and that the justice system will be able to do its work impartially.

Russian journalists have also been injured in the fighting, but they have no freedom to report on the situation in the Russian-controlled territories. The measures taken by the authorities in Moscow against independent reporting are a big step backwards. Russian authorities should stop persecuting members of the press for allegedly spreading false information on the war in Ukraine. It is necessary to help Russian journalists who have been able to redeploy abroad.

Support for local Ukrainian media is essential. Many of them do not have the necessary equipment and financial means to continue working in the war zone. They have lost employees who were recruited by the army or who left their home regions for security reasons.

Journée de la liberté de la presse 2022 -  Brutale détérioration

Genève, 2 mai 2022 (PEC) Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) s’alarme de la brutale détérioration de la liberté de la presse provoquée par la guerre en Ukraine. Depuis le début de l’année, 52 travailleurs des médias ont payé de leur vie l’exercice de leur métier. En Russie, les contrôles mis en place par le Kremlin ont créé une régression de l’espace médiatique sans précédent depuis l’ère communiste.

A l’occasion de la Journée de la liberté de la presse le 3 mai, la PEC lance un appel pressant à l’arrêt des hostilités en Ukraine et au respect de l’indépendance des médias en Russie.

«La hausse du nombre des journalistes victimes de violences d’une année sur l’autre est de 116 %, une évolution très inquiétante», a déclaré le président de la PEC Blaise Lempen. Au moins 21 travailleurs des médias ont été tués dans les combats en un peu plus de deux mois de guerre en Ukraine, beaucoup d’autres ont été blessés, kidnappés, sont portés disparus, ont été menacés, piratés, forcés à abandonner leur travail.

L’accès aux zones de guerre en Ukraine est de plus en plus difficile et dangereux, en raison de la nature volatile des affrontements. Certaines unités militaires ne font pas la différence entre civils et combattants. La PEC condamne fermement les attaques indiscriminées visant des civils.

«La guerre en Ukraine, comme ce fut le cas en Syrie de 2011 à 2019, montre encore une fois les difficultés de témoigner pour les représentants des médias, en l’absence de respect du droit humanitaire», a dénoncé Blaise Lempen. La PEC espère que les enquêtes diligentées par plusieurs organes feront toute la lumière sur ces crimes et que la justice pourra faire son travail de manière impartiale.

Des journalistes russes ont aussi été blessés dans les combats, toutefois ils n’ont aucune liberté de manœuvre pour décrire la situation dans les territoires sous contrôle russe. Les mesures prises par les autorités de Moscou à l’encontre de toute information indépendante sont un grand pas en arrière. Les autorités russes doivent mettre un terme à leurs persécutions des membres de la presse pour répandre prétendument de fausses informations sur la guerre en Ukraine. Il est nécessaire d’aider les journalistes russes qui ont pu se redéployer à l’étranger.

Le soutien aux médias locaux ukrainiens est indispensable. Beaucoup d’entre eux n’ont pas les équipements nécessaires et les moyens financiers pour continuer à travailler en zone de guerre. Ils ont perdu des employés recrutés par l’armée ou ayant quitté leur région d’origine pour des raisons de sécurité.

Ginebra, 2 de mayo de 2022 (PEC).- La Campaña del Emblema de Prensa (PEC, por sus siglas en inglés) está alarmada por el fuerte deterioro de la libertad de prensa causado por la guerra en Ucrania. Desde principios de año, 52 trabajadores de los medios de comunicación han pagado con su vida por hacer su trabajo. En Rusia, los controles del Kremlin han creado una regresión en el espacio mediático sin precedentes desde la época comunista.

Con motivo del Día de la Libertad de Prensa, que se celebra el 3 de mayo, la PEC hace un llamamiento urgente para que cesen las hostilidades en Ucrania y se respete la independencia de los medios de comunicación en Rusia.

"El aumento interanual del número de periodistas afectados por la violencia es del 116%, un hecho muy preocupante", ha declarado el presidente de la PEC, Blaise Lempen. Al menos 21 trabajadores de los medios de comunicación han muerto en los combates en poco más de dos meses de guerra en Ucrania, muchos más resultaron heridos, fueron secuestrados, han desaparecido, fueron amenazados, hackeados, obligados a abandonar sus trabajos.

El acceso a las zonas de guerra en Ucrania es cada vez más difícil y peligroso debido a la naturaleza volátil de los combates. Algunas unidades militares no distinguen entre civiles y combatientes. La PEC condena enérgicamente los ataques indiscriminados contra civiles.

"La guerra en Ucrania, al igual que ocurrió en Siria entre 2011 y 2019, muestra una vez más las dificultades de testificar para los representantes de los medios de comunicación, en ausencia de respeto al derecho humanitario", denunció Blaise Lempen. La PEC espera que las investigaciones llevadas a cabo por varios organismos arrojen luz sobre estos delitos y que la justicia pueda hacer su trabajo de forma imparcial.

Los periodistas rusos también han resultado heridos en los combates, pero no tienen libertad para informar sobre la situación en los territorios controlados por Rusia. Las medidas adoptadas por las autoridades de Moscú contra la información independiente son un gran paso atrás. Las autoridades rusas deben poner fin a la persecución de miembros de la prensa por la supuesta difusión de información falsa sobre la guerra en Ucrania. Es necesario ayudar a los periodistas rusos que han podido recolocarse en el extranjero.

El apoyo a los medios de comunicación locales ucranianos es esencial. Muchos de ellos no tienen el equipo ni los medios económicos necesarios para seguir trabajando en la zona de guerra. Han perdido empleados que fueron reclutados por el ejército o que abandonaron sus regiones de origen por razones de seguridad.

23.04.2022. UKRAINE. 5th report on the State of Media in Ukraine during the War (April 12-22) – The besieged and destroyed Ukrainian Mariupol in the spotlight

by Andrii Ianitsky, PEC representative in Ukraine

Lviv (Ukraine), 22 April 2022. 

Key Ukrainian topics in the media: Russian warship and Mariupol

The first big news story for both Ukrainian and world media was the death of the flagship of the Russian fleet in the Black Sea “Moskva" (literally "Moscow"), allegedly from Ukrainian missiles. Until now, neither the exact number of dead Russian sailors, nor the exact circumstances of the sinking of the warship are known. But the fact of the destruction of the craft is recognized by both sides of the war. 

The second dramatic line concerns the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol in the south of the country. Russian troops control almost the entire territory of the city, except for the industrial zone of the Azovstal metallurgical plant. According to the mayor of the city, Vadym Boychenko, there are still over 1,000 civilians and several hundred Ukrainian soldiers in the basements of the plant.

Both stories, as well as the lack of information about what is happening in the Russian-occupied territories in southern Ukraine, raise the difficult issue of access to truthful information during the war. Journalists often have to blindly rely on the words of their sources, since it is impossible to verify information under conditions of war or occupation. This makes journalists and their audiences vulnerable to propaganda.

Investigative journalists are the best at this challenge, thanks to their skills in analyzing social networks, satellite images, documents, databases, and previously verified sources. 

The death toll of media persons in the war is on the rise

Already 21 journalists and media persons were killed (local and international both), dozens wounded. 

The list of killed journalists in the line of duty:

1. Yevhen Sakun, cameraman of LIVE TV channel (died on March 1 during the Russian rocket attack on the TV tower in Kyiv);

2. Brent Renaud, a former correspondent for The New York Times (shot dead by Russians on March 13 in Irpen at a checkpoint);

3. Pierre Zakrzewski, cameraman for Fox News, an Irish citizen (killed on March 14 during an artillery shelling by Russian troops in the village of Gorenka, Kyiv region).

4. Oleksandra Kuvshynova, Ukrainian producer, journalist (killed on March 14 together with Pierre Zakrzewski during an artillery shelling by Russian troops in the village of Gorenka, Kyiv region).

5. Oksana Baulina, a journalist for Russia's The Insider and Oleksiy Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation (killed on March 23 during an Russian shelling in Kyiv while performing an editorial assignment).

6. Dilerbek Shakirov, a civilian journalist of the information weekly "Around You" (was shot dead by Russians at a blockpost in the suburbs of Kherson on February 26)

7. Viktor Diedov, cameraman of Sigma TV from Mariupol (died on March 11 as a result of shelling of his house)

8. Maks Levin, famous Ukrainian photojournalist, has not been heard from since 13 March, when he was reporting in the Vyshgorod district, north of Kyiv. On April 2 he was found dead in the Kyiv region in places of massacre of civilians.

9. Eugene Bal, 78 yo journalism veteran, died near Mariupol on April 2. He was kidnapped and tortured by the Russian military for three days in late March. After his release, his health deteriorated and he died.

10. Olexander Lytkin, journalist dtp.kiev.ua. The circumstances of his death are unknown. His name among the dead was published by the office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine without details. 

11. Roman Nezhyborets, video technician was killed in the Ukrainian village of Yahidne. His body was found by Ukrainian volunteers on 6 April after Russian troops withdrew from the area. Nezhyborets’ body had gunshot wounds in the knees and his hands were tied. 

12. Zoreslav Zamoysky, local residents in Bucha found his body on a street in the city in early April, according to statements by the Ukrainian National Union of Journalists (NUJU) and the Irpin city council. Those sources did not state the exact date his body was found. 

Journalists who were killed not in the line of duty (as soldiers or volunteers).

13. Victor Dudar, who was a military journalist and served as a part of the Armed forces, was killed in battle on March 6, near Mykolaiv.

14. Oleg Yakunin, the editor of the Zaporizhia site Misto.zp.ua, was killed in battle on March 25 on military service. 

15. Yuriy Oliynyk,  the operator of the 24th channel was killed in battle on March 23 in the Luhansk oblast, near Popasna. Yuriy was a volunteer in the 24 separate mechanized brigade named after King Danylo.

16. Pasha Lee, Ukrainian actor and TV host, has been killed by shelling in the city of Irpin.

17. Serhyi Pushenko, graphic artist and painter who worked with media, killed by Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups in Kyiv region on 2 March.

18. Sergey Zaikovsky, publicist and translator who worked with media, killed in Kyiv region on 24 March. 

19. Denis Kotenko, one of press-officers of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, killed in Kyiv region on 24 March.

Killed media persons (people who are connected with the media, but were not directly journalists):

20. Mantas Kvedaravičius, Lithuanian documentary filmmaker and director of the Mariupol film about the war in Donbass, died on April 3 in Mariupol.

21. Lilia Gumyanova, a journalism teacher was killed by Russian shelling in Mariupol on March 19.

Freedom of speech in Ukraine

In our last reports, we wrote how Ukrainian authorities have tightened control over the media in Ukraine during a war time.

Unfortunately, the situation remains the same. Three national news channels with varying ties to former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko have been taken off the digital air. They continue to broadcast on satellite, cable networks and online, but have lost, according to various estimates, from 20 to 40 percent of their audience.

(Disclosure: the report's author also works for a TV channel that has been taken offline from digital broadcasting)

Other national news channels (both private and public) work together and create the United News. These news are broadcast on the frequencies of at least six TV channels and at least one radio station, as well as on the public services digital platform Diia.

Thus, the Ukrainian authorities may be trying to reduce the intensity of criticism after possible truce agreements with Russia. At the same time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky limits the media influence of his political rival, former President Poroshenko.

Another problem is the crisis of local media in Ukraine. Because of the war, many local newsrooms from the east and south of the country were forced to leave for safer western regions. Some of the journalists went to defend their homeland in the army, the other part changed their profession or temporarily stopped working and solves everyday problems associated with relocation. 

According to Eugene Zaslavsky, executive director of the Media Development Foundation, a non-governmental organization, today local media need not only material support and help with relocation. Such editorial offices are losing contact with the communities that they wrote about earlier, they are losing access to sources and their qualified personnel. And new employees of such editorial offices often need intensive training.

It is especially difficult for publications from the territories occupied by Russia to work. But even after the liberation of such territories, the material and technical base of such media is destroyed, and their work is complicated for various reasons. For example, because of the mined lands in previously peaceful cities.

Andrii Ianitsky is journalist now based in Lviv and PEC Representative in Ukraine (a.ianitskyi@gmail.com)

His first report was published on 19 March 2022, the second on 28 March 2022, the third on 5 April 2022, fourth on 11 April (read below)