16.01.2023. FIRST JOURNALIST KILLED in 2023. Bangladeshi journalist murdered, PEC demands fair probe

With Nava Thakuria, PEC South-East Asia Representative

Geneva: New year brings sad news as a young Bangladeshi journalist was killed in the first half of 2023. Ashiqul Islam (27), who worked for Dainik Paryabekhoan from Brahmanbaria locality (which is adjacent to India’s north-eastern State of Tripura) was hacked to death on 9 January by a group of miscreants. Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body condemned the killing and demanded a fair probe to book the culprits under the law.

“We have just passed a deadly year for working journalists with 116 casualties across the world. Ukraine has lost 34 media persons followed by Mexico (17), Haiti (8), Pakistan (6), Philippines (5), Colombia, India (4 each), Bangladesh, Israel/Palestine, Honduras, Yemen (3 each), etc in 2022,” said Blaise Lempen, president of PEC. Urging Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
for a high level enquiry to investigate the motive of perpetrators, Lempen also called for an international convention over the matter of jouno-murders.

PEC’s south Asia representative Nava Thakuria reveals that Ashiqul was returning home attending an evening function when he was targeted by a group of assailants. The culprits left Ashiqul seriously injured. He was taken to a nearby hospital by onlookers, but soon succumbed to wounds. The Bangla police have arrested at least one individual suspecting his involvement with the murder and investigating the motive of killers.

Last year, Bangladesh lost journalists Hashibur Rahaman Rubel, Mohiuddin Sarker Nayeem and Abdul Bari to assailants. On the other hand, India witnessed the murder of Rohit Kumar Biswal, Sudhir Saini, Juned Khan Pathan and Subhash Kumar Mahato. Pakistan lost Sadaf Naeem, Arshad Sharif, Muhammad Younis, Iftikhar Ahmed, Hasnain Shah, Murtaza Shar and Athar Mateen in different incidents. Similarly, Myanmar lost photojournalist Aye Kyaw and reporter Pu Tui Dim to the relentless military atrocities during 2022.

12..01.2023. Table ronde au Club suisse de la presse 12 janvier 2023 : «Quelle liberté de la presse en zone de conflit ?» - La PEC lance un appel à créer un groupe de travail au sein de l’ONU pour l’adoption d’une Convention sur la sécurité des journalistes – intervention du président de la PEC Blaise Lempen

English after French

Vidéo de la table ronde sur: https://pressclub.ch/quelle-liberte-de-la-presse-en-zone-de-conflit/

Merci d’abord au Club suisse de la presse et à l’Union de la presse francophone d’avoir organisé ce débat. Alors que l’Europe se retrouve confrontée à la perspective d’un conflit prolongé, avec des risques d’escalade, la question est plus que jamais d’actualité. Au moins 35 journalistes sont morts en Ukraine depuis février 2022, si l’on ajoute les journalistes morts comme soldats ou tués par des frappes comme civils à ceux morts en exerçant leur métier.

Actuellement, les journalistes sont protégés en tant que civils par les Conventions de Genève.

Toutefois cette protection s’avère insuffisante, car les civils sont de plus en plus souvent mêlés au conflit et la cible des belligérants, comme c’est le cas en Ukraine depuis l’invasion russe de février 2022.

Les travailleurs des médias ont une mission particulière, celle d’informer, qui les différencie des autres civils. Ils doivent témoigner des atrocités sur le terrain, dénoncer les violations du droit humanitaire, de manière impartiale, enquêter pour établir les faits. Je rappelle que protéger les journalistes, c’est protéger la démocratie, car il n’y a pas de démocratie sans information libre.

Pour cela, nous estimons que les travailleurs des médias doivent bénéficier d’une protection renforcée. Depuis sa création la PEC est favorable à l’adoption d’une Convention internationale sur la protection des journalistes. Cette idée gagne du terrain. La Fédération internationale des journalistes a récemment lancé une campagne mondiale pour l’adoption d’une telle Convention.

La PEC avait mené des consultations sur un tel projet en 2007 déjà. Ces consultations avaient été présidées par l’ambassadeur du Mexique à l’ONU Luis Alfonso de Alba, premier président du Conseil des droits de l’homme (créé en 2006), convaincu de la nécessité d’une telle Convention. Une quinzaine d’ambassadeurs avaient répondu à l’appel et nous avons tenu trois séances de discussions informelles. Ces consultations se sont néanmoins interrompues avec le départ de l’ambassadeur de Alba. Des diplomates nous ont alors indiqué qu’ils préféraient procéder par étapes, progressivement. Un groupe d’amis de la sécurité des journalistes a été créé au Conseil des droits de l’homme, sous la houlette de l’Autriche, comprenant également le Brésil, la France, la Grèce, le Maroc, le Qatar et la Tunisie. Depuis 2012, 6 résolutions sur la sécurité des journalistes omt ainsi été adoptées par consensus par le Conseil des droits de l’homme, l’Assemblée générale de l’ONU a suivi avec 6 autres résolutions de même nature et le Conseil de sécurité a adopté 2 résolutions, en 2006 et en 2015, les résolutions 1738 et 2022.

La sensibilisation à cette problématique a donc beaucoup progressé et toutes ces résolutions forment un corpus juridique qui peut servir de base à une Convention. Simultanément, l’UNESCO a établi un plan d’action qui vient de fêter son 10^e anniversaire. Mais il est temps de passer à l’étape suivante.

Avantages d'un traité

Quelles seraient les avantages d’un traité en bonne et dure forme ? D’abord évidemment, le caractère contraignant, les signataires s’engageant à le respecter. Mais aussi le suivi par un comité d’experts, comme c’est le cas pour les autres traités onusiens des droits de l’homme. Les pays devraient donc rapporter régulièrement ce qu’ils ont fait en la matière et le comité pourrait documenter les abus, alerter, et surtout enquêter sur le terrain. Ce qui manque actuellement le plus, ce sont des enquêtes indépendantes. En zone de conflit, les belligérants s’opposent généralement à de telles enquêtes ou alors les exploitent à des fins de propagande. Or, l’impunité est un facteur aggravant. Faute de sanctions, les violations se poursuivent. Une Convention permettrait de combattre plus efficacement l’impunité des auteurs de crimes visant les journalistes. Elle pourrait garantir l’accès aux victimes en tout temps et en tout lieu avec l’instauration de trêves dans les combats, offrir des garanties de sécurité et recommander des mesures de protection (comme la formation, un équipement adéquat, le dialogue avec les parties, le travail en équipe pour minimiser les risques). On peut aussi concevoir des procédures d’indemnisation des victimes et de leur famille.

Les obstacles à surmonter ne sont pas négligeables. Les consultations que nous avons menées ont fait apparaître des clivages. Il y a ceux qui veulent restreindre la portée d’une Convention aux zones de conflit et de violences internes (notion à définir), ceux qui estiment que sa portée doit être universelle, en temps de paix comme en temps de guerre. Il est évident que les nombreuses dictatures qui peuplent la planète ne se rallieront pas au principe de la liberté de la presse, ce qui restreindra l’utilité d’une telle Convention, alors que le concept de sécurité des journalistes, utilisé dans les résolutions du Conseil, est plus consensuel. Par exemple, la Chine a désormais de nombreux journalistes postés à travers le monde et comme les autres ils sont exposés à des risques de violences. Prévoir des mécanismes de protection pourraient aussi leur être utile. Des journalistes russes ont aussi été tués en Ukraine.

Il y a le problème de la définition et de l’identification des journalistes – les blogers, les journalistes-citoyens sont-ils inclus ou non ? Faut-il par ailleurs un emblème universellement reconnu, uniforme, qui serait obligatoire en zone de conflit ou facultatif ? Il est clair qu’il faut s’identifier si l’on veut bénéficier d’une protection supplémentaire. Les travailleurs humanitaires s’identifient aussi dans les zones de conflit.

Il y a la question de la propagande, utilisée par les militaires de tous les camps, celle de l’indépendance des journalistes, notamment lorsqu’ils sont «embedded», embarqué par l’un ou l’autre camp. Peut-on se déplacer avec une escorte armée ? Il y a le problème posé par les enquêtes sur le terrain. Les belligérants devraient donner leur accord, ce qui en limiterait les possibilités réelles, et comment les réaliser dans un contexte de conflit ?

La profession de journaliste a évolué ces dernières années avec de nouveaux outils technologiques: il est aussi nécessaire de discuter de l'utilisation des drones en zone de conflit, de l'influence des réseaux sociaux, de l'exploitation des images satellite.

Toutes ces questions doivent être discutées avec les États, les experts et les représentants de la société civile et des médias. Nous espérons que les travaux pour une telle Convention démarrent cette année et nous appelons pour cela tous les pays membres de l’ONU à se joindre au processus.

Je pense que l’Union européenne pourrait lancer au sein de l’ONU les consultations sans attendre. Les pays latino-américains et beaucoup de pays africains ne devraient pas y être opposés.

Merci pour votre attention.

Roundtable at the Swiss Press Club 12 January 2023: "What press freedom in conflict zones? - PEC calls for the creation of a UN working group for the adoption of a Convention on the safety of journalists - intervention of PEC President Blaise Lempen

First of all, I would like to thank the Swiss Press Club and the Union de la presse francophone for having organised this debate. As Europe faces the prospect of a prolonged conflict, with the risk of escalation, the issue is more topical than ever. At least 35 journalists have died in Ukraine since February 2022, if one adds journalists killed as soldiers or killed by strikes as civilians to journalists who died while doing their job.

Currently, journalists are protected as civilians by the Geneva Conventions.
However, this protection is proving to be insufficient, as civilians are increasingly being drawn into the conflict and targeted by the warring parties, as has been the case in Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February 2022.

Media workers have a particular mission to inform, which differentiates them from other civilians. They must bear witness to atrocities on the ground, denounce violations of humanitarian law in an impartial manner, and investigate to establish the facts. I would like to remind you that protecting journalists means protecting democracy, because there is no democracy without free information.

For this reason, we believe that media workers must benefit from reinforced protection. Since its creation, PEC has been in favour of the adoption of an international convention on the protection of journalists. This idea is gaining ground. The International Federation of Journalists has recently launched a global campaign for the adoption of such a Convention.

The PEC had already conducted consultations on such a project in 2007. These consultations were chaired by Mexican Ambassador to the UN Luis Alfonso de Alba, the first President of the Human Rights Council (established in 2006), who was convinced of the need for such a Convention. Some 15 ambassadors responded to the call and we held three sessions of informal discussions. However, these consultations were interrupted when Ambassador de Alba left. Diplomats told us that they preferred to proceed step by step.

A Group of Friends on the Safety of Journalists has been established at the Human Rights Council, led by Austria, and including Brazil, France, Greece, Morocco, Qatar and Tunisia. Since 2012, 6 resolutions on the safety of journalists have been adopted by consensus by the Human Rights Council, the UN General Assembly has followed with 6 other resolutions of the same nature and the Security Council has adopted 2 resolutions, in 2006 and in 2015, resolutions 1738 and 2022.

Awareness of this issue has therefore increased significantly and all these resolutions form a legal corpus that can serve as a basis for a Convention. At the same time, UNESCO has drawn up an action plan which has just celebrated its 10th anniversary. It^s time to take the next step.

Benefits of a treaty

What would be the benefits of a full-fledged treaty? First of all, obviously, the binding nature, with the signatories committing themselves to respect it. But also the monitoring by a committee of experts, as is the case for other UN human rights treaties. Countries should therefore report regularly on what they have done in this area, and the committee could document abuses, sound the alarm, and above all investigate on the ground.

What is currently most lacking are independent investigations. In conflict zones, the warring parties generally oppose such investigations or exploit them for propaganda purposes. Impunity is an aggravating factor. Without sanctions, violations continue. A convention would be more effective in combating impunity for crimes against journalists. It could guarantee access to victims at all times and in all places with the establishment of truces in fighting, provide safety guarantees and recommend protective measures (such as training, adequate equipment, dialogue with the parties, teamwork to minimise risks). Compensation procedures for victims and their families can also be designed.

The obstacles to be overcome are not insignificant. The consultations we conducted revealed divisions. There are those who want to restrict the scope of a Convention to areas of conflict and internal violence (a concept yet to be defined), and those who believe that its scope should be universal (in war and peace times). It is clear that the many dictatorships around the world will not support the principle of press freedom, which will limit the usefulness of such a Convention, whereas the concept of the safety of journalists, used in Council resolutions, is more consensual. For example, China now has many journalists posted around the world and like others they are at risk of violence. Providing protection mechanisms could also help them. Russian journalists have also been killed in Ukraine.

There is the problem of defining and identifying journalists - are bloggers included or not? Also, is there a need for a universally recognised, uniform emblem that would be mandatory in conflict zones or optional? It is clear that identification is necessary if one is to have additional protection. Humanitarian workers also identify themselves in conflict zones.

There is the question of propaganda, used by the military on all sides, and the question of the independence of journalists, especially when they are "embedded" by one side or the other. Can we travel with an armed escort ? There is the problem of field investigations. The belligerents would have to give their agreement, which would limit the real possibilities, and how to carry them out in a conflict context?

The profession of journalist has evolved in recent years with new technological tools: it is also necessary to discuss the use of drones in conflict zones, the influence of social networks, the exploitation of satellite images.

All these questions need to be discussed with States, experts and representatives of civil society and the media. We hope that work on such a convention will start this year and we call on all UN member states to join the process. I think that the European Union could start the consultations within the UN without delay. The Latin American countries and many African countries should not be opposed to this.

Thank you for your attention.

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.

18.12.2022. PEC mourns China’s first journo-deaths due to Covid-19 complications

With Nava Thakuria, PEC Representative

Geneva/Guwahati, 18 December: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body, mourns the death of two senior journalists, who died of Covid-19 complications in China recently. According to a media report by Reuters with the dateline of Beijing/Shanghai on 16 December 2022, Yang Lianghua (74, a former People’s Daily reporter) died on Thursday, while Zhou Zhichun (77, a former China Youth Daily editor) died a week earlier. They are the first deaths reported in China among journalists since the beginning of the pandemic three years ago.

Both the Chinese media personnel lost the corona battles in Beijing along with many who died after the Communist regime abandoned its strict corona policy on lockdowns. However, the country’s national health authority has not revealed any death due to Covid-19 aggravated ailments since the domestic epidemic control policies were abandoned on 7 December due to unprecedented public protests against President Xi Jinping.
Concerns are expressed as Lunar New Year holidays are starting on 22 January when rural areas would be
inundated by travelers, otherwise those villages and towns were not exposed to the virus in the last three years.

Until March 2022, at least 2000 media workers or former journalists died with Covid-19 in 95 countries around the world, said Blaise Lempen, president of Geneva-based PEC, adding that around one hundred other journalists have died of the novel coronavirus around the world since then. PEC started the corona-ticker in March 2020 to pay tribute to the media corona-victims.

Until March 2022, PEC recorded 30 most affected countries as Brazil (314 media corona-casualties), India (284), Peru (199), Mexico (129), Colombia (80), USA (70), Bangladesh (69), Italy (61), Venezuela (60), Ecuador (52), Argentina (50), Indonesia (43), Russia (42), Iran (35), United Kingdom (33), Dominican Republic (31), Turkey (30), Pakistan (27), Egypt, Nepal (23 each), Bolivia (21), Honduras (20), South Africa, Spain, Ukraine (19 each), Panama (17), Poland (14), France, Guatemala, Nigeria (11 each).

Those are followed by Afghanistan, Nicaragua, Zimbabwe (10 each), Algeria, Cuba, Paraguay (9 each), Philippines (8), Uruguay (7), Kazakhstan, Kenya, Romania (5 each), Morocco, Cameroon, Iraq (4 each), Albania, Azerbaïjan, Costa Rica, Portugal, Salvador, Sweden (3 each), Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Uganda (2 each).

Single journo-victim was reported from Angola, Barbados, Bosnia, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kirghizstan, Kosovo, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malawi, Mali, Moldova, Mozambique, Myanmar, New Zealand, Norway, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Thailand, Togo, Tadjikistan, Tunisia, UAE and Yemen.

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.

27.11.2022. MYANMAR. PEC denounces Myanmar junta for continue jailing scribes

By Nava Thakuria, PEC South Asia Representative

Geneva, 27 November 2022: Press Emblem Campaign, the global media safety and rights body, denounces the Myanmar (Burma/Brahmadesh) junta for continue jailing scribes as Yangon-based freelance journalist Ah Hla Lay Thuzar was recently sentenced to two years in prison with hard labour by a military court. PEC maintains its demand to release all
detained and imprisoned journalists by the Min Aung Hlaing-led military regime in the southeast Asian nation.

Ms Thuzar was convicted by a court inside Insein prison on 22 November for causing fear, spreading false news and agitating crimes against a government employee under section 505 (a) of the penal code, said a report by Mizzima news. She was arrested from Yangon on 1 September last year and detained in Insein prison. Remaining in the profession for nearly 15 years, Thuzar worked for Friday Time Journal, Modern Journal, RFA News, 7 Days News Media, etc.

“We were relieved a few days back when the imprisoned Japanese journalist-filmmaker Toru Kubota along with 6,000 political prisoners were released under a mass amnesty by the military generals. But it was perhaps a trick as thousands of journalists, activists, political workers, etc are still behind the bars. Naypietaw must work sincerely to release them at the earliest,” Blaise Lempen, president of PEC.

PEC’s south & southeast Asia representative Nava Thakuria informed that over 140 journalists have been detained since the military coup in February 2021. Over 40 local journalists and 13,000 political prisoners are living under military custody. Moreover, the generals continued harassing the media fraternity and a large number of media outlets faced the junta crackdown. Many have already closed their offices and shifted to hideouts (including neighbouring countries) for their committed operation.

17.11.2022. MYANMAR. PEC relieved with release of Japanese journalist Toru Kubota; Maintains demand to grant amnesty for thousand other prisoners

By Nava Thakuria, PEC South Asia Representative

Geneva: Press Emblem Campaign, the global media safety and rights body, expresses happiness over the release of Japanese
journalist-filmmaker Toru Kubota along with 6,000 political prisoners in a mass amnesty. However, it maintains the demand to release all detained and imprisoned journalists by the Myanmar (Burma/Brahmadesh) military junta, led by Min Aung Hlaing, at the earliest.

The military rulers on 17 November 2022 released three other imprisoned foreigners namely Sean Turnell (an Australian citizen who was economic adviser to former State counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi), Vicky Bowman (a former British envoy) and US citizen Kyaw Htay Oo. But even today, over 40 local journalists and 13,000 political prisoners are living behind bars in the southeast Asian country.

“We had earlier expressed concern over the continued arrest and imprisonment of journalists and human rights defenders in Myanmar following the junta’s notorious electronic transactions law. No less than 140 journalists were arrested since military coup in February 2021. The military generals even continue harassing the media persons, who dare to make critical comment against the regime in Naypietaw. By now, a good number of media outlets close their offices and shifted to hideouts for their operation,” said Blaise Lempen, president of PEC.

PEC’s south & southeast Asia representative Nava Thakuria informed that Japanese media personality Toru Kubota was arrested on 30 July from Yangon and faced 10 years of imprisonment from a military court on 6 October. Toru covered a protest demonstration against the brutal military rulers for international media outlets and he was accused of spreading false information about the Rohingya people. He was made guilty of inciting violence under the new electronic law of Myanmar
military dictators.

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.

Communiqué de presse de la PEC - Journée internationale pour mettre fin à l'impunité des crimes contre les journalistes : il faut en faire plus

Genève, le 1er novembre (PEC) Il faut en faire plus pour combattre l'impunité sur le terrain, a déclaré la Campagne Emblème de Presse (PEC) à l'occasion de la Journée internationale pour mettre fin à l'impunité des crimes contre les journalistes, le 2 novembre 2022. Des progrès lents sont réalisés, mais encore très insuffisants. La PEC lance un appel à commencer le travail pour une convention internationale.

Récemment, cinq ans après le meurtre de Daphne Caruana Galizia en octobre 2017 à Malte, deux frères ont été condamnés à 40 ans de prison le 14 octobre, La justice est très lente mais c'est mieux que rien.

Au Mexique, trois personnes ont été condamnées le 28 octobre pour le meurtre de la journaliste Lourdes Maldonado tuée le 23 janvier 2021.

Malgré ces rares exemples, l'impunité prévaut dans la plupart des crimes. Les cerveaux du crime ne sont pas poursuivis. Selon un récent rapport de l'UNESCO, 86% des crimes contre les journalistes sont restés impunis. En 10 ans, la baisse n'est que de 9%. L'UNESCO a signalé une tendance à la hausse des cas résolus dans le monde, passant de 11% en 2018 à 14% en 2022.

2022 sera une année particulièrement meurtrière pour les journalistes avec déjà 107 professionnels des médias tués (voir notre liste des victimes : https://pressemblem.ch/casualties.shtml ). C'est une augmentation de 57% en 10 mois par rapport à l'année dernière. L'Ukraine, le Mexique, le Pakistan et Haïti sont jusqu'à présent les pays les plus dangereux pour les journalistes cette année.

Il est très important que les meurtres en Ukraine ne restent pas impunis et que les circonstances de ces crimes fassent l'objet d'une enquête indépendante.

La PEC appelle à nouveau les gouvernements à soutenir l'adoption d'une Convention des Nations Unies sur la sécurité des journalistes et autres professionnels des médias. Malgré l'adoption de 13 résolutions sur la sécurité des journalistes aux Nations Unies et l'adoption du Plan d'action des Nations Unies sur la sécurité des journalistes et l'impunité qui commémore son 10ème anniversaire, les journalistes continuent d'être attaqués pour avoir fait leur travail. Il est urgent d'adopter un instrument contraignant qui obligerait les gouvernements à s'attaquer à l'impunité pour les violences visant les journalistes et le personnel des médias, à enquêter et à poursuivre les responsables.

À cet égard, PEC salue la campagne mondiale pour l'adoption d'une Convention internationale dédiée à la protection des journalistes et des professionnels des médias, officiellement lancée par la Fédération internationale des journalistes (FIJ) lors de la 51e session du Conseil des droits de l'homme de l'ONU à Genève le 30 septembre 2022.

La Convention met en évidence les faiblesses et les lacunes existantes dans le droit international humanitaire et des droits de l'homme, ainsi que l'absence de mécanismes d'application efficaces. Plus de 60 syndicats de journalistes et de médias, associations, organes représentatifs des médias, organisations de médias et ONG à travers le monde ont déjà soutenu la convention.

Le PEC appelle l'Union européenne à prendre la tête du processus d'adoption de la convention. L'UE doit montrer son engagement en faveur de la liberté de la presse et de la liberté d'expression non seulement en paroles mais aussi en actes.

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.

12.10.2022. MYANMAR. PEC condemns continued harassment to scribes in Myanmar

With Nava Thakuria, PEC South Asia Representative

Geneva: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) condemns the continued arrest and imprisonment of journalists in Myanmar, and urges the military authority to release all media persons detained, arrested or imprisoned in fake cases across the southeast Asian nation. The global media safety and rights body also demanded the Burmese military rulers to withdraw the notorious electronic transactions law, under which a large number of scribes and human rights activists have been punished since the military coup in February 2021.

Media reports from Yangon, the former capital of Myanmar reveal that the military junta controlled judicial machinery imprisoned outspoken political columnist U Sithu Aung Myint for three years with hard labour on 5 October 2022. The veteran journalist, who worked for SkyNet, Frontier Myanmar, Voice of America’s Burmese service, etc was arrested from Yangon on 15 August
last year. Ma Htet Htet Khine, another Burmese journalist arrested along with Sithu Aung Myint, was already sentenced to six years in prison on 15 September.

Meanwhile, a Japanese video journalist Toru Kubota, who was arrested on 30 July from Yangon, faces a 10 years sentence term from the court on 6 October. Toru Kubota, who covered a protest demonstration against the brutal military rulers for various international media outlets like BBC, Al-Jazeera, Vice Japan, etc was accused of spreading false information about the Rohingya people. The Japanese scribe was made guilty under the new electronic law of Myanmar and also incitement.

“It’s shocking that more than 140 journalists have been arrested by the junta forces in Myanmar since last year’s coup and over 55 of them are still under military custody. Along with the censorship, military generals continued harassment and physical attacks on journalists, who dared to report critically against the regime in Naypietaw. A number of media outlets have closed their offices inside Myanmar and shifted to hideouts for relentless operation,” said Blaise Lempen, president of PEC.

PEC’s southeast Asia representative Nava Thakuria added that the military dictators had recently opened a number of cases against the Rakhine media outlets like Narinjara News Agency, Development Media Group, Western News, etc. Narinjara editor U Khaing Myat Kyaw stated that it has become usual to target the media fraternity in Myanmar as the junta finds it difficult to face critical media columns. Days back, the military personnel raided the Narinjara office in Sittwe and it remains closed till date. However the outlet continues uploading news items both in English and Burmese language from hideouts.

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.

Next on our agenda : International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists 2 November

- 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

His first report was published by PEC 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)

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.

18.09.2022. MYANMAR. PEC demands fair trial to Burmese journalists

With Nava Thakuria, PEC South Asia Representative

Geneva: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body, has expressed its concern over the relentless arrest and
imprisonment of working journalists in Myanmar since last year’s
military coup and urged the authorities for ensuring fair trials to
all the detained journalists.

Media reports from Yangon, the former capital of the southeast Asian
nation, reveal that a freelance news presenter for BBC Burmese was
imprisoned on 15 September for three years with hard labour by a
military court in Insein prison. Htet Htet Khine was arrested on 15 August last year and
she remains behind bars for over a year in the notorious jail of
Yangon.

The popular journalist presented a Burmese language program named
‘Khan Sar Kyi’ for the British broadcaster where she narrated stories
of many Burmese political and social leaders in the backdrop of
impending civil war in the poverty stricken country. She was accused
of using provocative words against the military junta while working
for many unlawful organisations.

“Since the coup on 1 February 2021, the military dictators have forced
many media outlets to shut down their offices inside Myanmar. Nearly
145 journalists have been arrested till now and one third of them are
still under detention. We demand an unconditional release of all
journalists by the military authority,” said Blaise Lempen, president
of PEC (www.pressemblem.ch).

As Myanmar is facing a civil war like situation where the soldiers
were attacking the pro-democracy activists belonging to different
organisations and a few resistant groups have taken arms in hands to
target the military personnel along with their relatives and
well-wishers, the journalists have been facing a difficult situation.
PEC’s southeast Asia representative Nava Thakuria informs that the
media workers can be arrested for any piece that the generals do not
like.

28.08.2022. PAKISTAN. Another Pakistan journalist shot dead in Shorkot

With Nava Thakuria PEC South Asia Representative

Geneva: One more journalist of Pakistan named Muhammad Younis was shot dead by unidentified assailants on 27 August 2022 in Jhang district of Punjab province. Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body expresses serious concern on the relentless murder of jourbalists in the south-Asian nation and deamnded stringent
actions against the culprits so that it can work as deterrant.

It may be mentioned that Younis, who was associated with Urdu language daily newspaper Express, was targeted by two gunmen while he was riding his two-wheeler. The president of Shorkot Press Club died on the spot, while the attackers fled away from the location. Local journalists have urged Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to take immediate action and ensure the rule of law across the country.

“As many as 86 journalists have been killed globally so far in 2022. Ukraine and Mexico are leading in numbers of journo-victims where as Asian nation Pakistan also continues losing scribes to assailants. Already emerged as a dangerous country for working journalists, Pakistan earlier witnessed the killing of Iftikhar Ahmed, Hasnain Shah, Murtaza Shar and Athar Mateen since 1 Januray this year,” said Blaise Lempen, president of PEC.
PEC’s south Asia representative Nava Thakuria informs that Pakistan’s southern neighbour India also lost four jourbalsts namely Rohit Kumar Biswal, Sudhir Saini, Juned Khan Pathan and Subhash Kumar Mahato to assailants till date this year. Three journalists namely Hashibur Rahaman Rubel, Mohiuddin Sarker Nayeem and Abdul Bari have been killed in India’s eastern neighbour Bangladesh since 1 January 2022. Myanmar witnessed the death of a photographer (Aye Kyaw) while in military custody during the same period.

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.

12.08.2022. PAKISTAN. PEC urges Pakistan military to respect media persons

With Nava Thakuria, PEC South Asia Representative

Geneva: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body, while expressing relief over the release of senior television personality Ammad Yousaf on 11 August 2022 by a Karachi-based civil court, urges the Pakistani military authority to maintain respect to media persons. The director (news) of popular ARY News was arrested on Wednesday over an anti-Pak army comment. The energetic television anchor was picked up by a group of armed personnel in plainclothes from his residence in the southern port city of Pakistan during night hours.

Allegations framed against Yousaf were based on a news item, telecast by ARY News, where it perpetually asked the lower level armed personnel to disobey orders of top military officers. Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority termed it as a matter of serious concern as the comment was seemingly aimed for mutiny in the name of political tussle between the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (led by former Pakistan premier Imran Khan).

The authority also warned ARY digital network chief Salman Iqbal along with anchors Arshad Sharif and Khawar Ghuman for the same. Media persons across the south Asian nation condemned Yousaf’s arrest and termed it as an act of victimization. They demanded an immediate intervention by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif into the shameful act.

The government authority even prevented the transmission of ARY News. However the court directed for resumption of its transmission across the country. Blaise Lempen, president of PEC appealed to the Islamabad-based government to respect the press freedom, which was committed by PM Sharif as he took over the responsibility.

PEC’s south Asia representative Nava Thakuria informs that Pakistan continues to be a dangerous country for working journalists as it has witnessed the killing of four journalists (Iftikhar Ahmed, Hasnain Shah, Murtaza Shar and Athar Mateen) and a number of incidents with media intimidation till date this year. Same number of media casualties were also reported from its neighbor India as the large country lost Rohit Kumar Biswal, Sudhir Saini, Juned Khan Pathan and Subhash Kumar Mahato to assailants since 1 January.

06.08.2022. PEC demands justice to Myanmar photographer Aye Kyaw

With Nava Thakuria, PEC South Asia Representative

Geneva: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body, demands justice to Myanmar photographer Aye Kyaw, who died in military custody recently. The pro-democracy activist used to document the anti-military protest-demonstrations, spread across the southeast Asian country (also known as Burma and Brahmadesh) after the military dictators made a coup on 1 February 2021 to grab power ousting the democratically elected Aung San Suu Kyi’s government in Naypietaw.

Aye Kyaw (48), who is second Burmese journalist to succomb to the junta atrocities this year after Pu Tui Dim, used to own a photography studio in Sagaing city, was detained by the military junta in late night hours of 30 July 2022 and later the military authority informed the family that he died on Saturday noon. Quoting the family members and friends, Radio Free Asia
(RFA) reported that the administration wanted to know if they want to get back his body, which was kept in the Sagaing city hospital morgue.

The group of well-wishers took his mortal remains and sent to his village. A senior member of Upper Myanmar Photography Association was buried on Sunday after performing necessary rituals. They guess that the senior general Min Aung Hlaing led brutal military regime was angry with Aye Kyaw as he used to post photographs taken from anti-junta demonstrations in social media, which was later forwarded by a large number of pro-democracy politicians and also uploaded in local media outlets.

“Myanmar has faced a chaotic socio-political situation, where the military rulers are targeting the activists and also the journalists.
Till date, they have arrested over 130 media persons and among them 25 Burmese journalists are still behind the bars, where some of them were already imprisoned for longer periods,” said Blaise Lempen, president of PEC (www.pressemblem.ch), adding that a Japanese journalist Toru Kobuto was also detained from Yangon and put him to face trials.

PEC’s southeast Asia representative Nava Thakuria reported that the land of golden pagodas is on the verge of a civil war, where the military personnel have killed nearly 2500 civilians in the last 18 months and rendered over 850,000 people homeless, as they fled their villages to escape the military atrocities. Shockingly, the people’s resistance forces have also eliminated thousands of junta soldiers and their relatives during the same period, he added.

10.07.2022. BANGLADESH. Journalist found dead in Bangladesh, PEC demands authentic probe

With Nava Thakuria, PEC South Asia Representative

Geneva: Journalists continue to be the victim of violence in Bangladesh as the police recovered a partially decomposed body of
Hashibur Rahaman Rubel on 7 July 2022. The young scribe went missing five days back and his body was found under a bridge on Garai river in Kumarkhali locality. Rubel was associated with Dainik Khustiar Khabar and Amader Notun Samay, both are Bengali newspapers, and used to edit online portal Crimevisionbd.

Press Emblem Campaign, the global media safety and rights body, has demanded an authentic probe into the incident as Rubel’s body carried severe injury marks. PEC also extends moral support to Kushtia journalists who have launched protests demanding
justice for Rubel's wife Iti Khatun along with other family members.

Rubel becomes the 76th media worker to be killed this year across the globe, which is higher than the previous year, as 79 media persons lost their lives to assailants in 2021.

“The war in Ukraine and the rampant criminality in Mexico become the main reasons for the alarming rise of journo-murders this year. But the south Asian region particularly countries like Pakistan, India and Bangladesh continue to report regular murders of scribes. We demand all the crimes to be investigated with no impunity to culprits,” commented PEC president Blaise Lempen.

PEC’s south Asia representative Nava Thakuria informs that Rubel is the third journalist to be killed in Bangladesh this year after
Mohiuddin Sarker Nayeem and Abdul Bari. Pakistan lost four media workers namely Iftikhar Ahmed, Hasnain Shah, Murtaza Shar and Athar Mateen to assailants. India witnessed the murder of Rohit Kumar Biswal, Sudhir Saini, Juned Khan Pathan and Subhash Kumar Mahato.

04.07.2022. PAKISTAN. One more journalist shot dead in Pakistan, PEC demands punishment to perpetrators

With Nava Thakuria, PEC South Asia Representative

Geneva: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the Geneva-based global media safety and rights body, has demanded adequate punishment to perpetrators who were involved in the murder of Pakistani journalist Iftikhar Ahmed on Saturday last. Iftikhar becomes the 74th media worker to be killed this year, whereas globally 79 media persons
lost their lives to assailants in the entire year of 2021.

Associated with Pakistan’s influential Express Media Group for many years, the talented journalist was shot dead in his own Shabqadar locality of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on 2 July 2022. Pakistan has already lost three media workers namely Hasnain Shah, Murtaza Shar and Athar Mateen to assailants. It has now an equal number of media casualties with neighboring India which witnessed the killing of Rohit Kumar Biswal, Sudhir Saini, Juned Khan Pathan and Subhash Kumar Mahato.

“We are appalled by the large number of journalists killed this year which is 100% compared to 36 deaths in the same period last year. The war in Ukraine and the rampant criminality in Mexico are the main reasons for this alarming deterioration. All these crimes must be fully investigated with no impunity to the culprits,” said Blaise Lempen, president of PEC.

In Ukraine, the conflict triggered by Russia has claimed 30 victims among media workers, 16 in the line of duty and 14 journalists killed in fighting as soldiers or volunteers in the army. Mexico witnessed 13 media victims so far which exceeds the total figure for 2021 (10 killed). Haiti and Yemen lost 3 journalists each. PEC recorded 2 victims in Bangladesh, Brazil, Honduras, Israel/Palestine and the Philippines, and 1 victim in Myanmar, Turkey, Chad, Chile, Guatemala, Kazakhstan and the United States.

PEC’s south Asia representative Nava Thakuria informs that Bangladesh lost Mohiuddin Sarker Nayeem and Abdul Bari, while Myanmar witnessed the death of Pu Tui Dim in military atrocities. The entire region continues to be hazardous for working journalists, where the scribes are being targeted with impunity. Besides the killings, more journalists have been facing legal and illegal atrocities from the State and non-State actors, he added.

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.

27.06.2022. UKRAINE. 7th report on the State of Media in Ukraine during the War – Top official fired for fakes, Ukraine banned Russian music and books

by Andrii Ianitsky, PEC representative in Ukraine

Lviv (Ukraine), 27 June 2022.

Fake news about Russia's war in Ukraine is becoming a problem

Ukrainian Ombudswoman Lyudmila Denisova was fired for spreading unverified information about rape during the war in Ukraine, reports Ukrainska Pravda. Ms. Denisova reported calls to a hotline about sexual violence in Russian-occupied territories before verifying the information received. She also revealed shocking details of such reports that could not be verified. And if it
was true, then such details could harm the victims of crimes and reveal their identities. On May 31 The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (Parliament) dismissed the Ombudswoman.

Fake stories become a problem for journalists covering the war in Ukraine especially when public figures report. Many journalists are uncritical of such statements. For example, a former member of the Ukrainian Parliament Vitaliy Kupriy reported on June 22, citing two anonymous sources, about the fighting in Kherson. The message turned out to be false. On June 23, Deputy
Defense Minister Hanna Malyar urged politicians not to disclose details of military operations until the Ukrainian General Staff announced this.

33 media figures have died in Ukraine

Already 33 journalists and media persons (local and international both) were killed in Ukraine, dozens wounded. The organization Reporters Without Borders investigated one of the murders - photographer Max Levin. The authors of the investigation claim that the Russian military executed the journalist and possibly tortured him.

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, and 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 (was killed on March 23 during a 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 the shelling of his house)
● 8. Maks Levin, the 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 place of a 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, a Ukrainian journalist, and blogger died because of shelling on 11-12 April near Brovary city in the Kyiv region, according to NUJU.
● 14. Vira Gyrych, journalist and produser of Radio Liberty local branch, was killed as a result of a Russian missile hitting building in Kyiv on April 29.
● 15. Frederic Leclerc-Imhoff, journalist for the French BFMTV channel was killed in a russian shelling attack in Luhansk region on May 30.
● 16. Ihor Hudenko, photojournalist and blogger, who lost contact with his friends and family while in the northeastern city of Kharkiv on February 26, died that day. Hudenko died while filming on Kharkiv’s Natalia Uzhviy Street.

Journalists who were killed not in the line of duty (as soldiers or volunteers).
● 17. 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.
● 18. Oleg Yakunin, the editor of the Zaporizhia site Misto.zp.ua, was killed in battle on March 25 on military service.
● 19. 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.
● 20. Pasha Lee, Ukrainian actor and TV host, has been killed by shelling in the city of Irpin.
● 21. Serhyi Pushenko, graphic artist and painter who worked with media, killed by Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups in Kyiv region on 2 March.
● 22. Sergey Zaikovsky, publicist and translator who worked with media, killed in Kyiv region on 24 March.
● 23. Denis Kotenko, one of press-officers of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, killed in Kyiv region on 24 March.
● 24. Maxim Medinskiy, a local online journalist from Odesa region, died on May 6 in a fight.
● 25. Evgen Starinets, mediamanager of Cherkasy branch of the Ukrainian public Suspilne TV, died in the eastern front on Aplril 30.
● 26. Oleksandr Makhov, Ukrainian TV journalist from ‘Ukraine’ and ‘Ukraine24’ channels was killed by Russian shelling on May 4.
● 27. Oleksiy Chubashev, military man, former head of the Army FM radio station and author and presenter of the Rekrut program, died on June 10 in battle.
● 28. Roman Zhuk, a photographer from Mukachevo, died in the war with Russia in May, reported by Varosh.
● 29. Vitaliy Derekh, Ternopil journalist and serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was killed in action on May 28 near Popasna Donetskyi District.
● 30. Kostyantyn Kits, cameraman of Lutsk's "Avers" channel was killed in action in May.

Killed media persons (people who are connected with the media, but were not directly journalists):
● 31. Mantas Kvedaravičius, Lithuanian documentary filmmaker and director of the Mariupol film about the war in Donbass, died on April 3 in Mariupol.
● 32. Lilia Gumyanova, a journalism teacher was killed by Russian shelling in Mariupol on March 19.
● 33. Oksana Haydar (Ruda Pani), blogger and activist killed by Russian shelling in April at Shevchenkove village, Brovary district, Kyiv region.

Ukraine banned Russian music and books
At 19 June the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has decided to ban the public performance of Russian songs and their use on radio and TV. Bill prohibits, in particular, the public performance, display and demonstration of phonograms, videograms and music videos of artists who are or have been citizens of the aggressor state in any period since 1991.

MPs also supported the ban on the import of publishing products from Russia and Belarus, the publication and sale of books by Russian citizens in Ukraine, and supported the stimulation of the development of Ukrainian book publishing and book distribution.
The ban will not apply to Russian singers who condemn Russia's aggression against Ukraine. The relevant list of executors will be maintained and updated by the Office of the National Security and Defense Council.

Well-known Russian journalist received a Ukrainian passport
Early june well-known Russian journalist Alexander Nevzorov received Ukrainian citizenship. First, the adviser to the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Anton Gerashchenko, announced this, later, Mr. Nevzorov himself showed the cover of the passport with the national emblem of Ukraine on his YouTube broadcast.

This decision of the Ukrainian authorities caused a debate in society. Many Ukrainians are so shocked by the Russian attack that they want nothing to do with Russian citizens, even if such citizens oppose the war themselves.

At the end of June, popular Ukrainian singer Olga Polyakova asked the President of Ukraine to grant Ukrainian citizenship to Russian blogger and writer Nika Belotserkovskaya. Mrs. Belotserkovsky was born in Ukrainian Odessa, but became famous in Russia. After the start of a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the blogger spoke out against the war and left for France.
Ms. Polyakova has every right to apply for Ukrainian citizenship at her place of birth.
**
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, sixth on 10 May (read below)

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… »

16.06.2022. PEC demands actions against Bangladesh scribe killers

With Nava Thakuria PEC South Asia Representative

Geneva: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body, expresses concern over the police inaction to nab the killers of Dhaka-based television journalist Abdul Bari, who was found dead on the bank of Hatirjheel lake in Gulshan area of the capital city on 8 June. Journalist Bari (28), who was associated with private channel DBC as a news producer, was severely stabbed by miscreants on his stomach and neck. Hailing from Sirajganj Sadar, Bari earlier worked for Mohona Television.

“PEC is alarmed at sharp increase in the number of journalists affected by violence this year, where Ukraine and Mexico emerge as the most dangerous countries in the globe so far. Since the beginning of 2022, at least 65 media workers have paid with lives for doing their job, which is a worrying development," said Blaise Lempen, president of PEC, adding that Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina should direct the concerned authorities to punish the perpetrators and adequately compensate the bereaved family.

Bari is the second journalist to be killed in Bangladesh this year after the murder of Mohiuddin Sarker Nayeem in Cumilla locality by suspected drug dealers, said Nava Thakuria, PEC’s south Asia representative. Bangladesh’s eastern neighbour Myanmar witnessed the killing of one scribe (Pu Tui Dim) and its western giant neighbour India lost four journalists (namely Rohit Kumar Biswal, Sudhir Saini, Juned Khan Pathan and Subhash Kumar Mahato) to assailants since 1 January 2022.

21.05.2022. INDIA. PEC condemns murder of Bihar scribe, demands punishment to perpetrators

With Nava Thakuria, PEC India Representative

Geneva: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) has strongly condemned the murder of journalist Subhash Kumar Mahato, who hailed from Begusarai
locality of Bihar in central India on 20 May 2022. The global media safety and rights body also demanded punishments under the law to all
four identified gunmen who targeted Subhash (27) outside his residence in Sankhu village.

Local media outlets in Patna reveal that Subhash used to report on sand, land and liquor mafias in his locality for a cable news channel.
On the fateful night he was returning home from a friend’s house along with some relatives. The culprits shot at him in front of dome family
members who immediately took the scribe to a nearby health centre where he was declared dead. The victim’s family has named four persons
in the police complaint.

“We urge the Bihar government chief Nitish Kumar for a high level probe in to the scribe’s murder. As the State police claim that all
four perpetrators have been identified, we expect they will be brought to justice under law of the land,” said Blaise Lempen, president of
PEC (www.pressemblem.ch).

Subhash becomes the 59th media-worker to be killed in 2022 and the fourth victim (after Rohit Kumar Biswal from Odisha, Sudhir Saini from
Uttar Pradesh and Juned Khan Pathan from Gujarat) in India. Ukraine and Mexico are the most dangerous countries in the globe so far,
reveals the PEC figure.

Describing about Subhash, PEC’s India representative Nava Thakuria informs that he studied journalism at a Darbhanga university and
worked for a number of Hindi daily newspapers like Rashtriya Sahara, Dainik Bihar, etc. lately he was working for City News Begusarai.
Moreover he ran his own YouTube channel Aap Tak which enjoyed visible audience supports.

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:

Yevhen Sakun, cameraman of LIVE TV channel (died on March 1 during the Russian rocket attack on the TV tower in Kyiv);
Brent Renaud, a former correspondent for The New York Times (shot dead by Russians on March 13 in Irpen at a checkpoint);
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).
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).
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).
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)
Viktor Diedov, cameraman of Sigma TV from Mariupol (died on March 11 as a result of shelling of his house)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Oksana Gaydar, Ukrainian journalist and blogger died because of shelling on 11-12 April near Brovary city in Kyiv region, according to NUJU.
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).

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.
Oleg Yakunin, the editor of the Zaporizhia site Misto.zp.ua, was killed in battle on March 25 on military service.
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.
Pasha Lee, Ukrainian actor and TV host, has been killed by shelling in the city of Irpin.
Serhyi Pushenko, graphic artist and painter who worked with media, killed by Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups in Kyiv region on 2 March.
Sergey Zaikovsky, publicist and translator who worked with media, killed in Kyiv region on 24 March.
Denis Kotenko, one of press-officers of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, killed in Kyiv region on 24 March.
Maxim Medinskiy, a local online journalist from Odesa region, died on May 6 in a fight.
Evgen Starinets, mediamanager of Cherkasy branch of the Ukrainian public Suspilne TV, died in the eastern front on Aplril 30.
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):

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

05.05.2022. Entrevista con el fotógrafo español Guillermo Cervera: “He cubierto la estupidez de la raza humana”.

French and English after Spanish

Guillermo Cervera (photo) es un fotógrafo español nombrado “el outsider del fotoperiodismo” por Vice Magazine, y cubro entre otros temas, numerosos guerras y conflictos por más de 20 años y publico sus fotos en The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, El Mundo, El País, La Vanguardia, entre otros. No solo trabajo de fotógrafo y periodistas en zonas difíciles, sino también fue atacados varias veces por su posición de media: en el Chad donde fue secuestrado y torturado, en la revolución egipcia donde le ataco la policía en el cabello, en Libia, estaba al lado de los fotógrafos Tim Hetherington y Chris Hondros, cuando fallecieron por un mortero dirigido hacia ellos. Para Guillermo Cervera, una guerra está necesariamente ligada al riesgo y es importante que los periodistas que van a la guerra sean conscientes de ello.

Suzanne Halal (PEC). Has fotografiado muchos acontecimientos de crisis en todo el mundo, ¿puede nombrar las crisis y conflictos que ha cubierto?

Guillermo Cervera. He cubierto muchísimas crisis, pero si las resumiera en unas palabras: He cubierto la estupidez de la raza humana.

¿Hay alguno que le haya impresionado especialmente?

La peor fotografía que no he hecho es la que ya no he visto.

Tu mismo has sido víctima de unos ataques, ¿puedes hablarnos de estas situaciones?

Yo he sido victima de muchos ataques. Cuando uno va a zonas donde hay problemas o conflictos o guerras, siempre tiene ataques. Al final, los periodistas son ajenos a la guerra y no es nuestra historia. Cada uno tiene su propia guerra en su cabeza.

¿Qué riesgos cree que son específicos a los fotógrafos de guerra?

Tienen muchos riesgos. En una guerra, el fotógrafo que luego vaya de victima cuando pase algo, cuando les secuestren, cuando tenga un problema grave, es un hipócrita porque todos sabemos a donde vamos: a un sitio lleno de circunstancias y de casualidades que nos pueden afectar porque nos vamos allí. Al final, los que volvemos a casa y vivemos aquí tranquilos lo somos nosotros mismos y los que se quedan en eso son los que viven esa experiencia.

Sus fotografías son muy "intensas", ¿cómo consigue relatar esto, especialmente en una situación difícil?

Lo que intenta hacer cuando vaya a cualquier lugar, una guerra o una fiesta, es observar, observar, observar. Un error que yo cometí al principio de fotografía es algo que creo que le pasa a mucha gente, es que intentamos centrarnos en una imagen predeterminada hecha por otra persona y nos perdemos todo lo demás. Yo creo que para contar algo con verdadera intensidad hay que ser uno mismo, intentar contar lo que a uno mismo le impresiona de todo este escenario, y mirar alrededor y sacar sus propias conclusiones.

¿Qué debería hacerse para mejorar la situación de los fotógrafos de guerra y del personal de los medios de comunicación en general en estos conflictos?

¡Que pregunta tan difícil! Concienciarles a ellos mismos (los periodistas) en el lio en el que se están mintiendo cuando van a un lugar así.

¿Qué opina de la situación de los fotógrafos y periodistas en Ucrania? ¿Tiene alguna opinión de los profesionales sobre el terreno?

Me acabas de hacer la pregunta del millón. Me acuerda cuando estaba en Etiopia haciendo un reportaje sobre una planta que se llama “prosopia”, unos Etíopes de esta zona empezaban a criticar a Etíopes de otra zona. Pensaba, la locura es general y este mundo no atiende a nada. El ego nos pierde a todos.

¿Cree que seguirá ejerciendo en un futuro próximo? Si es así, ¿para cubrir qué crisis?

Sigo trabajando, me siento atado a mi camera y cuento todo lo que me pasa, lo que pasa a mi alrededor, lo que veo. Yo creo que algún día intentare dar una explicación de como veo el mundo como para describir la locura del mundo. Hace años hice un libre que se llamaba La guerra es una piscina con Placid Garcia Planas que contaba el surrealismo y ese sentido de la humanidad. Sigo trabajando y mi proyecto es ese: el mundo, la gente, la locura, el amor.

Si la PEC pudiera ayudar a proteger a los periodistas y profesionales de los medios de comunicación en situaciones de conflicto, ¿qué le gustaría que hiciera para marcar la diferencia?

Con tantos conflictos, la PEC deberían poder ser identificados por periodistas en situación difícil en zonas de conflictos para que les ayuden. Yo estuve en situaciones muy desagradables donde tuve que desarrollármelas solo, ni siquiera el gobierno nos ayudó.

Me podrías mandar enlaces o fotografías para ilustrar esta entrevista, y que podamos compartir con los demás en línea sobre tu trabajo en zonas difíciles? https://guillermocervera.photoshelter.com/index/G0000yjronfnTHgg/I0000G27w25MDb9I

https://guillermocervera.photoshelter.com/index/G0000yjronfnTHgg/I0000G27w25MDb9I

https://guillermocervera.photoshelter.com/index/G0000yjronfnTHgg/I0000HtUwlozUamo

https://guillermocervera.photoshelter.com/gallery/Uprise-in-Cairo-Egypt/G0000dpupmjYgxM8

05.05.2022. Entretien avec le photographe espagnol Guillermo Cervera. “J’ai couvert la stupidité de la race humaine”.

Guillermo Cervera est un photographe espagnol nommé "l'outsider du photojournalisme" par Vice Magazine. Il a couvert, entre autres sujets, de nombreuses guerres et divers conflits pendant plus de 20 ans, et a publié ses photos dans le New York Times, le Wall Street Journal, le Guardian, El Mundo, El País, La Vanguardia, entre autres. Il n'a pas seulement travaillé comme photographe et journaliste dans des zones difficiles, mais il a également été attaqué à plusieurs reprises en raison de sa position dans les médias : au Tchad où il a été détenu et torturé, au cours de la révolution égyptienne où il a été attaqué par la police, en Libye, il était aux côtés des photographes Tim Hetherington et Chris Hondros, lorsqu'ils ont été tués par un mortier qui les visait. Pour Guillermo Cervera, une guerre est nécessairement liée au risque et il est important que les journalistes qui partent dans une zone de guerre en soient conscients.

1) Suzanne Halal (PEC). Vous avez photographié de nombreuses crises dans le monde, pouvez-vous citer les crises et les conflits que vous avez couverts ?
Guillermo Cervera. J'ai couvert beaucoup, beaucoup de crises, mais si je devais les résumer en quelques mots, je dirais : j'ai couvert la stupidité de la race humaine.
2. Y a-t-il une personne qui vous a fait une impression particulière ?
La pire photo que je n'ai pas prise est celle que je n'ai pas vue.
3. Vous avez vous-même été victime d'agressions, pouvez-vous nous parler de ces situations ?
J'ai été victime de nombreuses attaques. Quand vous allez dans des régions où il y a des problèmes, des conflits ou des guerres, vous avez toujours des attaques. En fin de compte, les journalistes ne sont pas parties aux hostilités et ce n'est pas notre histoire. Chacun a sa propre guerre dans sa tête.
4. Quels sont, selon vous, les risques spécifiques aux photographes de guerre ?
Les risques sont nombreux. Dans une guerre, c'est le photographe qui joue ensuite le rôle de la victime quand quelque chose se passe, quand il est enlevé, quand il a un problème sérieux, c’est hypocrite parce que nous savons tous où nous allons : : dans un endroit plein de circonstances et de coïncidences qui peuvent nous affecter parce que nous y allons.
5. Vos photographies sont très "intenses", comment parvenez-vous à rendre cela, surtout dans une situation difficile ?
Ce que vous essayez de faire quand vous allez dans un endroit quelconque, une guerre ou une fête, c'est d'observer, observer, observer. Une erreur que j'ai commise au début de la photographie est quelque chose qui, je pense, arrive à beaucoup de gens. Ils essaient de se concentrer sur une image prédéterminée faite par quelqu'un d'autre et ils passent à côté de tout le reste. Je pense que pour raconter quelque chose avec uhe vraie intensité, vous devez être vous-même, essayer de dire ce qui vous impressionne dans tout ce scénario, et regarder autour de vous et tirer vos propres conclusions.
6. Que faut-il faire pour améliorer la situation des photographes de guerre et du personnel des médias en général dans ces conflits ?
Quelle question difficile ! Rendez les journalistes conscients du désordre auxquels ils se trouvent lorsqu'ils se rendent dans une zone de conflit.
7. Que pensez-vous de la situation des photographes et des journalistes en Ukraine ? avez-vous une opinion sur les professionnels sur le terrain ?
Tu viens de me poser la question à un million de dollars. Cela me rappelle l'époque où j'étais en Éthiopie pour faire un reportage sur une plante appelée "prosopia", certains Éthiopiens de cette région ont commencé à critiquer les Éthiopiens d'une autre région. J'ai pensé, la folie est générale et ce monde n'écoute rien. L'ego nous perd tous.
8. Pensez-vous continuer à pratiquer dans un avenir proche ? Si oui, pour couvrir quelle crise ?
Je travaille toujours, je me sens lié à ma caméra et je raconte tout ce qui m'arrive, ce qui se passe autour de moi, ce que je vois. Je pense qu'un jour, j'essaierai de donner une explication de la façon dont je vois le monde pour décrire la folie du monde. Il y a des années, j'ai fait un livre intitulé La guerra es una piscina (La guerre est une piscine) avec Placid Garcia Planas qui a parlé de surréalisme et du sens de l’humanité. Je travaille toujours et c'est mon projet : le monde, les gens, la folie, l'amour.
9. Si la PEC pouvait contribuer à protéger les journalistes et les professionnels des médias dans les situations de conflit, que diriez-vous ? Dans les situations de conflit, qu'aimeriez-vous qu'elle fasse pour faire la différence ?
Avec autant de conflits, la PEC devrait pouvoir être identifiée par les journalistes en situation difficile dans les zones de conflit pour les aider. J'ai été dans des situations très désagréables où j'ai dû me débrouiller tout seul, même le gouvernement ne nous a pas aidés.

05.05.2022. Interview with Spanish photographer Guillermo Cervera: “I have covered the stupidity of the human race”.

Guillermo Cervera is a Spanish photographer named "the outsider of photojournalism" by Vice Magazine. He has covered, among other subjects, numerous wars and conflicts for more than 20 years, and has published his photos in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, El Mundo, El País, La Vanguardia, among others. He not only worked as a photographer and journalist in difficult areas, but he was also attacked several times because of his media position: in Chad where he was detained and tortured, in the Egyptian revolution where he was attacked by the police, in Libya,
he was next to photographers Tim Hetherington and Chris Hondros, when they were killed by a mortar aimed at them. For Guillermo Cervera, a war is necessarily linked to risk and it is important for journalists who go to war to be aware of this.

1. Suzanne Halal (PEC). You have photographed many crisis events around the world, can you name the crises and conflicts you have covered?
Guillermo Cervera. I have covered many, many crises, but if I were to sum them up in a few words: I have covered the stupidity of the human race.
2. Is there one person that has made a particular impression on you?
The worst photograph I haven't taken is the one I haven't seen.
3. You yourself have been the victim of attacks, can you tell us about these situations?
I have been the victim of many attacks. When you go to areas where there are problems or conflicts or wars, you always have attacks. In the end, journalists are not part of the war and it is not our story.
story. Everyone has their own war in their head.
4. What risks do you think are specific to war photographers?
There are many risks. In a war, the photographer who then plays the victim when something happens, when he is kidnapped, when he has a serious problem, it is hypocrite because we all know where we are going: to a place full of circumstances and coincidences that can affect us because we go there.
5. Your photographs are very "intense", how do you manage to relate this, especially in a difficult situation?
What you try to do when you go to any place, a war or a party, is to observe, observe, observe. A mistake that I made at the beginning of photography is something that I think happens to a lot of people, it is that we try to focus on a pre-determined image made by someone else and we miss out on everything else. I think that to tell something with real intensity you have to be yourself, try to tell what impresses you about this whole scenario, and look around and draw your own conclusions.
6. What should be done to improve the situation of war photographers and media personnel in general in these conflicts?
What a difficult question! Make them (the journalists) aware of the mess they are lying to themselves when they go to such a place.
7. What do you think about the situation of photographers and journalists in Ukraine? Do you have an opinion about the professionals on the ground?
You just asked me the million dollar question. It reminds me of when I was in Ethiopia doing a report on a plant called "prosopia", some Ethiopians from this area started to criticise Ethiopians from another area. I thought, madness is general and this world does not listen to anything. The ego loses us all.
8. Do you think you will continue to practice in the near future? If so, to cover what crisis?
I am still working, I feel tied to my camera and I tell everything that happens to me, what happens around me, what I see. I think that one day I will try to give an explanation of how I see the world to describe the madness of the world. Years ago I did a book called La guerra es una piscina (war is a swimming pool) with Placid Garcia Planas which told about surrealism and that sense of
humanity. I'm still working and that's my project: the world, people, madness, love.
9. If the PEC could help to protect journalists and media professionals in conflict situations, what would you say? In conflict situations, what would you like to see to make a difference?
With so many conflicts, the PEC should be able to be identified by journalists in difficult situations in conflict zones to help them. I have been in very unpleasant situations where I had to manage on my own, even the government didn't help us.

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.

Día de la Libertad de Prensa 2022 - Deterioro brutal

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:

Yevhen Sakun, cameraman of LIVE TV channel (died on March 1 during the Russian rocket attack on the TV tower in Kyiv);
Brent Renaud, a former correspondent for The New York Times (shot dead by Russians on March 13 in Irpen at a checkpoint);
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).
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).
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).
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)
Viktor Diedov, cameraman of Sigma TV from Mariupol (died on March 11 as a result of shelling of his house)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).

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.
Oleg Yakunin, the editor of the Zaporizhia site Misto.zp.ua, was killed in battle on March 25 on military service.
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.
Pasha Lee, Ukrainian actor and TV host, has been killed by shelling in the city of Irpin.
Serhyi Pushenko, graphic artist and painter who worked with media, killed by Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups in Kyiv region on 2 March.
Sergey Zaikovsky, publicist and translator who worked with media, killed in Kyiv region on 24 March.
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):

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

16.04.2022. BANGLADESH. PEC demands punishment to Bangladesh scribe killers

by Nava Thakuria, PEC South Asia Representative

Geneva: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global body for media safety and rights, condemns the murder of Bangladeshi

journalist MohiuddinSarker Nayeem (28) and demands exemplary punishments to the perpetrators. In an earlier statement,

the PEC expressed its serious concern over the sharp rise in journalists killed across the world this year.

Mentionable is that Cumilla-based journalist Mohiuddin was shot deaby suspected drug smugglers on 14 April 2022. His family

members claimed that Mohiuddin used to report about the drug trafficking inhis locality. The Bangladesh police forces received

a lot of inputs from Mohiuddin about the movement of drug peddlers.

Son of a retired policeman, Mohiuddin was associated with the local Bengali newspaper ‘Dainik Cumillar Dak’ and for some time

he also worked for Ananda television news channel. He was targeted by gunmen at Pachora area near to Hyderabadnagar

on Wednesday midnight and later succumbed to injuries in the hospital.

“So far in 2022, globally we have lost 45 journalists to assailants.This is a dramatic rise and very worrying as the number of journalists
killed last year was 79. The war in Ukraine, the conflict triggered by Russia, has claimed 15 victims among media workers and
over 20 journalists sustained injuries. On the other hand, Mexico witnesses the murder of 9 journalists till date,”

said PEC president Blaise Lempen.

PEC’s south Asia representative Nava Thakuria lamented that a young Bengali scribe had to lose his life on the eve of Bangladesh

New Year. Local journalists have demonstrated their anger against the murder in front of Cumilla Press Club on Friday

demanding exemplary punishment to the killers. Lately, four individuals have been arrested by the police suspecting their

involvement with Mohiuddin’s cold-blooded murder.

Bangladesh’s eastern neighbour Myanmar has also lost one journalist(Pu Tui Dim) to military atrocities, where as its western

neighbour India (Rohit Kumar Biswal, Sudhir Saini and Juned Khan Pathan) and also Pakistan

(Hasnain Shah, Murtaza Shar and Athar Mateen) witnessed the murder of three scribes each since 1 January 2022.

12.04.2022. UKRAINE. 4th report on the State of Media in Ukraine during the War (April 5-11) – Preparations for the upshot the Russian-Ukrainian war in the Donbass

by Andrii Ianitsky, PEC representative in Ukraine

Lviv (Ukraine), 12 April 2022. After Russian troops failed to capture Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, Russia is preparing to strike a second powerful blow against the neighboring country: an attack in the east in the Donbass region. Moscow has been controlling part of this region through a proxy since 2014, and now the Russians will try to expand the zone under their control as much as the Ukrainian army and the international community will allow them to. The battle for Donbass may be the final chord of this war, depending on its outcome.

Military experts expect large-scale battles in this region in the coming days. And, of course, foreign journalists will try to record this battle for history. If you are not a professional military reporter, do not know how to provide first aid, do not have a bulletproof vest and a helmet, then do not try to go to Donbass in the coming days. This is extremely dangerous.

It is dangerous to work not only in the east (Donetsk and Luhansk regions), but also in southern Ukraine (Kherson region, southern Zaporozhye region, eastern Mykolaiv region), where Russia controls large areas.

The most dangerous place today is Mariupol, a port city with a pre-war population of about 450,000 on the shores of the Sea of Azov, which Russian troops wiped off the map with artillery shelling. Active fighting is still going on in the city. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, tens of thousands of civilians have died in Mariupol. We cannot verify this claim, but people who managed to get out of Mariupol speak of numerous deaths of civilians there.

The death toll of journalists in the war is on the rise

47 days after the Russian invasion, 13 journalists (three into military service) were killed (local and international both), dozens wounded. One journalism teacher and one documentary filmmaker also were killed.

The list of killed journalists in the line of duty:

Yevhen Sakun, cameraman of LIVE TV channel (died on March 1 during the Russian rocket attack on the TV tower in Kyiv);
Brent Renaud, a former correspondent for The New York Times (shot dead by Russians on March 13 in Irpen at a checkpoint);
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).
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).
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).
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)
Viktor Diedov, cameraman of Sigma TV from Mariupol (died on March 11 as a result of shelling of his house)
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.
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.

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

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

Other killed people who are connected with the media, but were not directly journalists:

Mantas Kvedaravičius, Lithuanian documentary filmmaker and director of the Mariupol film about the war in Donbass, died on April 3 in Mariupol.
Lilia Gumyanova, a journalism teacher was killed by Russian shelling in Mariupol on March 19.

PEC monitors the situation with freedom of speech in Ukraine

In our last reports dated March 28 and April 5, we wrote that the Ukrainian authorities have tightened control over the work of the media in Ukraine. In particular, they tried to unite all socio-political and news TV channels into one channel, United News. At the same time, the authorities did not grant such a privilege to several TV channels that are fully or partially associated with former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

These TV channels continued to broadcast via satellite, online and on cable networks. However, the authorities turned off their retransmission through amplifiers, which reduced their audience by 10-20% (data from the Espreso TV channel).

The attack on freedom of speech, even during the war, caused discontent among Ukrainian society. Representatives of the scientific and cultural spheres issued an open letter to the Ukrainian authorities with a demand to resume the rebroadcasting of Espreso, Pryamiy and Channel 5 TV channels. The Media Movement initiative and the local Commission on Journalistic Ethics also made a statement. Human rights activists and reformers made other appeals in defense of the TV channels.

The affected TV channels are planning to sue the State Concern for Radio and Television, which turned off the rebroadcasting of the TV signal.

Media for Ukrainian migrants appear in the European Union

The German TV channel RTL Television has launched news releases in Ukrainian, and many European newspapers have previously come out with publications in Ukrainian. Ukrainian TV channels are negotiating retransmission in the networks of cable operators in Europe, and the public Ukrainian radio has agreed on retransmission in Lithuania.

Since the massive Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, more than 4.5 million Ukrainians have left the country, according to the UN. In total, according to various estimates, from 37 to 42 million people lived in Ukraine before the war (a population census has not been conducted in the country since 2001).

Official Russian media denies the existence of the Ukrainian nation

A great resonance in Ukraine was caused by the publication on the state Russian website RIA Novosti an article "What Russia should do with Ukraine" from April, 3. In this text, the author writes that "denazification will inevitably also be de-Ukrainization" and that "the name Ukraine cannot be preserved," and new republics must appear in the place of present-day Ukraine.

Such an article on the mainstream Russian state resource leaves no room for doubt that the ultimate goal of the Russian military campaign is the destruction of Ukraine as a country and Ukrainians as a nation.

The article came out on the same day that the world learned about the Russian atrocities in Bucha near Kyiv.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky called this article "one of the evidence at the future tribunal against Russian war criminals."

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 (read below)

09.04.2022. MYANMAR. More Burmese scribes imprisoned, PEC denounces military action

By Nava Thakuria, PEC south-east Asia Representative

Geneva, Switzerland: As the dictators of Myanmar (also known as Burma and Brahmadesh) and military courts continue to detain and imprison journalists, Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) expresses annoyance over the military junta’s actions. The Geneva-based global media safety & rights body urges the international community to support the Burmese media fraternity at this time of crisis.

Local media outlets report that three journalists were imprisoned by the court under sedition charges in the first week of April 2022. Ma Lwe Am Phaung, a female television scribe at Shwe Phee Myay news agency of Shan State was imprisoned on 7 April. Another Shan State-based journalist Khaing Myint Tun (alias Shwe Lin Thit) was sentenced to jail same day by the court. Earlier on 5 April, a Mandalay-based scribe Win Naing Oo was imprisoned by the court.

Days back, freelance journalists Zaw Linn Htut (alias Phoe Thar), Myanmar Herald reporter Ye Yint Tun, MFP news agency video editor Aung Zaw Zaw, Mizzima News correspondent Than Htike Aung, Kamayut media news agency founder Han Thar Nyein, etc were sentenced to jail for opposing the military dictatorship in Myanmar. More than 130 journalists have been detained
since the 1 February coup and 50 are still behind the bars.

“Journalists across Myanmar have been forced into hiding as the military rulers of Naypietaw continue its anti-media crackdown. Even though the junta argues that they are working under the guidelines of prescribed laws, the protesting voices have been targeted by the men in uniform,” said Blaise Lampen, president of PEC.

PEC’s south-east Asia representative Nava Thakuria informed that the military junta has made it very difficult for the professional
journalists in Myanmar. The generals have forgotten to respect the press and gone with all negative activities like cancelling permits of many media outlets and personally targeting the active media workers, some of whom had even left for neighbouring countries.

05.04.2022. UKRAINE. 3^rd PEC report on the State of Media in Ukraine during the War (March 28 - April 4) – Collection of evidence on the massacre in Bucha

by Andrii Ianitsky, PEC representative in Ukraine

Lviv (Ukraine), 5 April 2022. After the Russian military left the Kyiv region, Ukrainian troops discovered mass graves there. Massacre in Bucha city attracted a lot of attention from journalists. On April 3 and 4, hundreds of foreign journalists arrived in Kyiv to record these crimes for the world community. On April 4, President Volodymyr Zelenski met with journalists.

Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) stresses that journalists are key players, they are witnesses. They can contribute to the collection of evidence, which may be used in court at a later stage. Documentation of the crimes on the ground can help the justice efforts under way to identify the perpetrators. To do their job independently they need protection.

Foreign journalists should be careful while working in areas that have recently been liberated from Russian occupiers. All the forests and roadsides there are mined, the sappers and deminers must first do their job.

It is also unsafe to work in the east of Ukraine in the Lugansk and Donetsk regions. Russian troops are starting a new offensive in this area and the front can move very quickly to where there are still no Russians today. As we already wrote, many Ukrainian journalists ended up in Russian-occupied territories. The usual practice in such cases for Russians is to ban all Ukrainian media. However, journalists continue to write about the situation in the occupation on an anonymous basis for independent Ukrainian and international media.

PEC condemns the killing of Maks Levin

40 days after the Russian invasion, 9 journalists (one into military service) were killed (local and international both), dozens wounded, two were kidnapped by the occupiers. One journalism teacher and one documentary filmmaker also were killed.

Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) condemns the killing of Ukrainian photojournalist, documentary photographer Maks Levin (40) found dead near the village of Huta Mezhyhirska in Kyiv region on Friday. He left four minor sons, a wife, and elderly parents.

Maks, accompanied by Oleksiy Chernyshov, a serviceman and former photographer, went to Huta Mezhyhirska on March 13 to document the consequences of the Russian aggression. They left a car and headed towards the village of Moshchun. Since then, the connection with both men was lost. Later it became known that intense fighting broke out in the area where Maks was going to work. The whereabouts and fate of Oleksiy Chernyshov have not been established yet, according to LB.ua, for which Levin worked for more than 10 years.

According to the preliminary information released by the press service of the Prosecutor General's Office, unarmed Levin was killed with two shots from small arms by servicemen of the Russian Armed Forces. The case over violation of laws and customs of war (Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) was opened. The pre-trial investigation is underway, measures are being taken to establish all the circumstances of the crime.

Maks Levin also contributed for Reuters, BBC, TRT World, Associated Press, Hromadske. His photos were published by the Wall Street Journal, TIME, Breaking news Poland, EU AGENDA, World news, The Moscow Time, Korrespondent.net, ELLE, TV-24, Radio Bulgaria, Ukraine Crisis Media center, Vatican news, RFE/RL. In addition to journalism, Levin created dozens of photo and video projects for humanitarian organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), UN, UNICEF, OSCE, UN Women.

Ukrainian authorities continue pressure on uncontrolled media

In our last report dated March 28, we wrote that the Ukrainian authorities have tightened control over the work of journalists in Ukraine. In particular, they imposed restrictions on filming the results of missile strikes, infrastructure facilities and military installations. They also tried to unite all socio-political and news TV channels into one channel, United News.

However, such actions of the Ukrainian authorities caused rejection on the part of journalists and specialized organizations that protect the media.

On March 30, a closed meeting of journalists and representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine was held in Kyiv. Following this discussion, both ministries issued a joint statement in support of journalists. And although there is little specificity in the statement itself, journalists note an improvement in communication with the military last week.

On April 4, the authorities cut off digital air broadcasting from Espreso, Pryamiy and Channel 5, which had been critical of President Volodymyr Zelensky before the war. The channels continue to broadcast on cable networks and vis satellite, as well as on the Internet.

Ukraine expelled a Dutch journalist

On April 3, the Security Service of Ukraine forcibly expelled Dutch journalist Robert Dulmers from Ukraine. The journalist was deprived of his accreditation and expelled for violating the requirements for publishing photos and videos of the results of the rocket attack on Odessa. Robert Dulmers posted videos and photos of the shelling on his Twitter account immediately after the missile strikes.

His publications contained information that makes it possible to identify the exact location of the missile strikes. This allows the Russian artillery to adjust their sights and strike again or report a successful hit.

Earlier the Security Service of Ukraine urged journalists not to take photos and videos of the explosions, not to disseminate information about the places of shelling and where enemy missiles are flying until the official sources said it.

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, his second on 28 March 2022 (read below)

04.04.2022. Sharp rise in journalists killed in three months

(French and Spanish after English) (List of victims on Casualties)

Geneva, April 4, 2022 (PEC) Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) is alarmed by the large number of journalists killed in the first three months of 2022. The year-on-year increase is 153% with 38 victims in 15 countries since January (3 per week) compared to 15 deaths in the same period last year.

"This dramatic rise is very worrying, while the number of journalists killed had decreased in previous years. The war in Ukraine and the rampant criminality in Mexico are the main reasons of this appalling deterioration", said PEC President Blaise Lempen.

In Ukraine, the conflict triggered by Russia has already claimed 9 victims among media workers, and nearly 20 journalists have been injured. In addition at least 10 others were detained. "We urge the belligerents to put an immediate end to the war, to avoid a Syrian-style scenario with dozens of casualties in a protracted conflict," said PEC president.

Russian and Ukrainian authorities must ensure that journalists are not targeted while covering the ongoing fighting and that they can work freely. The circumstances of each death must be independently clarified and those responsible must be brought to justice.

In three months, Mexico with 9 victims has almost reached its toll for the whole of last year (10 killed). "The authorities must fight much harder against impunity and search more actively for those responsible for these murders and their sponsors", stressed Blaise Lempen.

Haiti has seen an increase in violence with 3 journalists killed. India and Pakistan followed with 3 victims in each country. Two media workers were killed in Yemen.

PEC also recorded one victim in each of the following countries: Brazil, Chad, Guatemala, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, Philippines, Turkey and the United States.

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.

Forte hausse des journalistes tués en trois mois

Genève, 4 avril 2022 (PEC) La PEC (Presse Emblème Campagne) est alarmée par le grand nombre de journalistes tués au cours des trois premiers mois de 2022. La hausse atteint 153% d’une année sur l’autre avec 38 victimes dans 15 pays depuis janvier (3 par semaine) contre 15 morts pour la même période de l’an dernier.

«Cette augmentation dramatique est très préoccupante, alors que le nombre de journalistes tués avait diminué les années précédentes. La guerre en Ukraine et la criminalité galopante au Mexique sont les principaux responsables de cette détérioration consternante», a déclaré le président de la PEC Blaise Lempen.

En Ukraine, le conflit déclenché par la Russie a déjà fait 9 victimes parmi les travailleurs des médias, et près de 20 journalistes ont été blessés. En outre, au moins dix autres ont été détenus. «Nous exhortons les belligérants à mettre un terme immédiatement à la guerre, pour éviter un scénario à la syrienne avec des dizaines de victimes dans un conflit prolongé», a affirmé le président de la PEC Blaise Lempen.

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. Les circonstances de chaque mort devront être élucidées de manière indépendante et leurs responsables jugés.

En trois mois, le Mexique avec 9 victimes a presque atteint le bilan de l’ensemble de l’année dernière (10 tués). «Les autorités doivent lutter avec beaucoup plus de fermeté contre l’impunité et rechercher plus activement les responsables de ces meurtres et leurs commanditaires», a affirmé Blaise Lempen.

Haïti a connu une augmentation de la violence avec 3 morts parmi les journalistes. L’Inde et le Pakistan suivent avec 3 victimes dans chaque pays. Deux travailleurs des médias ont été tués au Yémen.

La PEC a aussi recensé une victime dans chacun de ces pays : Brésil, États-Unis, Guatemala, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, Philippines, Tchad, Turquie.

Compte tenu de cette détérioration très préoccupante, la PEC a lancé à l’ONU un nouvel appel à 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.

Fuerte aumento de periodistas asesinados en tres meses

Ginebra, 4 de abril de 2022 (PEC).- La PEC (Press Emblem Campaign) está alarmada por la gran cantidad de periodistas asesinados en los tres primeros meses de 2022. La subida alcanza el 153% interanual con 38 víctimas en 15 países desde enero (tres a la semana), frente a 15 muertos por el mismo período del año anterior.

“Este aumento dramático es muy preocupante, ya que el número de periodistas asesinados había disminuido en años anteriores. La guerra en Ucrania y el crimen rampante en México son los principales culpables de este espantoso deterioro”, declaró el presidente de la PEC Blaise Lempen.

En Ucrania, el conflicto desatado por Rusia ya se ha cobrado 9 víctimas, y cerca de 20 periodistas han resultado heridos. Además, al menos otras diez han sido detenidas.“Instamos a los beligerantes a poner fin de inmediato a la guerra, para evitar un escenario al estilo sirio con decenas de víctimas en un conflicto prolongado”, pidió el presidente de la PEC.

Las autoridades rusas y ucranianas deben garantizar que los periodistas no sean atacados al cubrir los combates en curso y que puedan trabajar libremente. Hay que aclarar las circunstancias de cada muerte independientemente y llevar a los responsables ante la justicia.

En tres meses, México, con 9 víctimas casi llega al balance de todo el año pasado (10 muertos). "Las autoridades deben luchar con mucha más firmeza contra la impunidad y buscar más activamente a los responsables de estos asesinatos y a sus patrocinadores", dijo Lempen.

Haití ha visto un aumento de la violencia con 3 periodistas asesinados. Le siguen India y Pakistán con 3 víctimas en cada país. Dos trabajadores de los medios han sido asesinados en Yemen.

La PEC también identificó una víctima en cada uno de estos países : Brasil, Chad, Estados Unidos, Filipinas, Guatemala, Honduras, Kazajstán, Myanmar, Turquía.

Ante este preocupante deterioro, la PEC ha lanzado un nuevo llamado a la ONU para la adopción de una convención internacional que refuerce la protección de los periodistas con mecanismos de investigación y enjuiciamiento. En 2021, 79 trabajadores de los medios fueron asesinados y 92 en 2020.

01.04.2022. PEC condemns the continuing violence targeting the media in Yemen

French and Arabic after English

By Suzanne Halal, PEC Representative for the Middle East

Geneva, April 1, 2022 (PEC) Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) condemns the continuing violence targeting the media in Yemen. In Yemen, journalists face the dangers of war and air strikes, they are also targeted by the ruling parties and suffer attacks from the Houthis, Al Qaeda, and the government. Since 2014, between 38 and 45 journalists have been killed (identified and including war photographers, media professionals and journalists), according to PEC research. At least 16 journalists are currently in detention/kidnapped.

According to the Human Rights Office of the High Commissionner, the number of abuses and human rights violations against journalists reaches 357, including 45 physical assaults and 184 arbitrary arrests.

Recently, the conflict in Yemen has again appeared in the press, with the Houthi attack Friday, March 25 in Saudi Arabia on several oil locations of Saudi Aramco, and the response of the Kingdom with an air strike in southern Yemen, on Ras Eissa, also on the Hodiedah province, and on military sites in the capital Sana'a, according to Al-Masirah TV, a channel run by the Houthis.

And yet, we rarely hear what is happening in Yemen, the Forgotten War. We dare to ask ourselves why such an oversight? This war, heavy with consequences, human dramas, civil war since 2011 following the Arab Spring revolutions, has become a regional conflict involving Yemen, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, Qatar and some international powers including the United States.

Where are the journalists reporting on Yemen ?

All this would lend itself to media coverage of a humanitarian and diplomatic crisis. Where are the journalists who are reporting on this? This war is one of a systematic aggression against journalists, most of whom have left their jobs. Both the Houthis and the government are using methods of aggression against the media on the ground.

PEC is particularly worried about the situation of four journalists detained since 2015 for spying and false reporting: Abdul Khaleq Amran, Tawfiq Al-Mansouri, Harith Hamid and Akram Al- Walidi.

Deprived of care, visits, tortured, without the right to express their position behind bars and very weakened psychologically and physically, these four journalists saw last Sunday their accusation in court and their possible sentence of execution modified thanks to the fact that they did not carry weapons on them and were not affiliated to a political movement. Their sentence was therefore sent to a different court with an exchange of prisoners, without details on their exact fate after this transfer. Recently, the family of journalist Tawfiq Al-Mansoori had appealed to international organizations to press for his immediate release and to save his life after signs of kidney failure in addition to his asthma, shortness of breath, rheumatism and diabetes.

Most recently, on March 23, 2022, local residents found the body of photojournalist Fawaz Al- Wafi. Al-Wafi had worked as a journalist in local institutions and as a photojournalist in Taiz governorate during the years of war. He was stabbed to death by unknown assailants, in "Wadi Al-Qadi" neighborhood of Taiz city, in southern Yemen.

Sixteen journalists have been kidnapped since 2015 in the country, ten of them "on the absurd grounds that they could potentially provide information that could be used by the Arab coalition for its aerial bombardments." Charged with "collaboration with the enemy," they were tried by the Houthi Special Criminal Court, a body not recognized by the international community.

Others are being held without charge or trial in provinces controlled by the so-called "legitimate" government, such as Muhammad Ali Al-Moqri or in separatist-controlled areas, such as Saleh Musawa (now released).

Online access to media sites has been blocked by the Houthis who have taken control of the Ministry of Telecommunications. Throughout the country, journalists are monitored and can be arrested for posting on social networks.

The situation has worsened

According to two Yemeni journalists in the country and a foreign journalist who visits regularly, who remain anonymous for security reasons, the situation has worsened as the danger is not only from acts of war, but from harassment, arrests, enforced disappearances, killings, physical attacks, psychological attacks, restrictions on livelihoods, exclusions from work, bans on visits by imprisoned journalists, and conflicting authorities that create difficulties in practicing the profession. This includes the difficulty for the press to receive protective tools.

Some foreign journalists continue to visit and cover the conflict, often through press trips organized particularly with the Sana'a Center. The New York Times, BBC and AFP have made separate trips. However, their presence is rare and short-lived, and foreign media delegations rarely reach Houthi-controlled areas, as entry permits come from the coalition and pass through the Houthi-controlled city of Aden. However, there are delegations of journalists belonging to Saudi and Emirati media that arrive in the governorates of Aden, Marib, Hadramout, because the coalition is the one that grants them the permits. There is also the problem of affiliation of many journalists to local militias. The information relayed in the newspapers is therefore very unreliable.

According to the three journalists interviewed by PEC, there is an apparent lack of training in covering hostile events and a discussion with the authorities to press for the protection of journalists and to promote their consideration as members of the community rather than enemies. There is also a need for physical and psychological protection of journalists, which is even more necessary since the suspension of the Yemeni Journalists' Union and the division of the Ministry of Information and its institutions.

Camera, pen and smartphones more dangerous than weapons

«The camera and the pen have become more dangerous than weapons for all sides. The conflict in Yemen has pushed dozens of journalists, and I know many of them, into other occupations such as selling qat, collecting plastic bottles in the streets, carrying stones, farming and other occupations that make their living. Some of them have suffered heart attacks because of their financial situation and lack of access to food», said one journalist interviewed by PEC.

The whole of Yemen, from one end to the other, is dangerous for journalists. When you travel from one governorate to another, the checkpoints search the phones of travelers, including journalists, and they have programs that restore everything that has been deleted, and many have been arrested because of this. Smartphones are the first enemy of the journalist through it, they rank you among all the parties to the conflict you are affiliated with, imprisoned or executed under the charge of treason, even if you joined an anti-WhatsApp group, you don't even know who joined it... and no one will believe that you didn't know about it, he added.

Smartphones have involved reporters, and many have resorted to old non-smartphones, deleted many apps because friend inquiry messages are an unintentional trap, while some resort to deleting any direct conversation after talking to their friend about any topic.

Some of their Yemeni colleagues abroad also report psychological pressure and threats from outside Yemen.

Employees of the Yemen Digital Media agency, which provides media services to television stations, were surprised by security guards and representatives of the Sana'a Specialized Criminal Court of First Instance who arrived at the company's building with a judicial seizure notice that was undated and not marked with a name or seal.

According to Media Landscapes, a joint venture between the Centre for European Journalism and the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, increased shortages of gasoline, electricity, and printing paper have made it more difficult to publish and distribute newspapers. Some websites have had to close down. Journalists' salaries are very low and this reduces the possibility of journalists being able to make a living from their work. Some news bureaus have had to move (after facing direct attacks), or close permanently, especially independent media.

Some names of journalists killed: Awab al-Zubiry; Mubarak al-Abadi from Nabaa media Foundation; freelance Mohammed Ghalib al-Majidi; Ahmed al-Shaibani from Yemen News; Hashim al-Hamran from al-Masirah TV; freelance Almigdad Mojalli; Bilal Sharaf al-Deen from al Masirah TV; Abdullah Qabil from Yemen Youth TV; Youssef al-Ayzari from Suhai TV; Mohamed Shamsan from Yemen Today; Khaled al-Washli from al-Masirah TV; freelance Luke Somers (the only American listed); Hassan al-Wadhaf from Arabic Media Agency; Jamal al- Sharabi from Al-Masdar; Muhammad al-Rabou'e from Al-Qahira.

La PEC condamne la poursuite des violences visant les médias au Yémen

Par Suzanne Halal, représentante de la PEC pour le Moyen-Orient

Genève, 1^er avril 2022 (PEC) La PEC condamne la poursuite des violences visant les médias au Yémen. Les journalistes font face aux dangers de la guerre et des frappes aériennes, ils sont également la cible des partis en place et subissent des attaques des Houthis, d’Al Qaeda, et du gouvernement. Depuis 2014, entre 38 et 45 journalistes ont été tués (identifiés and incluant les photographes de guerre, les professionnels de la presse et les journalistes). Au moins 16 sont actuellement en détention ou kidnappés.

Selon le Haut Commissariat aux droits de l’homme, 357 abus et violations des droits humains à l’encontre des journalistes ont été recensés, dont 45 agressions physiques et 184 arrestations arbitraires.

Ces derniers jours, le conflit au Yémen est de nouveau apparu dans la presse, avec l’attaque Houthi Vendredi 25 Mars en Arabie Saoudite sur plusieurs emplacements pétroliers de Saudi Aramco, et la réponse du royaume avec une frappe aérienne au Sud du Yémen, sur Ras Eissa, également sur la province Hodiedah, et sur des sites militaires de la capitale Sanaa, d’après Al-Masirah TV, chaîne dirigée par les Houthis.

Et pourtant, on n’entend que trop rarement ce qui se passe au sein du Yémen, la guerre oubliée. Pourquoi un tel oubli? Cette guerre, lourde de conséquences, drames humains, guerre civile depuis 2011 à l’issue des révolutions du printemps arabe, est devenue un conflit régional avec comme acteurs: le Yémen, l’Iran, l’Arabie, les Émirats, le Qatar et certaines puissances internationales dont les États-Unis. Tout cela prêterait donc bien à la couverture médiatique d’une crise humanitaire et diplomatique.

Où sont les journalistes ?

Cette guerre est celle de l’agression systématique des journalistes, qui, pour la plupart, ont quitté leur fonction. Les Houthis comme le gouvernement emploient des méthodes d’agression sur les médias sur place.

La PEC est particulièrement préoccupée par le sort de quatre journalistes détenus depuis 2015 pour espionnages et fausses informations: Abdul Khaleq Amran, Tawfiq Al-Mansouri, Harith Hamid et Akram Al-Walidi. Privés de soins, de visites, torturés, sans le droit à exprimer leur position derrière les barreaux et très affaiblis psychologiquement et physiquement, ces quatre journalistes ont vu dimanche dernier leur accusation au tribunal et leur possible sentence d’exécution modifiées grâce au fait qu’ils ne portaient pas d’armes sur eux et n’étaient pas affiliés à un mouvement politique. Leur jugement a donc été expédié à un tribunal différent avec un échange de prisonniers, sans détail sur leur sort exact après ce transfert.

Récemment, la famille du journaliste Tawfiq Al-Mansoori a lancé un appel aux organisations internationales pour qu'elles fassent pression pour sa libération immédiate et pour lui sauver la vie après des signes d'insuffisance rénale en plus de son asthme, de son essoufflement, de ses rhumatismes et de son diabète.

Tout dernièrement, le 23 mars 2022, des résidents locaux ont retrouvé le corps du photojournaliste Fawaz Al-Wafi. Al-Wafi avait travaillé comme journaliste dans des institutions locales et comme photojournaliste dans le gouvernorat de Taïz pendant les années de guerre. Il a été poignardé à mort par des assaillants inconnus, dans le quartier "Wadi Al-Qadi" de la ville de Taïz, au sud du Yémen.

Quinze journalistes ont été enlevés, depuis 2015 dans le pays, dix d’entre eux “au motif absurde qu’ils pouvaient potentiellement fournir des informations qui pourraient servir à la coalition arabe pour ses bombardements aériens”. Accusés de “collaboration avec l’ennemi”, ils ont été jugés par le Tribunal Pénal Spécial houthi, une instance non reconnue par la communauté internationale.

D’autres sont détenus sans charge ni jugement dans des provinces contrôlées par le gouvernement dit “légitime”, comme Muhammad Ali Al-Moqri, ou dans les zones contrôlées par les séparatistes, comme Saleh Musawa (aujourd’hui libéré).

L’accès en ligne des sites de media ont été bloqués par les Houthis qui ont pris contrôle du ministère des télécommunications. Partout dans le pays, les journalistes sont surveillés et peuvent être arrêtés pour une publication sur les réseaux sociaux.

La situation s’est encore détériorée

D’après deux journalistes Yéménites dans le pays et un journaliste étranger qui se rend sur place régulièrement, ayant demandé l’anonymat pour des raisons de sécurité, la situation a empiré, car le danger n’est pas seulement celui des actes de guerre, mais le harcèlement, les arrestations, disparitions forcées, assassinats, agressions physiques, agressions psychologiques, restrictions des moyens de subsistance, exclusions du travail, interdiction de visites des journalistes emprisonnés et des autorités conflictuelles qui créent des difficultés pour exercer la profession. Cela inclue la difficulté pour la presse de recevoir des moyens de protection.

Quelqes journalistes étrangers continuent de couvrir le conflit, souvent à travers des voyages de presse organisés particulièrement avec le Centre Sanaa. Le New York Times, la BBC et l’AFP ont effectué des déplacements séparément. Toutefois, leur présence est rare et de courte durée, et les délégations des médias étrangers atteignent rarement les zones sous le contrôle des Houthis, car les permis d'entrée proviennent de la coalition et traversent la ville d'Aden, qui est sous le contrôle des Houthis.

Cependant, il y a des délégations de journalistes appartenant à des médias saoudiens et émiratis qui arrivent dans les gouvernorats d'Aden, Marib, Hadramout, car la coalition est celle qui leur accorde les autorisations. Il y a aussi le problème d’affiliation de beaucoup de journalistes aux milices locales. L’information relayée dans les journaux est donc très peu fiable.

D'après les trois journalistes interrogés, il y a un manque apparent de formation pour la couverture des évènements hostiles et des difficultés dans la discussion avec les autorités pour faire pression sur la protection des journalistes et les considérer comme membres de la communauté et non comme ennemis. Il faudrait également une protection physique et psychologique des journalistes, plus nécessaire encore depuis la suspension du Syndicat des journalistes du Yémen et de la division du ministère de l'Information et de ses institutions.

Appareil photo, stylo et smartphones plus dangereux que les armes

“L'appareil photo et le stylo sont devenus plus dangereux que les armes pour toutes les parties. Le conflit au Yémen a poussé des dizaines de journalistes, et j'en connais beaucoup, à exercer d'autres métiers comme vendre du qat, ramasser des bouteilles en plastique dans les rues, transporter des pierres, cultiver leur champ et autres occupations qui leur font gagner leur vie. Certains d'entre eux ont subi des crises cardiaques en raison de leur situation financière et du manque d'accès à la nourriture”, a déclaré un des journalistes interrogés par la PEC.

“Tout le Yémen, d'un bout à l'autre, est dangereux pour les journalistes. Lorsque vous voyagez d'un gouvernorat à l'autre, les points de contrôle fouillent les téléphones des voyageurs, notamment des journalistes, et ils ont des programmes qui restaurent tout ce qui a été supprimé, et beaucoup ont été arrêtés à cause de cela. Les smartphones sont le premier ennemi du journaliste : à travers lui, ils vous classent parmi les parties au conflit auxquelles vous êtes affilié, vous emprisonnent ou exécutent sous l'inculpation de trahison. Même si vous avez rejoint un groupe anti-WhatsApp, vous ne savez même pas qui l'a rejoint... et personne ne croira que vous n'en saviez rien », a-t-il ajouté.

Beaucoup ont recours à de vieux téléphones non intelligents, ont supprimé de nombreuses applications parce que les messages d'amis sont un piège involontaire, tandis que certains ont recours à la suppression de toute conversation directe après avoir parlé à leur ami de n'importe quel sujet.

Certains de leurs collègues Yéménites à l’étranger leur rapportent également subir des pressions psychologiques et menaces depuis l’extérieur du Yémen.

Des employés de l’agence Yémen Digital Media, qui fournit des services médiatiques aux chaînes de télévision, ont été surpris par des agents de sécurité et des représentants du tribunal pénal spécialisé de première instance de Sanaa qui sont arrivés dans le bâtiment de l'entreprise avec un avis de saisie judiciaire non daté et non marqué d'un nom ou d'un sceau.

D’après Media Landscapes, née d’une association entre le Centre de Journalisme Européen et le Ministère néerlandais de l’éducation, de la Culture et de la Science, un manque accru d’essence, d’électricité et de papier pour impression ont rendu la publication et la distribution des journaux plus difficiles. Certains sites web ont dû fermer. Les salaires des journalistes sont très réduits et cela réduit la possibilité des journalistes à pouvoir vivre de leur métier. Certains bureaux de presse ont dû changer d’endroits (après avoir fait face à des attaques directes), ou fermer de manière permanente, notamment les médias indépendants.

Des noms de journalistes tués: Awab al-Zubiry; Mubarak al-Abadi from Nabaa media Foundation; freelance Mohammed Ghalib al-Majidi; Ahmed al-Shaibani from Yemen News; Hashim al-Hamran from al-Masirah TV; freelance Almigdad Mojalli; Bilal Sharaf al-Deen from al Masirah TV; Abdullah Qabil from Yemen Youth TV; Youssef al-Ayzari from Suhai TV; Mohamed Shamsan from Yemen Today; Khaled al-Washli from al-Masirah TV; freelance Luke Somers (the only American listed); Hassan al-Wadhaf from Arabic Media Agency; Jamal al-Sharabi from Al-Masdar; Muhammad al-Rabou’e from Al-Qahira.

حملة الشارة لحماية الصحفيين تدين استمرار الانتهاكات التي تستهدف وسائل الإعلام في اليمن

تحرير: سوازان حلال، ممثلة حملة الشارة لحماية الصحفيين لمنطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال افريقيا.

جنيف، 1 ابريل 2022(PEC)

أدانت حملة الشارة لحماية الصحفيين استمرار الانتهاكات التي تستهدف وسائل الإعلام في اليمن. إذ يواجه الصحفيون في اليمن مخاطر الحرب وعمليات القصف الجوي، كما يتعرضون لاستهداف من قبل الأطراف المتصارعة: الحوثيين والقاعدة والحكومة اليمنية. فقد قتل ما بين 38 و45 صحفيا منذ عام 2014، ممن تم التعرف عليهم بما في ذلك مصورين مختصين في الحروب، ومهنيين عاملين في وسائل الإعلام وصحفيين. ويوجد حاليا حوالي 16 معتقلا او مختطفا.

وتشير المفوضية السامية لحقوق الإنسان الى أنه قد تم إحصاء 357 حالة انتهاك لحقوق الإنسان في حق صحفيين من بينها 45 حالة اعتداء جسدي و184 حالة اعتقال تعسفي.

وقد عاد الصراع في اليمن للظهور في الآونة الأخيرة من جديد في وسائل الإعلام بعد الهجوم الحوثي يوم الجمعة 25 مارس على عدة مواقع بترولية لشركة آرامكو في العربية السعودية، وبعد الهجمات الجوية التي ردت بها السعودية والتي استهدفت، جنوب اليمن، ورأس عيسى ومحافظة الحديدية والمواقع العسكرية في العاصمة صنعاء، وفقا لما أوردته قناة المسيرة التلفزيونية التي يديرها الحوثيون.

ومع ذلك نلاحظ أننا لا نسمع إلا القليل عما يحدث في داخل اليمن في هذه الحرب المنسية. لماذا هذا التجاهل؟ إن هذه الحرب التي خلفت الكثير من الدمار والمآسي الإنسانية، هذه الحرب الأهلية التي اشتعلت نارها بعد ثورات الربيع العربي تحولت اليوم الى حرب إقليمية يشارك فيها كل من اليمن وإيران والعربية السعودية والإمارات العربية المتحدة وقطر وبعض القوى الدولية من بينها الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية.

أين هم الصحفيون؟

Anchor كل هذه العوامل التي أشرنا إليها سابقا، من المفروض أن تشجع على حدوث تغطية إعلامية لأزمة إنسانية ودبلوماسية. لكم أين هم الصحفيون؟

إن هذه الحرب هي بمثابة اعتداء منهجي يستهدف الصحفيين بالخصوص، والذين اضطرت غالبيتهم الى التخلي عن مزاولة هذه المهنة. فالحوثيون وكذلك الحكومة يستخدم كل منهما أساليب اعتداء ضد وسائل الإعلام.

وقد أعربت حملة الشارة لحماية الصحفيين عن قلقها بالخصوص فيما يتعلق بمصير أربعة صحفيين معتقلين منذ عام 2015 بتهمة التجسس وترويج معلومات خاطئة: عبد الخالق عمران، توفيق المنصوري، حارث حميد وأكرم الوليدي.

فهؤلاء الصحفيين الأربعة تم حرمانهم من تلقي العلاج وتم تعريضهم للتعذيب، ولم يسمح لهم بعرض وجهة نظرهم أمام المحكمة، وهم يوجدون في وضعية صحية ونفسية متدهورة. وقد تعرفوا يوم الأحد الماضي على محتوى التهم الموجهة لهم وعلى إمكانية تغيير حكم الإعدام المحتمل في حقهم وهذا بسبب كونهم لم يكونوا يحملون أسلحة ولم يكونوا ينتمون الى أي حركة سياسية. وقد تم تحويل محاكمتهم الى محكمة أخرى ضمن عملية تبادل للأسرى بدون تقديم أية تفاصيل عن مصيرهم بعد هذا التحويل.

وكانت عائلة توفيق المنصوري قد وجهت في الآونة الأخيرة نداء للمنظمات الدولية لممارسة بعض الضغوط من أجل الإفراج الفوري عنه ومن أجل انقاذ حياته بعد معاناته من نقص كلوي إضافة الى معاناته من مرض الربو وضيق التنفس ومرض المفاصل ومرض السكري.

وقد عثر مواطنون مؤخرا في 23 مارس 2022 على جثة الصحفي فواز الوافي. وكان الوافي يشتغل كصحفي في مؤسسات إعلامية محلية وكمصور صحفي في محافظة تعز خلال سنوات الحرب. وقد تعرض للطعن حتى الموت من قبل مهاجمين مجهولي الهوية في حي "وادي القاضي" في مدينة تعز بجنوب اليمن.

و قد تم اختطاف 15 صحفي في كامل البلاد منذ 2015، عشرة من بينهم بتهمة سخيفة وهي أنه بإمكانهم تقديم معلومات قد يستفيد منها التحالف العربي في عمليات القصف الجوي التي يقوم بها. وبعد اتهامهم بتهمة "التعاون مع العدو" تمت محاكمتهم من قبل محكمة خاصة تابعة للحوثيين وهي محكمة غير معترف بها من قبل المجموعة الدولية.

وهناك صحفيون آخرون معتقلون بدون محاكمة في المحافظات التي تقع تحت سيطرة الحكومة المسماة ب "الحكومة الشرعية"، مثل محمد علي المقري، او في المناطق الواقعة تحت سيطرة الانفصاليين مثل صالح موسوى (الذي تم الإفراج عنه).

وقد قام الحوثيون بعد استيلائهم على وزارة الاتصالات بقطع إمكانية متابعة وسائل الإعلام عبر شبكة الإنترنت. ويتعرض الصحفيون في كامل أنحاء البلاد للمراقبة وقد يتعرضون للاعتقال بسبب نشر خبر على صفحات وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي.

مزيد من التدهور في الأوضاع

لقد عرفت الأوضاع مزيدا من التدهور، وفقا لشهادة اثنين من الصحفيين اليمنيين في الداخل وصحفي يتردد من حين لآخر على اليمن فضل عدم الإفصاح عن هويته لأسباب امنية، وهذا ليس فقط بسبب مخاطر الحرب بل بسبب المضايقات والاعتقال والاختفاء القسري والقتل والاعتداء الجسدي والاعتداء النفسي والتضييق في مجال الحصول على وسائل العيش ومنع زيارة الصحفيين المعتقلين والطرد من العمل وبسبب السلطات المتصارعة فيما بينها الأمر الذي يعقد إمكانية مزاولة مهنة الصحافة بما في إمكانية الحصول على وسائل الحماية.

هناك بعض الصحفيين الأجانب الذين يواصلون تغطية الصراع في اليمن غالبا من خلال زيارات صحفية يتم تنظيمها بالخصوص مع مركز صنعاء. وقد قامت صحيفة نيويورك تايمز وإذاعة بي بي سي ووكالة الصحافة الفرنسية ببعض الزيارات المتفرقة. ولكن تواجدها في البلد أصبح قليلا ولفترات قصيرة جدا. كما أن بعثات وسائل الإعلام الأجنبية لا تستطيع الوصول الى المناطق التي تقع تحت سيطرة الحوثيين لأن تراخيص الدخول تقدمها قوات التحالف ويجب المرور عبر مدينة عدن التي تقع تحت سيطرة الحوثيين.

ولكن مع ذلك نجد ان بعثات صحفية تابعة لوسائل إعلام سعودية وإماراتية وصلت الى محافظات عدن ومأرب وحضرموت لأن سلطات التحالف هي التي تقدم لها التراخيص. وهناك أيضا مشكلة انتماء العديد من الصحفيين الى الميليشيات المحلية، وهو ما يجعل الأخبار المنقولة عبر الجرائد ليست ذات مصداقية كبيرة.

ووفقا لأقوال الصحفيين الثلاثة الذين استجوتهم حملة شارة حماية الصحفيين، هناك نقص كبير في التكوين في مجال تغطية الصراعات المسلحة وصعوبة النقاش مع السلطات من أجل تقديم حماية للصحفيين واعتبارهم جزءا من المجتمع وليس النظر لهم على أنهم أعداء. وهناك حاجة ماسة الى تقديم حماية جسدية ونفسية للصحفيين أصبحت أكثر إلحاحا منذ حل نقابة الصحفيين في اليمن ومنذ تقسيم وزارة الإعلام ومؤسساتها (بين طرفي النزاع).

آلة التصوير، والقلم، والهاتف النقال أكثر خطورة من الأسلحة

يقول أحد الصحفيين الذين استجوبتهم حملة شارة حماية الصحفيين " إن آلة التصوير والقلم أصبحا أكثر خطورة من الأسلحة بالنسبة لكل أطراف النزاع. فقد أدى الصراع في اليمن بعشرات الصحفيين، واعرف الكثير منهم، الى تغيير مهنتهم الى بائعي القات او جمع القوارير البلاستيكية في الشوارع أو حمل الأحجار أو زراعة حقولهم او مزاولة اية نشاطات تسمح لهم بـتأمين معيشتهم. وهناك البعض منهم ممن تعرض لسكتة قلبية بسبب أوضاعهم المالية وتعذر الحصول على الغداء".

Anchor وأضاف المتحدث "لقد أصبح اليمن بكامله خطيرا بالنسبة للصحفيين. فعندما تسافر من محافظة الى أخرى يقوم الساهرون على حراسة مناطق المراقبة بتفتيش هواتف المسافرين وبالأخص الصحفيين منهم. ويملكون برامج تسمح لهم باستعادة كل ما تم حذفه من الهاتف. وهناك العديد ممن تم اعتقالهم لهذا السبب. فقد اصح الهاتف الذكي من أكبر أعداء الصحفي: من خلال هذا الهاتف يتم تصنيفك وفقا لطرف النزاع الذي تنتمي إليه، فإما يتم توقيفك او إعدامك بتهمة الخيانة. وحتى لو كنت منظما لمجموعة مناهضة "لواتساب" فإنك لا تدري من أنظم إلى المجموعة ومع ذلك سوف لم يصدقوا بأنك لا تعرف.

لقد أدت الهواتف الذكية الى توريط العديد من الصحفيين. وقد لجأ العديد منهم الى استعمال هواتف غير ذكية قديمة والى حذف العديد من التطبيقات لأن رسائل الأصدقاء أصبحت بمثابة فخ غير مقصود. وهناك من يلجأ لإلغاء اية مكالمات مباشرة بعد التحدث مع الأصدقاء حول موضوع من الموضوعات «.

وقد تحدث بعض الزملاء اليمنيين في الخارج عن تعرضهم لضغوط نفسية وتهديدات من خارج اليمن.

وقد أعرب عمال الوكالة اليمنية للوسائل الرقمية التي تقدم خدمات إعلامية للقنوات التلفزيونية عن دهشتهم لرؤية أعوان أمن وممثلين عن المحكمة الجنائية الابتدائية المختصة في صنعاء يقتحمون مبنى الوكالة وهم يحملون أمرا قضائيا بحجز الممتلكات لا يحمل لا تاريخ ولا إسم ولا ختم.

ووفقا لما أوردته مؤسسة "ميديا لاندسكيب" التي رأت النور من تحالف بين كل من مركز الصحافة الأوروبي ووزارة التربية والثقافة والعلوم الهولندية، فإن النقص الحاد في الوقود والكهرباء والورق أدى الى تعذر طبع وتوزيع الصحف. وقد اضطرت بعض المواقع الإعلامية على غلق صفحاتها. وقد تراجعت أجور الصحفيين وهو ما جعل العديد من الصحفيين يصبحون غير قادرين على تامين معيشتهم. وقد غيرت عدة مكاتب إعلامية مكان تواجدها ( بعد تعرضها لهجمات مباشرة) او لتوقيف نهائي لنشاطاتها خصوصا وسائل الإعلام المستقلة.

أسماء الصحفيين الذين قتلوا: عواد الزبيري، مبارك العبدي من مؤسسة نبأ الإعلامية، الصحفي المستقل محمد غالب الماجدي، أحمد الشيباني من يمن نيوز، هاشم الحمران من قناة المسيرة، الصحفي المستقل المقداد مجلي، بلال شرف الدين من قناة المسيرة، عبد الله قابيل من قناة الشباب اليمنية، يوسف العيزري من قناة صحي، محمد شمسان من اليمن اليوم، خالد الوشلي من قناة المسيرة، الصحفي المستقل لوك سومرس( الأمريكي الوحيد )، حسن الودحاف من وكالة الأنباء العربية، جمال الشرابي من المصدر، محمد الربوع من القاهرة

28.03.2022. The State of Media in Ukraine during the War – second report (March 20-27) prepared by Andrii Ianitskyi at the request of Press Emblem Campaign

Lviv (Ukraine), 28 March 2022. Short brief. 32 days after the Russian invasion in Ukraine:

Ukrainian authorities have tightened control over the media
Ukrainian journalists work under Russian occupation
7 journalists killed (local and international both), dozens wounded, 1 missing
Media development organizations advise using the correct terms about the war in Ukraine and raises money to support the Ukrainian media
President of Ukraine gave an interview to Russian media
Russian journalists work in Ukraine

The work of Ukrainian media during martial law

On March 20, the National Defense Council of Ukraine subjugated the operator of digital broadcasting for the duration of martial law. In another decision, the Council ordered the operator to "take measures" to pursue a unified information policy under martial law. Thus, the National Defense Council wanted to unite all news and socio-political TV channels into a common telethon "United News", that is, to create the only source of news for viewers. After this decision, two channels Pryamiy and Channel 5 joined the single television marathon. These channels are owned by the country's former president, Petro Poroshenko, and have often criticized President Volodymyr Zelensky.

At the same time, the Espreso channel did not join United News, but began rebroadcasting it for several hours a day on its own frequencies. Espreso also began to rebroadcast the programs of the Voice of America, the BBC, Radio Liberty, France 24 and the local Crimean Tatar TV channel ATR. Thus, the TV channel is trying to maintain editorial independence in its author's programs.

The tightening of control over the media in Ukraine may be associated with truce talks with Russia. Ukrainian authorities may make unpopular compromises, such as abandoning NATO membership attempts, and seek to limit public criticism of their actions in local media.

On March 21, the Armed forces of Ukraine also banned video and photo shooting of public roads, general purpose facilities, infrastructure facilities, checkpoints, fortifications, concentration or movement of military units of the defense forces.

In addition, on March 24, the Ukrainian Parliament toughened the punishment for photographing and video filming the movement of Ukrainian troops during wartime. Earlier, one of the random photos of a local blogger could have provoked a Russian missile attack on a shopping center in Kyiv, in the parking lot of which several Ukrainian military vehicles were based.

Media under Russian occupation

Many Ukrainian journalists ended up in Russian-occupied territories in southern Ukraine. The usual practice in such cases for Russians is a ban on the work of Ukrainian media, replacing them with Russian state broadcasters. The Russians took several Ukrainian journalists in Kherson, Mykolaiv and Energodar (cities in southern Ukraine) and released them after interrogation.

One example is the journalist of the Novy Den newspaper Olekh Baturin, who spent eight days in Russian captivity in the Kherson region. The invaders released him after they subjected him to physical and psychological pressure. The Russians ask the captive journalists for the names of pro-Ukrainian activists who are organizing peaceful protests against the occupation.

Killed and missing journalists

Already 7 journalists were killed (local and international both), 1 was missing since the February 24th of Russian invasion. Several more journalists who went into military service died in the fighting. That is why the Prosecutor General of Ukraine gives a different figure of 12 killed journalists. They include in this sad list those journalists who left their profession for a while and signed up for the army. One journalism teacher also died.

According to the local Institute of Mass Information and open sources:

Killed:

Yevhen Sakun, cameraman of LIVE TV channel (died on March 1 during the Russian rocket attack on the TV tower in Kyiv);
Brent Renaud, a former correspondent for The New York Times (shot dead by Russians on March 13 in Irpen at a checkpoint);
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).
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).
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).
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)
Viktor Dedov, cameraman of Sigma TV from Mariupol (died on March 11 as a result of shelling of his house)

Missing:

Maks Levin, famous Ukrainian photojournalist, has not been heard from since 13 March, when he was reporting in the Vyshgorod district, north of Kyiv.

Media development organizations advise using the correct terms about the war in Ukraine and raises money to support the Ukrainian media

Ukrainian media organizations encourage journalists to use the correct terms when describing the war in Ukraine (for example, use the word war instead of the word conflict).

Other Ukrainian organizations raise money to support local newsrooms. Publishers and readers from all over the world have already transferred more than $4 million to support the Ukrainian media.

President of Ukraine gave an interview to Russian media

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky gave an interview to independent Russian media via Zoom. Official Russian authorities banned the publication of this interview, but at least the newspaper Meduza, which operates in exile from Latvia, published the text and video of the interview.

Russian journalists work in Ukraine

Journalists from independent Russian media (Novaya Gazeta, Meduza, Insider and others) work freely in Ukraine, although they often face prejudice from Ukrainians for obvious reasons.

Propagandists from state Russian media work only in the occupied territories under the cover of Russian troops and often spread fakes and make staged videos.

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 (read below)

25.03.2022. MYANMAR. 3 more Burmese journalists imprisoned in Myanmar, PEC denounces military crackdown

by Nava Thakuria, PEC South Asia Representative

Geneva: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body, denounces the continued crackdown on the media by the military junta of Myanmar (also known as Burma and Brahmadesh) and demands the unconditional release of all scribes, who were sent to jails after the infamous military coup on 1 February 2021.

Local media outlets in Yangon (Rangoon), the former capital city of Myanmar, reported that three journalists were imprisoned in the third week of March 2022 for covering the anti-junta demonstrations across the south-east Asian nation. The number of arrested (or detained) media workers in Myanmar has lately increased up to 125, while around 50 are still behind the bars.

All the three Burmese journalists namely Than Htike Aung (Mizzima), Han Thar Nyein (Kamayut) and Ye Yint Tun (Myanmar Herald) were imprisoned to two years each for allegedly preparing false news. Aung, who is associated with the Mizzima group, was arrested on 19 March 2021. Similarly, Nyein, who co-founded Kamayut news outlet, was arrested on 9 March. Tun from the Myanmar Herald digital platform was arrested on 28 February last year.

“The military regime in Naypietaw has treated the journalists as its enemy, while the media workers are doing their job only. The Burmese generals must respect the scribes and facilitate them to perform duties without fear and trepidation,” said Blaise Lempen, the president of PEC, adding that the international community should also pay attention to the hardship faced by journalists in Myanmar.

PEC’s south-east Asia representative Nava Thakuria informed that the military junta has already cancelled the permits of Mizzima,
Democratic Voice of Burma, Myitkyina News Journal, Myanmar Now, 7Day News, Khit Thit News, etc. Now they are operating from outside the country to avoid arrests. A large number of journalists are hiding in neighbouring countries like Thailand, Bangladesh and India to continue working as newsmen.

24.03.2022. Christian Campiche est président d'honneur de la PEC après avoir participé à son comité pendant plusieurs années au nom du syndicat suisse des journalistes Impressum, dont il a été président de 2015 à 2019. Il nous livre aujourd'hui son témoignage sur le traitement de l'information sur la guerre en Ukraine à l'occasion de la parution de son roman historique évoquant le sort de la Hongrie sous le joug communiste.

English after French

Blaise Lempen (PEC). Christian Campiche tu viens d'écrire un roman historique qui résonne comme un avertissement: Nous ne retournerons plus à Sashalom (La Maraude, 221 pages). A travers l'histoire de ta famille, tu y racontes les heures sombres de la Hongrie entre 1940 et 1956, Le pays fut d'abord occupé par les nazis, puis intégré de force dans le camp soviétique. En 1956, la répression par les chars russes fit 3000 morts. Est-ce que rien n'a changé entre la Hongrie de 1956 et l'Ukraine de 2022 détruite par les canons russes ?

Christian Campiche : L'histoire se rappelle à notre plus mauvais souvenir, en effet. On croyait cette période effacée de notre mémoire, particulièrement les personnes de notre génération, qui avons vécu les 40 premières années de notre existence sous le régime de la guerre froide. Le service militaire, la protection civile, les voyages à l'Est, la culture, les échanges économiques, aucune activité n'était innocente du fait de l'épée de Damoclès que constituait la menace permanente, dans les scénarios des états-majors gouvernementaux, en tout cas, d'une invasion par les troupes du Pacte de Varsovie. La chute du Mur en 1989 nous avait fait oublier complètement ce climat de grande tension permanente entre les blocs.

PEC. Ton roman est une histoire vécue, puisque tu parles du départ pour la Suisse de ta famille de Hongrie où tu es né en 1948. Est-ce qu'on peut tirer un parallèle entre les milliers de réfugiés hongrois de 1956 et les trois millions d'Ukrainiens qui ont déjà fui la guerre ? L'accueil est-il le même ?

C.C. - Mes parents ont quitté la Hongrie en 1949 au moment de la prise du pouvoir par les communistes. Mon père était Suisse mais ma mère hongroise était concernée directement par le sort des réfugiés et de la partie de sa famille restée en Hongrie. Elle était très affectée, c'est ce que je raconte dans le livre. Aujourd'hui, le parallèle est saisissant, en tout cas au niveau de l'émotion provoquée dans les pays d'accueil. Différente est la situation sur le terrain. La Hongrie était un pays du Rideau de fer, la révolution un phénomène populaire totalement spontané. Pour se défendre, les Hongrois n'avaient que quelques fusils et des cocktails molotov. Les Ukrainiens ont des armes sophistiquées, accumulées pendant leur trente années d'indépendance.

PEC- Ton livre s'intitule: nous ne retournerons plas à Sashalom, le lieu d'origine de ta mère en Hongrie. Peut-on dire aujourd'hui pour les Ukrainiens: nous ne reviendrons plus à Marioupol, au vu de la destruction systématique de la ville par l'armée russe ?

C.C. - La destruction de son habitation est un traumatisme terrible. Sashalom a pâti d’une bataille de chars entre Russes et Allemands, qui a changé de fond en comble la topographie, plus personne dans la famille de ma mère n’a jamais voulu y retourner. Mais au moins n’y avait-il pas de stratégie délibérée et machiavélique de chasser une population, ce qui n’est peut-être pas le cas dans certaines localités d’Ukraine. La politique de la terre brûlée est pratiquée depuis la nuit des temps par maints envahisseurs.

PEC. Tu es aussi l'auteur d'Info pocorn, enquête auprès des médias suisses, critiquant le conformisme de certains médias de notre pays. La guerre en Ukraine fait rage depuis quatre semaines. Que penses-tu du traitement de l'information sur la guerre en Suisse ?

C.C. - Je suis déçu en bien, comme on dit ici. D'autant que j'ai trouvé la couverture de la crise Covid par les médias désastreuse. Certains journaux ont dépêché des envoyés spéciaux à Kiev. Ils prennent beaucoup de risques pour relayer le vécu des habitants, je trouve cela remarquable. Mais je me fais du souci pour la suite, compte tenu du climat répressif qui semble s'installer sur place.

PEC. Y a-t-il formatage des cerveaux aussi en Occident, pas seulement en Russie ? Que penses-tu de la répression des médias en Russie?

C. C. - Je l'ai écrit dans les colonnes du journal en ligne infoméduse.ch, que j'ai créé en 2003: rien n'est tout noir, ni tout blanc. Par ses provocations, l'Occident a une grande part de responsabilité dans cette guerre. La Russie étant l'un des belligérants, ses médias pratiquent inévitablement l'autocensure s'ils ne veulent pas disparaître dans un pays qui n'a jamais été un champion de la liberté de la presse, loin de là : des journalistes y ont payé de leur vie leur passion d'informer. Cela fait belle lurette que les journalistes russes vraiment indépendants ne pratiquent plus leur métier en Russie.

PEC. Que peut-on faire pour aider les médias ukrainiens et aussi les médias russes indépendants ?

C.C. - Les soutenir en traduisant et en diffusant des contenus sur nos sites d'information numériques. En rémunérant à la fois les auteurs et les traducteurs. Cela implique une organisation ad hoc, un certain mécénat. Ce n'est évidemment pas évident - les journaux indépendants occidentaux réclament eux-même des aides – mais ce n'est pas impossible.

Christian Campiche is currently the honorary president of the PEC after having been a member of its committee for several years representing the Swiss union of journalists, Impressum, whose president he was from 2015 to 2019. Today he is sharing with us his testimony regarding information on the war in Ukraine on the occasion of the publication of his historical novel situated in Hungary under communist control.

Blaise Lempen (PEC). Christian Campiche, you have just written a historical novel that resonates as a warning, Nous ne retournerons plus à Sashalom (We’ll Never Go Back to Sashalom, La Maraude, 221 pages). Through your family’s history, you recount the dark days of Hungary from 1940 and 1956. The country was first occupied by the Nazis then integrated by force into the Soviet camp. In 1956, repression by Soviet tanks caused 3,000 deaths. Has anything changed between 1956 Hungary and 2022 Ukraine, under assault by Russian army?

Christian Campiche. This story revives our worst memories. We thought this period erased from our memory, in particular the people of our generation, who spent the first 40 years of our lives under the regime of the Cold War. Military service, civil protection, trips to the East, economic exchanges – no activity was innocent owing to the permanent threat of an invasion by Warsaw Pact troops, like a sword of Damocles, in the scenarios of the governments’ military staff in any event. The fall of the Berlin wall in 1989 had made us forget completely this climate of great and permanent tension between the two blocs.

PEC. You novel is a true story, for you speak of your family’s departure from Hungry, where you were born in 1948, for Switzerland. Can one draw a parallel between the thousands of Hungarian refugees of 1956 and the three millions Ukrainians who have already fled the war? Is the welcome the same?

C. C. - My parents left Hungary in 1949 at the time of the communist take over. My father was Swiss, but my Hungarian mother was directly concerned by the plight of both the refugees and the family members left in Hungary. She was deeply affected, which is what I recount in the book. Today, the parallel is striking, in any case at the level of the emotion in the host countries. The situation in the field is different. Hungary was an iron curtain country, and the revolution was a totally spontaneous people’s phenomenon. To defend themselves, the Hungarians had only a few rifles and Molotov cocktails. The Ukrainians have sophisticated arms accumulated during their 30 years of independence.

PEC- Your book is called: We will never go back to Sashalom, your mother's place of origin in Hungary. Can we say today for the 
Ukrainians: we will not return to Mariupol, in view of the systematic destruction of the city by the Russian army?

C. C. - The destruction of his home is a terrible trauma. Sashalom suffered from a tank battle between Russians and Germans, which completely
 changed the topography, no one in my mother's family ever wanted to go back there. But at least there was no deliberate and Machiavellian 
strategy to drive out a population, which is perhaps not the case in certain localities of Ukraine. The scorched earth policy has been practiced 
since the dawn of time by many invaders.

PEC. You are also the author of Info pocorn, an investigation into Swiss media, criticizing the conformism of certain media in our country. The war in Ukraine has been under way for four weeks. What do you think of the way the information on the war is being handled in Switzerland.

C.C. - I am pleasantly disappointed, as people say here. All the more that I find that the media’s coverage of the covid crisis disastrous. Certain newspapers have sent special envoys to Kyiv. They are taking great risks to relay the life of the inhabitants. I find that remarkable. But I worry about what is to come, given the repressive climate that seems to be settling in there.

PEC. Is there brain washing in the West, not only in Russia? What do you think of the repression of the media in Russia?

I have written columns for the online news outlet infomeduse.ch, which I created in 2003: nothing is all black nor all white. By virtue of its provocations, the West bears a great responsibility for this war. Russia being one of the belligerents, its media inevitably practice self-censorship if they don’t want to disappear in a country that has never been a champion of press freedom, far from it: journalists have paid with their lives for their passionate desire to inform. It’s a long time since truly independent Russian journalists have practiced their profession in Russia.

PEC. What can one do to help the Ukrainian media and the independent Russian media?

We can support them by translating and diffusing their material on our online sites, paying both the authors and the translators. This involves an ad hoc sponsoring set-up. It’s not easy – Western journalists themselves are asking for support – but it’s not impossible either.

Thank you Christian.

22.03.2022. HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 49th session item 4 General Debate. PEC seriously concerned by two country situations, Mexico and Ukraine, strongly condemns war crimes in Ukraine

General Assembly

Human Rights Council 49th session

General Debate item 4

Mr President,

Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) is very worried by the high number of deaths among journalists since the beginning of this year. Ar least 33 media workers have been killed so far, it is an increase of more than 100 % over the same period of 2021.

We are specially concerned by two country situations, Mexico and Ukraine. In Mexico, criminal gangs have been responsible for the assassination of nine journalists since January. We call upon the Mexican authorities to reinforce their mechanisms of protection and to fight with greater firmness against impunity.

Since February 24th and the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces, 6 journalists have been killed in fighting and dozens of others injured. This is unacceptable. We strongly condemn these war crimes. Journalists are not combatants and should never be targeted by military forces. We call on the Russian and Ukrainian authorities to respect the independence of journalists on the ground and to ensure their safety.

The war in Ukraine is a new example of the need to reinforce the protection of media in conflict zones. We launch a new urgent call to Member States to adopt a binding international convention for the protection of journalists with mechanisms of accountability and inquiry. It would be useful for journalists of all countries.

Thank you for your attention

Geneva 22 March 2022

19.03.2022. UKRAINE. The new PEC Representative in Ukraine Andrii Ianitskyi send us his report on the

state of media in Ukraine during the first weeks of the war (february 24 – March 19).

By Andrii Ianitskyi, PEC Representative in Ukraine

Lviv, 19 March 2022 - The main needs of journalists in Ukraine are body armor and helmets, satellite phones, first aid kits. We also

need training on safety and first aid for both Ukrainian and foreign journalists who travel to Ukraine. Journalists also need shelters

in safe regions where they can stop along the way for several days on their way from one location to another. There is a shortage

of local fixers, translators, drivers with cars. Many journalists are out of work or in need of part-time jobs to support their families.

24 days after the Russian invasion in Ukraine:

● Ukrainian media are moving their offices out of active war zones, collaborate and tightening their rhetoric

● Media organizations open press centers, help relocate journalists and newsrooms, purchase body armor and first aid kits

● About 3,000 foreign journalists are working in Ukraine

● 6 journalists killed, 8 wounded, 2 kidnapped by Russian invaders

● Russian hackers attack websites of Ukrainian media

1) The reaction of Ukrainian media

Even before the Russian invasion on February 24, the Ukrainian office of Radio Liberty moved part of their office from Kyiv to

western Ukraine - after the very first statements by US officials that a war was imminent (for security reasons, we do not

name a specific city). In the wake of the US-sponsored media, other newsrooms, in whole or in part, began to move their staff and

equipment to safe zones. But not all Ukrainian journalists leave, some newsrooms have decided to stay in unsafe areas. For

example, the investigative media Slidstvo.Info is now filming videos from the front line near Kyiv.

The relocation of Ukrainian publications continues along with the expansion of the war zone. If the first to leave were employees of

national and local media with an office in Kyiv, now regional publications from Kharkiv, Sumy, Kherson, Mykolaiv and

other regions are leaving.

The hardest hit were printed media, which literally lost their audience: many subscribers also evacuated. For example, the Forbes

Ukraine has suspended the publication of a paper magazine, but continues to update the site.

National TV channels launched information marathons and began to openly broadcast their signal, without encoding. Some of

them have joined forces, the largest collaboration is United News, which includes the largest commercial TV groups and media,

which are financed from the state budget. Second-tier TV channels created their own associations or continued to broadcast

independently.

Public radio allowed commercial radio stations to use its signal. The largest political online media Ukrayinska Pravda has launched

an English version. And the UNIAN news agency allowed the free use of its photo bank with images of the war.

Most of the Ukrainian media have toughened up their rhetoric towards the enemy, especially after Russian rocket attacks on

civilian targets.

2) The reaction of Ukrainian media development organizations

Media development organizations have also responded strongly. The Lviv Media Forum launched a relocation program for

journalists and provided them with asylum. The Institute of Mass Information launched a program to support journalists who

remained in Kyiv. Media Development Foundation NGO also assists in the relocation of newsrooms, financially supports

newsrooms, provides legal support and assistance in the field of cybersecurity.

3) Foreign journalists in Ukraine

About 3,000 foreign journalists are currently working in Ukraine, according to the local Office of the President. Often these people

are not prepared to work in conditions of hostilities, do not know how to provide first aid, do not have protective

ammunition and first aid kits.

Often these people do not know the local culture, history and language and therefore must work with fixers. Unfortunately, there

are not enough fixers for everyone, journalists are regularly looking for them.

All foreign journalists who work in Ukraine must obtain free digital accreditation online on the website of the Ministry of Defense of

Ukraine. In theory, this press card should make it easier for them to work both in the war zone and after the curfew.

However, in practice, this accreditation alone is not enough and a lot depends on the personal connections of the fixer and the

ability to negotiate on the spot.

4) Killed and injured journalists

During the first 24 days of the war, 6 journalists were killed, 8 wounded, 2 kidnapped by Russian invaders. The journalists were

killed under various circumstances, from shrapnel after a rocket attack to a bullet wound. Half of the dead journalists covered

the battles near Kiev near the city of Irpin. Both kidnapped journalists worked in the south of the country, where Russia occupied

territories.

5) Russian hacker attacks

On March 2, 3, 17, Russian hackers attacked several Ukrainian media outlets (from hyperlocal Rayon.in.ua to all Ukrainian NV.ua

or DT.ua). Hackers blocked websites or posted symbols of the invaders on the front pages, as well as a deepfake with a

video in which President Volodymyr Zelensky allegedly calls on Ukrainian soldiers to lay down their arms. However, the forgery

was of such low quality that it is unlikely that it had a serious impact on Ukrainian society. The media quickly regained control

of the sites.

6) The Russians rocket attacks on TV towers

On March 1, 2, 14, 16 the Russians destroyed TV-towers in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lisichansk, Rivne, Vinnitsa and Korosten. The Russians

captured TV towers in Kherson, Starobelsk, Melitopol, as well as a radio station in Berdyansk.

A. I.

18.03.2022. PEC condemns killing of scribes in Ukraine, criticises Taliban for continued atrocities on journalists

With Nava Thakuria

Geneva: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body, expresses serious concern and condemns the killing of scribes in Ukraine, who have been reporting from ground after the Russian invasion, and urges every concerned to respect freedom of the press. PEC (www.pressemblem.ch) also criticizes the Taliban, who continues to victimise the Afghan journalists after seizing power in Kabul during August last year.

Since the Russian forces started military actions in Ukraine at least six journalists, most of them from foreign countries, were killed
inside the country. All the victims including Shakirov Dilerbek Shukurovych (killed in Kherson locality on 26 February 2022),
Yevhenii Sakun (Kyiv on 1 March), Viktor Dudar (Mykolaiv, 4 March), Brent Renaud (Irpin, 13 March), Pierre Zakrzewski (Horenka, 14 March), Oleksandra Kurshynova (Horenka, 14 March) were on the ground to report the war.

Dozens of journalists including Benjamin Hall, Guillaume Briquet, Stuart Ramsay, Richie Mockler, Stefan Weichert, Emil Filtenborg Mikkelsen, etc were wounded in the conflict. PEC is alarmed by the continued attacks against the journalists despite they were carrying clear sign PRESS with them. *Journalists should never be the target of military action as they are not combatants. Moreover, they should get the advantage of protections mentioned in Geneva Conventions,” said
Blaise Lempen, PEC president.

Till date, globally 32 journalists have lost their lives to assailants since 1 January, an increase of 100% compared to last year. The highest number of nine casualties are recorded in Mexico (Jose Luis Gamboa, Margarito Martinez, Lourdes Maldonado,
Roberto Toledo, Marcos Ernesto Islas Flores, Heber Lopez Osorio, Michelle Perez Tadeo, Juan Carlos Muñiz and Armando Linares) followed by Haiti (Amady John Wesley, Wilguens Louissaint and Lazarre Maxihen) and Pakistan (Hasnain Shah, Murtaza Shar and Athar Mateen).

India has also witnessed the murder of three scribes (Rohit Kumar Biswal, Sudhir Saini and Juned Khan Pathan) till today this year, whereas Yemen (Mervan Yusuf), Brazil (Givanildo Oliveira), Turkey (Gungor Arslan), Philippines (Jaynard Angeles), Kazakhstan (Muratkhan Bazarbayev), Tchad (Djaï-Loramadji Evariste), Honduras (Pablo Isabel Hernandez Rivera) and Myanmar (Pu Tui Dim) lost one journalist each to assailants.

Meanwhile, Afghan journalists are facing physical tortures from the Taliban forces and many of them had already taken shelter in foreign countries. A recent report, jointly published by Afghanistan Journalists Centre and Afghan Independent Journalists Association, indicated that over 40% of media outlets (out of 224 news channels, radio outlets, news websites, and newspapers) have ceased operations due to funding shortage and imposed limitations.

“Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August 2021, hundreds of working journalists (most of whom are female) have left the country,” said PEC’s south Asia representative Nava Thakuria, adding that the Taliban regime must fulfil its commitment to support press freedom. Moreover, the international community should continue supporting the Afghan media fraternity to prevent its imminent collapse in a conflict-ridden nation.

Genève, 8 mars 2022 (PEC) Tout le comité de la PEC est

choqué par la disparition subite de sa présidente Hedayat

Abdel Nabi à 73 ans. Nous adressons nos plus sincères

condoléances à sa famille, ses nombreux amis et

confrères qui appréciaient sa disponibilité, son

dynamisme, ses convictions.

Née le 10 novembre 1948 au Caire, Hedayat a co-fondé

notre ONG en 2004 avec d’autres correspondants à l’ONU à Genève. Infatigable, elle a soutenu la cause d’une meilleure

protection des journalistes au fil des conflits et des crises.

C’est en réaction au grand nombre de journalistes tués dans la guerre menée par les Américains en Irak que nous avons fondé la

PEC. C’est l’ironie de l’histoire qu’Hedayat nous quitte au moment d’un autre conflit majeur en Ukraine qui requiert toute notre

énergie, alors que nous avons été déjà dévastés par les massacres commis entre-temps en Syrie pendant plus de dix ans.

Je veux rendre hommage ici au travail inlassable d’Hedayat pendant 18 ans d’efforts communs.

Nous avions lancé en 2004 l’idée d’un emblème de presse uniforme internationalement reconnu que les journalistes,

photographes, cameramen sur le terrain pourraient porter volontairement pour se distinguer des civils. Malheureusement, cette

idée a rencontré des oppositions parmi les grands medias, alors même que nous le constatons depuis deux semaines en Ukraine,

tout journaliste sur place s’identifie comme tel pour se distinguer des autres civils. Nous voyons à cet égard une grande diversité

d’inscriptions PRESS, alors même qu’un emblème unique et internationalement reconnu aurait apporté une meilleure visibilité. Cet

emblème, nous l’avons répété, dans tous les cas aurait été optionnel.

Nous avons ensuite avec Hedayat développé l’idée d’une Convention internationale sur la protection des journalistes et procédé à

des consultations diplomatiques avec les ambassades à Genève. Autre ironie de l’histoire, c’est l’ambassadeur du Mexique et

premier président du nouveau Conseil des droits de l’homme Luis Alfonso de Alba qui nous a apporté son plus ferme soutien –

alors que le Mexique est l’un des pays les plus dangereux pour les journalistes. Les consultations n’ont cependant pas abouti, des

États ne souhaitant pas se lier les mains avec de nouvelles obligations. La Fédération internationale des journalistes (FIJ) a

ensuite apporté son soutien à notre projet, jusqu’ici sans plus de résultats. La Convention aurait prévu entre autres des

mécanismes d’enquête internationaux, des indemnisations des familles des victimes, un suivi par une commission d’experts.

Hedayat a aussi joué un rôle prépondérant en mobilisant ses relations afin que nous obtenions en 2010 le statut consultatif à

l’ONU, ce qui nous a permis ensuite d’intervenir régulièrement au Conseil des droits de l’homme et de participer aux travaux de

l’UNESCO pour le renforcement de la sécurité des journalistes. Notre travail a été récompensé par l’adoption de plusieurs

résolutions de l’Assemblée générale de l’ONU et du Conseil des droits de l’homme sur la sécurité des journalistes, notamment

sous la houlette de l’Autriche. Ces résolutions, adoptées par consensus, ne sont pas l’équivalent d’une Convention, mais ont

apporté néanmoins au fil des ans beaucoup de clarifications juridiques et forment un ensemble que les médias peuvent utiliser en

cas d’abus.

En 2009, nous avons aussi lancé le Prix pour la Protection des journalistes, qui a récompensé chaque année en fonction de

l’actualité des individus ou des associations s’étant distingués dans leur lutte contre l’impunité. Nous avons ainsi récompensé à

Genève des journalistes ou associations palestinien, philippin, égyptien, tunisien, libyen, syrien, guatémaltèque, hondurien, russe,

mexicain, turc, afghan, indien. Et déjà ukrainien en 2015, la Fondation suisse Hirondelle en 2014, la famille de Daphne Caruana

Galizia en 2018.

Depuis 2006, nous avons aussi inlassablement poursuivi notre travail de documentation des assassinats de journalistes avec des

rapports biannuels et avons désormais à disposition des chercheurs, médias et diplomates une base de données exhaustive

disponible sur notre site internet. Nous avons aussi suivi les différentes procédures judiciaires afin de poursuivre les auteurs

d’assassinat, notamment à l’occasion de la Journée mondiale contre l’impunité des crimes contre les journalistes le 2 novembre.

Nous nous sommes aussi mobilisé pour dénoncer la détention prolongée de Julian Assange. La pandémie a été un nouveau défi,

et la PEC a été la seule organisation au niveau mondial à documenter les décès de journalistes dus au Covid-19, alors que la

profession devait continuer à travailler pour informer en s’exposant, faute de vaccins dans un premier temps. Près de 2000

journalistes en sont morts.

Pendant toutes ces années, Hedayat a été un soutien indéfectible, d’abord en marge de son travail de correspondante à Genève

pour l’agence Kuna (1999-2010), puis après sa retraite au Caire en assurant la diffusion des communiqués de la PEC dans le

monde arabe. Elle a été quatre fois présidente de l’Association des correspondants à l’ONU (ACANU). Je me souviens de son

engagement extraordinaire comme journaliste : elle était toujours au premier rang dans les conférences de presse et la première à

poser des questions. Elle écrivait avec une très grande rapidité et a été récompensée par plusieurs prix, déjà comme journaliste

au sein du grand journal égyptien Al-Ahram dans les années 1980. Elle connaissait à merveille tous les rouages de l’ONU, après

avoir travaillé au Centre d’information de l’ONU au Caire (1993-1996) et au Haut Commissariat de l’ONU pour les réfugiés (HCR)

à Genève (1997-1999).

Lors du décès de notre vice-président Daniel Favre en novembre dernier, elle a encore prouvé sa grande empathie en organisant

un vibrant hommage à notre confrère. Elle était toujours disponible et répondait immédiatement à mes WhatsApp l’alertant de l’un

ou l’autre attentat contre un journaliste, hélas en nette hausse depuis le début de 2022.

Notre combat continue, au-delà de notre douleur après sa mort subite : le meilleur hommage que l’on puisse lui rendre, est de lui

montrer que la cause qu’elle a défendue avec passion lui survit et que nous sommes prêts à la poursuivre aussi longtemps qu’il

faudra pour qu’une information indépendante puisse avoir lieu en toutes circonstances et que les calculs des dictateurs et des

gangs de criminels ne puissent jamais étouffer la liberté de la presse.

Blaise Lempen

Secrétaire général de la PEC

(photo: Hedayat Abdel Nabi presenting her book "Dialogue with celebrities" at the United Nations In Geneva with John Zaracostas, ACANU president, and Ambassador of Egypt Amr Zahran)

Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) mourns the death of its president Hedayat Abdel Nabi who died in Cairo on Monday.

Geneva, 8 March 2022 (PEC) - The members of the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) board express their shock at the news of the sudden death of PEC president Hedayat Abdel Nabi at the age of 73. We extend our sincere condolences to her family, her many friends and colleagues who appreciated her availability, her dynamism, her convictions.

Born on 10 November 1948 in Cairo, Hedayat was a co-founder of our organization in 2004 along with other correspondents at the United Nations Office in Geneva. Indefatigable, she supported the struggle for better protection of journalists when covering conflicts and crises.

It was in reaction to the ever greater number of journalists killed in the war carried on by the United States in Iraq that we created the PEC. It is an irony of history that Hedayat has taken leave of us just when another major conflict, in Ukraine this time, is demanding all our energy, whereas we were devastated by the massacres committed in the interim in Syria over more than ten years.

I should like to pay tribute to Hedayat’s unwavering work in the course of our 18 years of common struggle.

In 2004, we launched the idea of a single press emblem, recognized internationally, that journalists, photographers, cameramen and technical support staff in the field could choose to wear to distinguish themselves from other civilians. Unfortunately, this idea encountered opposition within the corporate media, yet for more than two weeks we have been seeing in Ukraine that all the journalists on the scene are identifying themselves as such, in contrast to other civilians. However, what we see is a great diversity of PRESS inscriptions, whereas a single internationally recognized emblem would provide substantially greater visibility. Wearing this emblem, as we have constantly insisted, should be optional in every case, leaving up to the individual journalist to decide according to the circumstances.

With Hedayat we then developed the idea of an international Convention for the protection of journalists and undertook diplomatic consultations with various ambassadors in Geneva. Another irony of history is that it was the Mexican ambassador and first president of the new Human Rights Council, Luis Alfonso de Alba, who firmly supported our efforts, whereas Mexico has become one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists. However, the consultations did not bear fruit, some governments did not wish to undertake any new obligations. The International Federation of Journalists subsequently supported the project of a new Convention, but it nonetheless remains without results at present. Among other things, the Convention would set up international investigative mechanisms, compensation for the victims’ families and a follow-up by an expert commission.

Hedayat also played a preponderant role in mobilizing her contacts so that in 2010 we were able to obtain consultative status with the United Nations, which has permitted us to intervene regularly at the Human Rights Council and to participate in UNESCO’s work in reinforcing the safety of journalists. Our work has been rewarded by adoption of several resolutions by the United Nations General Assembly and by the Human Rights Council regarding the safety of journalists, in particular with the support of Austria. These resolutions, adopted by consensus, are not the equivalent of a convention; nonetheless, over the years they have resulted in significant legal clarifications and now form a corpus of principles that journalists can cite in cases of abuse.

In 2009, we also launched the Journalists Protection Award, which every year honors individuals or associations that have distinguished themselves in their struggle against impunity. We have thus honored in Geneva journalists and associations from origins as divers as Palestine, Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Syria, Guatemala, Honduras, Russia, Mexico, Turkey, Afghanistan and India – and already Ukraine in 2015, the Swiss Hirondelle Foundation in 2014, and the family of Daphne Caruana Galizia in 2018.

Since 2006, we have been steadfast in our work of documenting the murder of journalists, with semi-annual reports, and we have at the disposal of researchers, media and diplomats an exhaustive data bank on our internet site. We have also tracked various legal proceedings aiming to prosecute perpetrators of murders, with particular focus on 2 November, the World Day against Impunity for Crimes against Journalists. We have also mobilized to denounce the extended detention of Julian Assange. The pandemic was a new challenge, and the PEC was the only organization operating on a world-wide level documenting the deaths of journalists from Covid-19, while the profession had to continue its work, with a toll of almost 2,000 journalists’ deaths.

During all these years, Hedayat provided unwavering support, at first in addition to her work as a correspondent in Geneva for the Kuna Agency (1999-2010), then after her retirement in Cairo, from where she diffused the PEC’s statements and declarations throughout the Arab world. She was a four-time president of the United Nations Correspondents Association (ACANU). I recall her extraordinary commitment as a journalist: she was always in the first row at press conferences and the first to ask questions. She wrote with impressive speed and received several awards, already as a journalist for the major Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram in the 1980s. She had acquired a master of the workings of the United Nations, having worked at the United Nations Information Center in Cairo (1993-1996) and at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva (1997-1999).

Last November, at the time of the death of our vice-president, Daniel Favre, she demonstrated an immense empathy, organizing a vibrant tribute to our colleague. She was always available and responded immediately to my WhatsApp alerts about one or another attack on a journalist, attacks whose numbers – alas! – have been steadily increasing since the beginning of 2022.

Our struggle continues, beyond our sorrow after her sudden death. The greatest tribute that we can pay to her is to show her that the cause she defended with passion survives and that we are ready and willing to pursue it as long as necessary so that impartial, independent and dispassionate information may emerge in all circumstances and that the machinations of dictators and criminal gangs will never muzzle the press.

Blaise Lempen - PEC Secretary General

05.03.2022. UKRAINE. PEC condoles the demise of Ukraine journalists, and appeals to all concerns to ensure the safety and security of journalists

Geneva: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body, condoles the demise of two Ukrainian journalists in the week of Russia’s aggression to Ukraine and urges the United Nations to recognise their professional services for disseminating authentic information about the ongoing conflicts. PEC also appreciates the restrained role played by the mainstream media outlets and responsible journalism pursued by a large number of media persons on the ground.

Journalist Shakirov Dilerbek Shukurovych, who hailed from Kherson locality, died on 26 February and television cameraman Yevhenii Sakun lost his life in the Russian attacks on the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv on 1 March 2022. Both were victims of the Russian military aggression in Ukraine that started in the last week of February disregarding the international laws. PEC had already condemned in the strongest terms the Russian actions and appealed to all concerns to ensure the safety and security of journalists, who were engaged in professional duties.

“PEC also urged all parties to refrain from spreading propaganda for war or incitement to hostility or violence. We stand in solidarity with independent Russian media who continue to report the truth in an unprecedented situation. Moreover, we demanded the Russian authorities not to censor independent media reporting about the invasion and to avoid detaining journalists who were covering the anti-war protests,” said Blaise Lempen, secretary-general of PEC, adding that all journalists on the ground were already asked to take precautionary measures.

Earlier, the international media forum condemned the Russian missile attack on the TV tower of Kyiv that facilitated broadcasting of radio and television news. Lately, it lauded the adoption of a resolution by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council condemning the rights violations and abuses in Ukraine and asking for an early withdrawal of Russian troops. Moreover, an independent international commission of inquiry should be established to probe into the violations and abuses of human rights
and international humanitarian laws in Ukraine.

European media outlets usually maintain their responsible journalism avoiding the exposure of human dead from the battlefield. Many mainstream media outlets in India, which are relatively independent among south & southeast Asian nations, are also reporting from the ground with standard guidelines, said PEC’s India representative Nava Thakuria, adding that it’s a welcome change for the Indian media, which usually goes unleashed on reporting the human tragedies with unsolicited visuals if it happens to their own people.

19.02.2022. PAKISTAN. Television journalist shot dead in Pakistan, PEC demands punishment to perpetrators

With Nava Thakuria, PEC South Asia Representative

Geneva: Expressing grief over the demise of Karachi-based Pakistani television journalist Athar Mateen, the global media safety and rights body Press Emblem Campaign insists on a genuine probe into the incident that led to his killing during the morning hours on 18 February 2022. PEC also demands compensation to the bereaved family.

Associated with the private news channel Samaa Television, Mateen (45) was targeted by two armed men at Nazimabad area of the port city in west Pakistan. He tried to prevent them from robbing a pedestrian on the street. The men on a bike opened fire on Mateen and fled from the location. Wounded Mateen was taken to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to injuries.

Mateen, who worked as a senior news producer, was also partially associated with Aaj News and ARY News. Besides the Pak media fraternity, Prime Minister Imran Khan, Sindh Governor Imran Ismail and State chief minister Murad Ali Shah also condemned the incident and directed the police to nab the culprits at the earliest to punish under the law.

“It’s shocking that Pakistan has lost three scribes this year and emerged as a dangerous country for working journalists. Earlier, the
Lahore-based journalist Hasnain Shah (45) was killed on 24 January by two bike-riders outside the local press club. It was followed by another assassination of scribes when Ghulam Murtaza Shar (32) faced bullets from two armed men riding a two-wheeler in Sindh province on 30 January,” said Blaise Lempen, secretary-general of PEC.

Till date, 20 journalists have been killed worldwide in 2022, where Mexico tops the list with six casualties, followed by Pakistan (3), Haiti, India (2 dead each), Myanmar, Philippines, Kazakhstan, Honduras, Yemen, Tchad and Brazil (one each). PEC’s south Asia representative Nava Thakuria informed that 79 journalists were killed last year, where Pakistan lost Ajay Laalwani, Waseem Alam, Abdul Wahid Raisani, Kashif Hussain, Shahid Zehri, Nazim Samwal Jokhio and Muhammad Zada to assailants.

16.02.2022. La PEC consternée par l’assassinat du journaliste Evariste Djaï-Loramadji au Tchad.

Avec Touré Hamidou Elhadji, Représentant Afrique Subsaharienne de la PEC

Genève, 16 février 2022 (PEC) - Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) est consternée par l'assassinat du journaliste Evariste Djaï-

Loramadji, correspondant de la radio chrétienne "Lotiko", dans un massacre suite à un affrontement intercommunautaire qui a fait

plus d'une dizaine de morts dans le village de Sandana (Moyen-Chari), le mercredi 9 février 2022.

La PEC dénonce et condamne cet assassinat barbare, salue la mémoire du disparu et présente ses sincères condoléances à sa

famille et à celles de toutes les victimes. L’ONG de défense des journalistes basée à Genève exhorte les autorités à diligenter une

enquête complète et rapide et à punir le ou les coupables.

Selon Abbas Mahamoud Tahir, président de l'Union des Journalistes tchadiens (UJT), «c’est un combattant de l’information que ce

jour-là, les assassins de Sandana ont délibérément visé. En effet, alors que Djaï-Loramadji Evariste donnait les informations en

direct à sa station, Radio Lotiko, un tireur embusqué, à bout portant, lui a explosé la tête». Sa disparition a causé à toute la famille

de la presse tchadienne un profond chagrin.

« Evariste Djaï-Loramadji n’a fait que son métier de journaliste en informant de la situation jusqu’au dernier moment. Nous saluons

le courage de ces journalistes de terrain», a déclaré le secrétaire général de la PEC Blaise Lempen.

Evariste Djaï-Loramadji est le premier journaliste tué en Afrique cette année, dans un contexte global alarmant avec déjà 19

journalistes tués dans le monde en six semaines, selon le décompte de la PEC sur son site : www.pressemblem.ch

15.02.2022. PEC demands probe into attack on Lankan journalist’s residence, condoles Indian photojournalist's tragic end

by Nava Thakuria, PEC South Asia Representative

Geneva: Condemning the attack on the residence of Sri Lanka’s senior television journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrema by a group of masked armed men in the early hours of 14 February 2022, the global media safety and rights body Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) on Tuesday demands a fair probe into the incident and punish the perpetrators.

Local media outlets reported that at least four unidentified persons stormed into the residential complex of Samarawickrema at Piliyandala area of Colombo and pelted various items over the buildings. Samarawickrema, who is associated with private news channel Hiru TV, was inside the house along with his family and everyone survived
unhurt in the incident.

“It’s unacceptable that a journalist, who remains critical about the government functioning, has to face this kind of attack on him. The Lankan government, dominated by former Sri Lankan President and current Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s family, must identify the culprits to maintain its credibility,” said Blaise Lempen, secretary-general of PEC.

Financial crisis at UNI

Meanwhile, the PEC expresses grief over the untimely demise of a senior photojournalist T Kumar, who killed himself on 13 February in the south Indian city of Chennai. Kumar, who used to work for prominent news agency United News of India (UNI), was not paid for some years and in desperate need of money as his wife faced an accident a few weeks back. Moreover, he was preparing for his daughter’s engagement ceremony.

Shockingly, Kumar (56) hanged himself at the agency’s office in Nungambakkam area on Sunday evening and died on the way to hospital.

Reliable sources claim that the agency, which faced a serious financial crisis because of faulty management policies for many years, started pay-cut tactics. Many senior journalists were compelled to leave their jobs without getting their due salaries and other benefits.

“Devastating impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the media fraternity have been observed across India. But a large number of Indian media authorities have taken advantages of the situation to reduce the number of employees, stop extra financial benefits, cut salaries up to two-third of its amount, etc” said Nava Thakuria, PEC’s south-Asia representative, adding that the UNI management must be made accountable for the photojournalist’s tragic end.

13.02.2022. INDIA. Scribe beaten to death in India, three arrested, PEC demands stringent punishment

by Nava Thakuria, PEC India Representative

Geneva: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body, demanded stringent punishments to perpetrators of the murder of a young scribe in central India’s State of Uttar Pradesh some days back. Condoling the demise of Sudhir Saini (30), the PEC also urges the UP government in Lucknow to adequately compensate the reporter’s impoverished family.

It may be mentioned that Sudhir, who worked for a local newspaper titled Shah Times, was physically attacked by three individuals while travelling by a car in Saharanpur locality on 26 January 2022. They had a quarrel with Sudhir, who was on a two-wheeler, following an issue of overtaking the vehicle. The car passengers not only stopped the reporter, but also thrashed him and finally threw to a water channel.

Seriously wounded Sudhir was taken to a nearby hospital by the locals, where he succumbed to injuries. The eye-witnesses provided vital inputs to the police about the vehicle and those passengers. The police team accordingly arrested Jahangir, Farman and Mannan accusing them of murdering the reporter, who was only son to the elderly parents.

“It’s so unfortunate that the life of a promising scribe had ended in such a way. India continues to a dangerous country for working
journalists as the populous nation lost six journalists to assailants last year,” said Blaise Lempen, secretary-general of PEC adding that year 2021 witnessed murders of 79 media workers in 29 countries, where Afghanistan emerged as the most dangerous country with 12 journo-casualties, followed by Mexico (10) and Pakistan (7).

Days back, another young scribe named Rohit Kumar Biswal died in a landmine blast, informed Nava Thakuria, PEC’s India representative. Rohit (40), who used to work for an Oriya daily titled Dharitri, stepped on the mine planted by left-wing rebels in Odisha’s Kalahandi locality and died on the spot. The incident took place on 5 February as the reporter went to cover a local election related developments where the ultra-left extremists threatened people to boycott the forthcoming polls.

10.02.2022. Guinée Bissau : PEC condamne la violente attaque armée d’un groupe de militaires contre la radio privée Capital FM

Genève, le 10 février 2022. Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) condamne la violente attaque ciblée, contre le personnel et les installations de la radio privée Capital FM, en Guinée Bissau, perpétrée le 7 février 2022, par des des hommes en uniforme militaire, lourdement armés. Elle appelle à des enquêtes pour identifier et sanctionner les auteurs de cette agression.

Selon le témoignage recueilli par PEC auprès de Mme Indira Correia Balde, présidente du Syndicat des Journalistes et Techniciens de la Communication sociale de Guinée Bissau (SINJOTECS) : « Un groupe d’hommes armés a attaqué la radio, en tirant avec des armes AK à l’intérieur de l’édifice et détruisant tous les équipements. Il y a eu cinq blessées parmi les journalistes, techniciens et personnels administratifs qui essayaient d’échapper aux tirs. Une journaliste qui a dû sauter du premier étage est hospitalisée, dans un état grave, et doit être évacuée au Portugal, le vendredi 11 février, pour des soins appropriés ». En effet, blessée à la colonne vertébrale et aux côtes la journaliste Maimuna Bari est dans le coma.

Exprimant sa vive réprobation après cette attaque, le secrétaire général de la PEC, Blaise Lempen a déclaré: « Un tel déferlement de violence contre les professionnels des médias est inadmissible, dans un système démocratique, de la part d’éléments de l’armée. Press Emblem Campaign insiste auprès des autorités de Guinée Bissau pour que les responsables et auteurs de cette agression soient identifiés et sanctionnés par la justice ».

« C'est la deuxième fois, souligne, pour sa part, la présidente du Synjotecs, que cette radio est attaquée par des hommes armés. La première fois, c’était une nuit, en juillet 2020. Jusqu'à maintenant nous ne connaissons pas les résultats des enquêtes. Dans une rencontre avec l'ancien directeur de la police judiciaire, il nous avait dit que le processus était complexe, à cause des personnes impliquées ». Mme Indira Correia Balde s’interroge : « Nous ne savons pas comment les autorités vont traiter ce deuxième cas. En fait, nous n’espérons pas grand chose. Il y a actuellement beaucoup de menaces sur les journalistes et les organes de presse ».

L’attaque de Capital FM, une radio privée au ton critique considérée comme proche de l’opposition, est intervenue six jours après une tentative de coup d’Etat ayant fait une douzaine de morts dans ce pays lusophone d’Afrique de l’Ouest où l’instabilité politico-militaire est alimentée par le trafic de drogue. Le gouvernement a considéré cette attaque comme « un cas isolé »

08.02.2022. INDIA. PEC condoles demise of Odisha scribe Rohit Biswal in blast

by Nava Thakuria, PEC India Representative

Geneva: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body, mourns the demise of a promising Indian scribe in a landmine blast, planted by left-wing rebels in Kalahandi locality of Odisha province. A native of Mohangiri village under Madanpur Rampur area, Rohit Kumar Biswal (40) stepped on the mine on 5 February 2022 and died on the spot.

Rohit used to work for an Oriya daily (Dharitri) and he went to report about the posters of ultra-left extremists (belonging to outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist), which were put on trees near to Karlakhunta bridge asking the people to boycott the forthcoming local (Panchayat) elections scheduled for different phases in 16-24 February next.

Odisha government chief Naveen Patnaik expressed grief over Rohit’s death and announced Indian rupees 1.3 million compensation to the bereaved family. Asserting that there is no place of violence in democracy, Patnaik assured that the government would take necessary actions against the perpetrators under the law.

“We express profound grief over the demise of Rohit Kumar Biswal, who died in the line of duty as a reporter. After 12 journo-casualties in January, where Mexico was at the top with the murder of four scribes, followed by Pakistan, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, Honduras and Philippines, India has added one more in the beginning of this year’s second month,” said Blaise Lempen, PEC secretary-general.

The bygone year witnessed the killing of 79 media employees by assailants in 29 countries, where Afghanistan came out as the most dangerous country for journalists with 12 casualties, followed by Mexico (10 dead), Pakistan (7), India (6), the Philippines, Yemen (4 each), Democratic Republic of Congo (3), Myanmar, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia, Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, Burkina-Faso, Turkey (2 each), etc.

India earlier lost Buddhinath Avinash Jha (a journalist cum Right to Information activist) from Bihar on 12 November, informed Nava Thakuria, PEC’s India representative, adding that the populous country earlier lost media workers namely Ashu Yadav, Sulabh Srivastava, Ch. Keshav, Manish Kumar Singh and Raman Kashyap to assailants in 2021. Moreover, Indian photojournalist Danish Siddiqui was killed in Afghanistan by Taliban forces last year.

05.02.2022. La PEC nomme un nouveau représentant pour l'Afrique subsaharienne

English after French

Genève, le 5 février 2022 (PEC) Le comité directeur de la Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) a désigné son nouveau Représentant

Régional pour l’Afrique Subsaharienne, M. Touré Hamidou Elhadji. Journaliste, expert Médias et Sécurité, directeur de publication

du journal en ligne malimedias.com, M. Touré est aussi Coordinateur des journalistes du G5 Sahel, Président du Réseau

International des Journalistes Francophones pour l’Etat Civil et la Citoyenneté et membre de l’Union International de la Presse

Francophone (UPF).

Le choix n’a pas été facile au vue de la qualité des postulants. Les membres du comité ont fini par porter leur choix sur M. Touré,

l’expérience, l’indépendance, la disponibilité et la réactivité étant parmi les critères exigés. M. Touré mettra à profit son carnet

d’adresses, ses relations avec ses confrères des pays africains et ses contacts sur les réseaux sociaux dans le but de renforcer la

protection des journalistes en Afrique subsaharienne. La PEC attend du Représentant Régional qu’il suive de près l’actualité des

médias dans la région, alerte la direction et réagisse très rapidement si nécessaire afin de dénoncer d’éventuels abus.

«Nous félicitons Hamidou Touré et nous nous réjouissons de pouvoir coopérer avec le directeur de malimedias.com afin de mieux

couvrir l’actualité africaine, comme nous le faisons pour l’Amérique latine, l’Asie et le Moyen-orient», a déclaré le secrétaire

général de la PEC Blaise Lempen. «L’an dernier, 12 journalistes ont été tués en Afrique, un chiffre en hausse, et il faut stopper

cette tendance alarmante», a-t-il ajouté.

La PEC est une organisation non gouvernementale internationale, indépendante, à but non lucratif. Elle a pour but de renforcer la

protection des journalistes dans le monde. Elle été fondée en 2004 à Genève par un groupe de journalistes professionnels, la

plupart correspondants à l’ONU. Depuis 2010, elle dispose du statut consultatif spécial à l’ONU. Elle est dirigée par un comité

directeur de dix membres de plusieurs nationalités.

La PEC fait des rapports réguliers sur les journalistes tués dans le monde et des communiqués pour les Journées de la liberté de

la presse le 3 mai et contre l’impunité le 2 novembre. Elle intervient au Conseil des droits de l’homme pour alerter la communauté

internationale et soutenir les efforts diplomatiques à l’ONU en vue de l’adoption de résolutions sur la sécurité des journalistes.

Depuis 2020, la PEC suit également l’évolution de la mortalité due à la Covid-19 parmi les journalistes. Elle décerne un prix annuel

à un individu ou organisation ayant œuvré à la protection des travailleurs des médias.

Pour plus d’infos : www.pressemblem.ch, www.malimedias.com

PEC appoints new Representative for Africa

Geneva, February 5, 2022 (PEC) The Steering Committee of the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) has appointed its new Regional Representative

for Sub-Saharan Africa, Mr. Touré Hamidou Elhadji. Journalist, Media and Security expert, director of the online newspaper malimedias.com,

Mr. Touré is also Coordinator of journalists of G5 Sahel, President of the International Network of Francophone Journalists for Civil Status and

Citizenship and member of the International Union of the Francophone Press (UPF).

The choice was not easy in view of the quality of the applicants. The members of the committee ended up choosing Mr. Touré, experience,

independence, availability and responsiveness being among the criteria required. Mr. Touré will use his address book, his relations with his

colleagues in African countries and his contacts on social networks with the aim of strengthening the protection of journalists in sub-Saharan

Africa. The PEC expects that the Regional Representative closely follows media news in the region, alerts the PEC board in Geneva and reacts

very quickly if necessary to denounce possible abuses.

"We congratulate Hamidou Touré and look forward to working with the director of malimedias.com to better cover African news, as we do for

Latin America, Asia and the Middle East," said PEC Secretary General Blaise Lempen. "Last year, 12 journalists were killed in Africa, a rising

figure, and this alarming trend must be stopped," he added.

The PEC is an international, independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization. It aims to strengthen the protection of journalists around

the world. It was founded in 2004 in Geneva by a group of professional journalists, most of them UN correspondents. Since 2010, it has had

special consultative status at the UN. It is managed by a steering committee of ten members of several nationalities.

The PEC makes regular reports on journalists killed around the world and press releases for Press Freedom Day on May 3 and Day against

Impunity on November 2. It intervenes at the Human Rights Council to alert the international community and support diplomatic efforts at the

UN with a view to adopting resolutions on the safety of journalists. Since 2020, the PEC has also been monitoring the evolution of mortality

due to Covid-19 among journalists. It awards an annual prize to an individual or organization that has worked to protect media workers.

01.02.2022. 12 journalists killed in one month, PEC demands justice to bereaved families

En français après l'anglais

Geneva, February 1, 2022 (PEC) - Expressing shock over the murder of a record number of 12 journalists killed in the first month of 2022, the global media safety and rights body Press Emblem Campaign demands justice and adequate compensation to the bereaved family.

PEC laments that another journalist has been cowardly assassinated in Mexico. The slain journalist is Roberto Toledo, of 55 years of age, gunned down on Monday, January 31st, 2022, in the municipality of Zitacuaro, Michoacan. He worked for the Monitor Michoacan news outlet. Toledo is the 4th journalist killed in less than a month in Mexico. If the current continues, we could be having one journalist per week being killed in the county.

PEC also condemns the murder of another journalist in Pakistan within a week and urges Pak Prime Minister Imran Khan to punish the perpetrators under the law of the land. Mentionable is that Ghulam Murtaza Shar (32), who was associated with private Urdu news channel Ummat, faced bullets from two armed men riding a two-wheeler at Jhol town of Sindh province in western Pakistan on 30 January 2022. Shar sustained multiple injuries in the attack and later succumbed on his way to the hospital. The local authority claimed that Shar was killed because of marriage disputes.

Earlier, Lahore-based journalist Hasnain Shah (45) was killed on 24 January by two bike-riders outside the local press club in Simla
Pahari point. The murder of Shah, who was a prominent crime reporter working for a local news channel, witnessed massive outrages by the
journo-bodies across the south Asian nation and many of them demonstrated their anger on the streets.

“The first month of 2022 has brought depressing news as twelve media workers had lost their lives to assailants. Mexico witnessed the
murder of four scribes (namely Jose Luis Gamboa, Margarito Martinez, Lourdes Maldonado and Roberto Toledo), followed by Pakistan (Hasnain Shah & Murtaza Shar), Haiti (Amady John Wesley & Wilguens Louissaint), Kazakhstan (Muratkhan Bazarbayev), Myanmar (Pu Tui Dim), Honduras (Pablo Isabel Hernandez Rivera) and Phillppines (Jaynard Angeles),” said Blaise Lempen, PEC secretary-general.

In 2021, 79 journalists were killed in 29 countries. Afghanistan emerged as the most dangerous country with 12 casualties, followed by Mexico (10 dead), Pakistan (7), India (6), the Philippines (4), etc. revealed PEC’s south Asia representative Nava Thakuria, adding that it lost media enthusiasts namely Ajay Laalwani, Waseem Alam, Abdul Wahid Raisani, Kashif Hussain, Shahid Zehri, Nazim Samwal Jokhio and Muhammad Zada to assailants last year.

01.02.2022. 12 journalistes tués en un mois, la PEC demande justice

Genève, le 1er février 2022 (PEC) - Se déclarant choquée par le meurtre d'un nombre record de 12 journalistes au cours du premier mois de 2022,
la Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) demande justice et une indemnisation adéquate aux personnes endeuillées des familles.

La PEC déplore qu'un autre journaliste ait été lâchement assassiné au Mexique. Le journaliste assassiné est Roberto Toledo, âgé de 55 ans,
abattu le lundi 31 janvier 2022, dans la municipalité de Zitacuaro, Michoacan. Il a travaillé pour le média Monitor Michoacan. Toledo est
le 4e journaliste tué en moins d'un mois au Mexique. Si cette tendance continue, nous pourrions avoir un journaliste par semaine tué dans le pays.

La PEC condamne également le meurtre d'un autre journaliste au Pakistan en une semaine et exhorte le Premier ministre pakistanais Imran
Khan à punir ses auteurs. Ghulam Murtaza Shar (32), qui travaillait pour la chaîne privée Ummat, a re4u des balles d’hommes conduisant
un deux-roues dans la ville de Jhol, dans la province du Sindh, dans l'ouest du Pakistan, le 30 janvier. Shar a subi de multiples blessures lors
de l'attaque et y a ensuite succombé en se rendant à l'hôpital. L'autorité locale a affirmé que Shar avait été tué à cause de disputes de mariage.

Auparavant, le journaliste de Lahore Hasnain Shah (45 ans) avait été tué le 24 janvier par deux cyclistes devant le club de la presse locale à
Simla Pahari Point. Le meurtre de Shah, qui était un éminent journaliste spécialisé dans la criminalité travaillant pour une chaîne d'information
locale, a été l’occasion de manifestations d'indignation massives de la part des journalistes à travers la nation sud-asiatique et nombre d'entre
eux ont exprimé leur colère dans les rues.

« Le premier mois de 2022 a apporté des nouvelles déprimantes puisque douze travailleurs des médias ont perdu la vie aux mains d'assaillants.
Le Mexique a été témoin du meurtre de quatre journalistes (à savoir Jose Luis Gamboa, Margarito Martinez, Lourdes Maldonado et Roberto
Toledo), suivi du Pakistan (Hasnain Shah et Murtaza Shar), d'Haïti (Amady John Wesley et Wilguens Louissaint), du Kazakhstan (Muratkhan
Bazarbayev), du Myanmar (Pu Tui Dim), du Honduras (Pablo Isabel Hernandez Rivera) et des Philippines (Jaynard Angeles) », a souligné
Blaise Lempen, secrétaire général de la PEC.

En 2021, 79 journalistes ont été tués dans 29 pays. L'Afghanistan a été le pays le plus dangereux avec 12 victimes, suivi du Mexique (10 morts),
du Pakistan (7), de l'Inde (6), des Philippines (4), etc.

25.01.2022. PAKISTAN. PEC condemns Pakistan journalist’s murder, demands justice to bereaved family

Geneva: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body, condemns the murder of Lahore-based Pakistani journalist Hasnain Shah on 24 January 2022 and demands justice to the Pak media fraternity. It urges Prime Minister Imran Khan to identify the perpetrators to punish them under the law and offer adequate compensation to the bereaved family comprising his wife and two children.

Local media reports that Shah (45) was shot dead by two unidentified bike-riders outside Lahore Press Club in Simla Pahari point on Monday afternoon. A well-known crime reporter of Capital TV (an Urdu-language news channel), Shah was also a member of the press club. Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors along with other journo-bodies condemned the killing and demonstrated their angers on the street.

Pakistan information & broadcasting minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain also expressed shock and condemned the incident stating that the government stood with the heirs of deceased and the journalist community in this hour of grief. Punjab province government chief Usman Bazdar ordered a probe into the murder and the police have registered a case asserting that they would try their best to nab the culprits.

“New year begins with sad news as 10 media workers have lost their lives to assailants within four weeks. Mexico witnessed the murder of three scribes (Jose Luis Gamboa, Margarito Martinez and Lourdes Maldonada), followed by Haiti (Amady John Wesley and Wilguens Louissaint), Kazakhstan (Muratkhan Bazarbayev), Myanmar (Pu Tui Dim), Honduras (Pablo Isabel Hernandez Rivera), Philippines (Jaynard Angeles) and Pakistan (Hasnain Shah),” said Blaise Lempen, secretary-general of PEC.

PEC’s south Asia representative Nava Thakuria revealed that Pak-neighbour Afghanistan emerged as the most dangerous country for journalists with 12 casualties last year, followed by Mexico (10 dead), Pakistan (7), India (6), the Philippines (4), etc. Pakistan
lost media enthusiasts namely Ajay Laalwani, Waseem Alam, Abdul Wahid Raisani, Kashif Hussain, Shahid Zehri, Nazim Samwal Jokhio and Muhammad Zada to assailants during 2021.

24.01.2022. World media continues to lose scribes to Covid-19 - Article published in Weekly Ishan Darpan (India)

by Blaise Lempen, PEC Secretary-General

Geneva, Switzerland: As the year 2021 comes to an end, let’s discuss how many journalists have lost their battles against the novel corona virus infection related ailments. The Covid-19 pandemic snatched away the lives of at least 1400 scribes (meaning almost 4 media personalities per day) last year. Since March 2020, the pandemic has killed nearly 2000 media workers in 94 countries.

Shockingly, no continent is spared by the pandemic. Of the corona casualties among journalists since the beginning till the end of 2021, Latin America led with half of the victims (955 deaths). Asia follows with 556 dead, ahead of Europe (263), then Africa (98) and North America (68). More than 50 casualties are still under investigation. The actual number of victims is certainly higher, as the causes of journalists' deaths are sometimes not specified or their deaths not announced. In some countries, there is no reliable information. The 2000 figure is a low estimate.

After a spike in deadly infections in the first half of 2021, the death toll thankfully slowed in the second half thanks to advances in vaccination. We hope that this slowdown will continue in 2022 but remain worried by the high number of infections caused by the Omicron variant. Since March 2020, Brazil is the country with the heaviest death toll with 296 media workers who died from the
coronavirus. India is second with at least 281 victims, ahead of Peru (199), Mexico (123), Colombia (80), Bangladesh (68). India’s other neighbours lost relatively a lower number of journalists to the pandemic. Pakistan reported 27 corona-casualties among journalists, followed by Nepal (23), Afghanistan (10), Sri Lanka (2), Myanmar (1). Bhutan and Maldives have not reported any media corona victim.

We appealed to the Indian Union government in New Delhi to declare working journalists as frontline warriors and provide an opportunity to get vaccinated (including the third or booster dose) on a priority basis. New Delhi has started disposing compensation packages (Indian rupees five hundred thousand each) to those families, which lost working journalists to the virus (over 125 families have already been paid). Now the State government (including administrations in Union territories) should announce separate compensation packages.

PEC’s representative Nava Thakuria reported that till now Odisha government has offered ₹ 15 lakh to each corona-media victim family, followed by Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Punjab governments (₹ 10 lakh to each family). Both Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh governments declared ₹ 5 lakh, followed by Bihar government ₹ 4 lakh and Telangana government ₹ 2 lakh each. India’s north-eastern region has lost over 20 scribes to Covid-19 till date. Assam witnessed the highest number of corona-casualties among media persons followed by Manipur, Tripura and Meghalaya.

Meanwhile, 15 media persons have died of corona-complications since 1 January 2022 till date, among them 4 deaths were reported in the United States of America, followed by India (2, victims are Dinkar Raikar and Ibrahim Ashk) and one each in Argentina, Brazil, France, Egypt, Iran, Mexico, Rep Dominican, Colombia and Uruguay.

On the other hand, the world media fraternity has lost 79 journalists in 29 countries to assailants during 2021, where Afghanistan and Mexico emerged as the most dangerous countries for journalists. The bygone year has however marked a little improvement in journo-murder index by 14% (as 92 scribes fell prey to assailants in 2020). Afghanistan reported the killing of 12 journalists
last year, followed by Mexico (10 dead), Pakistan (7), India (6), Myanmar, Bangladesh (2 each), etc.

India, which lost highest number of 15 journalists to assailants in 2020, witnessed the murder of Buddhinath Jha (journalist cum right to information activist) in Bihar on 12 November 2021. Prior to him, the populous country lost five journalists namely Ashu Yadav, Sulabh Srivastava, Ch. Keshav, Manish Kumar Singh and Raman Kashyap to assailants. Indian photojournalist Danish Siddiqui was killed in Afghanistan. India’s neighbours (except Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar) namely Bhutan,
Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka had not reported any incident of journo-murder last year.

Since the start of 2022, 6 more media workers have been killed globally. PEC has already condemned the killing of Pu Tui Dim by the Burmese military in Chin State of Myanmar, of Amady John Wesley and Wilguens Louissaint (murdered by gang criminals in Port-au-Prince in Haiti) and of Muratkhan Bazarbayev (of Almaty TV in Kazakhstan). Two journalists Jose Luis Gamboa and Margarito Martinez were also assassinated in Mexico. It indicates a grim start for the new year. PEC demands justice to
all victims as well as adequate compensations to the bereaved families from the concerned governments.

21.01.2022. MYANMAR. Burmese junta continues to arrest scribes, PEC condemns military atrocities

by Nava Thakuria, PEC South Asia Representative

Geneva: As the military rulers of Myanmar (also known as Burma and Brahmadesh) continue to arrest scribes in the south-east Asian country, the global media safety & rights body Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) condemns the Burmese junta (also known as Tatmadaw) and demands the unconditional release of all 45 journalists still behind the bars since 1 February 2021 coup that deposed the democratically elected Aung San Suu Kyi-led government in Naypietaw.

Local media outlets in Yangon, Myanmar’s former capital, reported that the Min Aung Hlaing-led military junta has lately arrested two reporters namely Ko Zaw and Ma Moe Myint from Dawei, the headquarter of Tanintharyi region in southern Myanmar, on 19 January 2022. Along with them, a media employee Ko Thar Gyi, who also works for DaweiWatch Burmese news portal (www.daweiwatch.com), was also detained.

Even offices of the media outlet, which primarily covers socio-political events taking place in the southern localities of
Myanmar, were also raised by the military personnel and they seized documents as well. The portal lately reported about the worsening human rights situation in Tanintharyi region as over 50 civilians were killed and nearly 900 have been imprisoned since the coup day.

“The Burmese junta continues to arrest media workers, raid news-desks and threaten media houses with brutal laws with an aim to silence the media. It arrested over 125 journalists in the last 11 months. Among them 45 scribes are yet to be released, which is shocking,” said Blaise Lempen, secretary-general of PEC (www.pressemblem.ch) adding that they must be released and allowed to perform their duties and media workers.

PEC’s south-east Asia representative Nava Thakuria informed that three Burmese journalists lost their lives because of military atrocities within 30 days. Freelance photojournalist Ko Soe Naing lost his life on 14 December under military custody. Later journalist Sai Win Aung of FederalNews died of head injuries caused by the Tatmadaw-operated shells on 25 December. Khonumthung news agency editor Pu Tui Dim died in military firing on 9 January last.

10.01.2022. MYANMAR. PEC demands probe into Chin journalist’s killing

by Nava Thakuria, PEC India Representative

Geneva: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body, condemns the killing of Chin journalist Pu Tuidim by the Burmese military forces and demands a fair probe into the incidents that led to his death. Tui Dim died in the police firing at Matupi locality of Chin State in north-western Myanmar on 9 January 2022.

The victim (35 years old) used to work for Khonumthung Media Group, an independent news agency covering Chin State, Kalay-Kabaw area, Indo-Myanmar border and overall Myanmar related issues in English and Burmese languages. Two teenagers were also killed in the police firing at the same location.

“Tuidim becomes the third journalist to be killed this year after Amady John Wesley and Wilguens Louissaint (both from Haiti). We demand authentic probes and also justice as well as adequate compensations to the victim families. Journalists must not be targeted by anyone anywhere in the world,” said Blaise Lempen, secretary-general of PEC.

Myanmar (known as Burma or Brahmadesh), which is presently ruled by the Min Aung Hlaing-led military junta after deposing the
democratically elected Aung San Suu Kyi-led government in Naypietaw on 1 February 2021, lost two journalists to assailants, said Nava Thakuria, PEC south-east Asian representative based in Guwahati.

Freelance photojournalist Ko Soe Naing died under military custody on 14 December and he became the first media-victims in the south-east Asian country. Naing was arrested from Yangon while he was covering an anti-junta demonstration on 10 December. Later journalist Sai Win Aung (also known as A Sai Kay) died of head injuries caused by the Tatmadaw-operated shells at Maekheewar village in Karen State on 25 December.

07.01.2022. Nearly 2000 journalists died with Covid-19 in 94 countries

French, Spanish and Arabic after English, list of victims on COVID-19

Geneva, January 7, 2022 (PEC) Nearly 2000 journalists died of Covid-19 in 94 countries since March 2020. Last year, in 2021, at least 1400
media workers succumbed to the virus, that is to say 116 par month or some 4 per day on average, announced Friday in Geneva the Press
Emblem Campaign (PEC).

No continent is spared by the pandemic. Of the 1940 journalists dead registered by the PEC since March 1, 2020, Latin America leads with half
of the victims, or 954 deaths. Asia follows with 556 dead, ahead of Europe 263, then Africa 98 and North America 69.

More than 50 casualties are still under investigation. The actual number of victims is certainly higher, as the cause of journalists' deaths is
sometimes not specified or their deaths not announced. In some countries, there is no reliable information. The 2000 figure is a low estimate.
According to PEC India representative Nava Thakuria, the vast south-Asian country might have lost over 400 media workers to the pandemic,
but a hundred of them are yet to be authenticated.

Slowdown in the number of victims

After a spike in deadly infections in the first half of 2021, the death toll thankfully slowed in the second half thanks to advances in vaccination,
said PEC Secretary-General Blaise Lempen.

For the second half of 2021, 225 deaths were registered, with an increase in Europe, ans a sharp decrease in Latin America and Asia (in
December 25 journalists died, in November 28, in October 27, in September 33, in August 42 and in July 70). In the first half of 2021, 1175
journalists were killed by the virus.

The PEC hopes that this slowdown will continue in 2022 but is worried by the high number of infections caused by the Omicron variant. It calls
all media workers to take the necessary precautions including the booster vaccine.

Brazil, India and Peru with the heaviest death toll

Since March 2020, Brazil is the country with the heaviest death toll with 295 media workers who died from the coronavirus. India is second with
at least 279 victims, ahead of Peru 199, then Mexico 122, Colombia 79, Bangladesh 68.

In the United States of America at least 67 journalists died with Covid-19. Italy is the first european country with 61 dead, followed by
Venezuela 59, Ecuador 51, Argentina 46, Indonesia 42, Russia 42, Iran 34, United Kingdom 33, Turkey 29, Dominican Republic 29, Pakistan 27,
Nepal 23, Egypt 22, Bolivia 20, Honduras 19, South Africa 19, Spain 19 and Ukraine 19.

Next are Panama 17, Poland 14, France 11, Guatemala 11, Nigeria 11, Afghanistan 10, Nicaragua 10, Zimbabwe 10, Algeria 9, Cuba 9,
Paraguay 8, Philippines 7, Uruguay 7, Kazakhstan 5, Kenya 5, Romania 5, Morocco 4, Cameroon 4, Iraq 4.

At least 3 journalists died of complications with Covid-19 in 6 countries : Albania, Azerbaijan, Costa Rica, Portugal, Salvador, and Sweden.

Two victims were registered in 14 countries : Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guyana,
Sri Lanka, Switzerland, and Uganda.

At least one in 30 countries : Angola, Barbados, Bosnia, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
Kirghizstan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malawi, Mali, Moldova, Mozambique, Myanmar, New Zealand, Norway, Palestine,
Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Thailand, Togo, Tajikistan, Tunisia, UAE, and Yemen.

The PEC tally is based on information from local media, national associations of journalists and regional PEC correspondents.

Communiqué de presse PEC

Près de 2000 journalistes sont morts du Covid-19 dans 94 pays

Genève, 7 janvier 2022 (PEC) Près de 2000 journalistes sont morts du Covid-19 dans 94 pays depuis mars 2020. L’an dernier, au moins 1400 travailleurs des médias ont succombé au virus, soit 116 par mois ou près de 4 par jour en moyenne, a annoncé vendredi à Genève la Press Emblem Campaign (Presse Emblème Campagne, PEC).

Aucun continent n’a été épargné par la pandémie. Sur les 1940 journalistes décédés recensés par la PEC depuis le 1^er mars 2020, l’Amérique latine compte la moitié des victimes, avec 954 morts. L’Asie suit avec 556 morts, devant l’Europe 263, ensuite l’Afrique 98 et l’Amérique du Nord 69.

Une cinquantaine de décès supplémentaires sont encore en cours d’investigation. Le nombre réel des victimes est certainement plus élevé, alors que la cause des décès de journalistes n’est parfois pas précisée ou leur mort pas annoncée. Dans plusieurs pays, il n’y a pas d’information fiable.

Le chiffre de 2000 victimes est une estimation basse. Selon le représentant de la PEC pour l’Asie du sud, Nava Thakuria, l’Inde pourrait avoir perdu jusqu’ici plus de 400 travailleurs des médias en raison de la pandémie, mais une centaine doit encore être confirmée.

Ralentissement du nombre des victimes

Après un pic des infections mortelles dans la première moitié de 2021, le nombre des victimes a heureusement baissé dans la seconde moitié de l’année, grâce aux progrès de la vaccination, a souligné le secrétaire général de la PEC Blaise Lempen.

Pour la seconde moitié de 2021, 225 morts ont été enregistrés, avec une hausse en Europe et une forte baisse en Amérique latine et en Asie (en décembre 25 journalistes sont décédés du virus, en novembre, 28, en octobre 27, en septembre 33, en août 42 et en juillet 70). Au cours du premier semestre de 2021, 1175 journalistes ont succombé au terrible virus.

La PEC espère que ce ralentissement va se poursuivre en 2022, mais elle s’inquiète du nombre élevé d’infections par le variant Omicron. Elle appelle tous les travailleurs des médias à prendre les précautions nécessaires dont la vaccination de rappel («booster»).

Le Brésil, l’Inde et le Pérou avec le bilan le plus lourd

Depuis mars 2020, le Brésil est le pays avec le bilan le plus élevé, soit 295 travailleurs des médias morts du coronavirus. L’Inde vient au deuxième rang avec 279 victimes, devant le Pérou 199, ensuite le Mexique 122, la Colombie 79, et le Bangladesh 68.

Aux États-Unis, au moins 67 journalistes sont décédés des suites du Covid-19. L’Italie est le premier pays européen avec 61 morts, suivi par le Venezuela 59, l’Équateur 51, l’Argentine 46, l’Indonésie 42, la Russie 42, l’Iran 34, la Grande-Bretagne 33, la Turquie 29, la République dominicaine 29, le Pakistan 27, le Népal 23, l’Égypte 22,la Bolivie 20, le Honduras 19, l’Afrique du Sud 19, l’Espagne 19 et l’Ukraine 19.

Suivent le Panama avec 17 victimes, la Pologne 14, la France 11, le Guatemala 11, le Nigeria 11 également, l’Afghanistan 10, le Nicaragua 10, le Zimbabwe 10, l’Algérie 9, Cuba 9, le Paraguay 8, les Philippines 7, l’Uruguay 7, le Kazakhstan 5, le Kenya 5, la Roumanie 5, le Maroc 4, le Cameroun 4 et l’Irak 4 également.

Au moins trois journalistes sont morts avec le Covid-19 dans six pays : Albanie, Azerbaïdjan, Costa Rica, Portugal, Salvador et Suède.

Deux victimes ont été recensées dans les 14 pays suivants : Allemagne, Autriche, Belarus, Belgique, Bénin, Bulgarie, Canada, Chili, Ghana, Grèce, Guyana, Ouganda, Sri Lanka et Suisse.

Enfin, au moins une victime est à déplorer dans ces 30 pays : Angola, Arabie saoudite, Barbade, Bosnie, Corée du Sud, Émirats arabes unis, Israël, Jamaïque, Japon, Jordanie, Kirghizstan, Kosovo, Liban, Lituanie, Malaisie, Malawi, Mali, Moldavie, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nouvelle-Zélande, Norvège, Palestine, République démocratique du Congo, République tchèque, Thaïlande, Togo, Tadjikistan, Tunisie, et Yémen.

Le bilan de la PEC est basé sur les informations des médias locaux, des associations nationales de journalistes et des correspondants régionaux de la PEC.

Comunicado de prensa de PEC

Casi 2000 periodistas murieron por la Covid-19 en 94 países.

Ginebra, 7 de enero de 2022 (PEC).- Casi 2,000 periodistas murieron por la Covid-19 en 94 países desde marzo de 2020. El año pasado, en 2021, al menos 1400 trabajadores de los medios de comunicación murieron por el virus, es decir 116 por mes, o cerca de 4 por día en promedio, anunció el viernes en Ginebra la Campaña Emblema de Prensa (PEC, por sus siglas en inglés).

Ningún continente se salva de la pandemia. De los 1940 periodistas muertos registrados por la PEC desde el 1 de marzo de 2020, América Latina lidera con la mitad de las víctimas, es decir, con 954 muertes. Le sigue Asia con 556 muertos, por delante de Europa, 263 ; luego África, 98 ; y América del Norte, 69.

Aún se están investigando más de 50 víctimas. Su número real es ciertamente mayor, ya que a veces no se especifica la causa de la muerte o, en el peor de los casos, no se anuncia. Por otro lado, en algunos países, no existe información confiable.

La cifra de 2000 es una estimación baja. Según el representante de PEC para el sur de Asia, Nava Thakuria, India puede haber perdido a más de 400 trabajadores de los medios a causa de la pandemia hasta ahora, pero alrededor de 100 aún no se han autenticados.

Desaceleración del número de víctimas

Después de un aumento en las infecciones mortales en la primera mitad de 2021, afortunadamente el número de muertos disminuyó en la segunda mitad gracias a los avances en la vacunación, dijo el secretario general de la PEC, Blaise Lempen.

Para el segundo semestre de 2021, se totalizaron 225 muertes, con un aumento en Europa y una fuerte disminución en América Latina y Asia (en diciembre, 25 periodistas fallecieron, en noviembre, la PEC contó 28 víctimas ; en octobre, 27 ; en septembre, 33 ; en agosto, 42 y, en julio, 70). En la primera mitad de 2021, 1,175 periodistas fallecieron por complicaciones debidas a la Covid-19.

La PEC espera que esta desaceleración continúe en 2022, pero está preocupada por el alto número de infecciones causadas por la variante Omicron. Llama a todos los trabajadores de los medios de comunicación a tomar las precauciones necesarias, incluida la vacuna de refuerzo.

Brasil, India y Perú con el mayor número de muertos

Desde marzo de 2020, Brasil es el país con el mayor número de muertos con 295 trabajadores de los medios de comunicación que murieron a causa del coronavirus. India ocupa el segundo lugar con 279 víctimas, por delante de Perú 199, luego México 122, Colombia 79, Bangladesh 68.

En los Estados Unidos de América, al menos 67 periodistas murieron con Covid-19. Italia es el primer país europeo con 61 muertos, seguido por 59 en Venezuela ; 51 fallecidos en Ecuador ; 46 en Argentina ; 42 en Indonesia ; 42 en Rusia ; 34 en Irán ; 33 en el Reino Unido ; 29 en Turquía ; 29 en la República Dominicana ; 27 en Pakistán ; 23 en Nepal ; 22 en Egipto ; 20 en Bolivia ; 19 en Honduras ; y 19 muertos en los siguientes países : Sudáfrica, España y Ucrania.

Los siguientes son Panamá, 17 ; Polonia, 14 ; Francia, 11 ; Guatemala, 11 ; Nigeria, 11 ; Afganistán, 10 ; Nicaragua, 10 ; Zimbabwe, 10 ; Argelia, 9 ; Cuba, 9 ; Paraguay, 8 ; Filipinas, 7 ; Uruguay, 7 ; Kazajstán, 5 ; Kenia, 5 ; Rumania, 5 ; Marruecos, 4 ; Camerún, 4 ; e Irak, 4.

Al menos 3 periodistas murieron por complicaciones con Covid-19 en 6 países: Albania, Azerbaiyán, Costa Rica, Portugal, Salvador y Suecia.

Se registraron dos víctimas en 14 países: Alemania, Austria, Bielorrusia, Bélgica, Benin, Bulgaria, Canadá, Chile, Ghana, Grecia, Guyana, Uganda, Sri Lanka, y Suiza.

Al menos un periodista muerto en los siguientes 30 países: Angola, Arabia Saudita, Barbados, Bosnia, Corea del Sur, Emiratos Árabes Unidos, Israel, Jamaica, Japón, Jordania, Kirguistán, Kosovo, Líbano, Lituania, Malasia, Malawi, Malí, Moldavia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nueva Zelanda, Noruega, Palestina, República Checa, República Democrática del Congo, Tailandia, Togo, Tayikistán, Túnez, y Yemen.

El recuento de la PEC se basa en información de los medios locales, asociaciones nacionales de periodistas y corresponsales regionales de la PEC.

نحو 2000 من الصحفيين قتلوا من كورونا

حنيف 7 يناير 2022 (حملة الشارة) – أعلنت حملة الشارة الدولية من مقرها في جنيف عن وفاة 2000 صحفي من وباء كورونا منذ مارس 2020 في 94 دولة. وأنه خلال العام الماضي 2021 توفى من كورونا 1400 صحفي على الأقل أي بمعدل 116 شهرياً و4 كل شهر.

وأكدت حملة الشارة في بيانها في مستهل العام الجديد أنه لم تسلم قارة من الوباء وأن من بين الـ 1940 صحفي قتلوا من الوباء طبقاً لأرقام الحملة منذ 1 مارس 2020 فإن أمريكا اللاتينية شهدت وفاة نصف العدد: 955، تليها آسيا: 556، ثم أوروبا: 263، ثم إفريقيا: 98

فأمريكا الشمالية: 68

وأضافت الحملة أن التحقيق مازال قائماً في وفاة 50 حالة ومصدر الوفاة. وطبقاً لها فإن عدد 2000 صحفي قتلوا هو رقم لا يعكس الواقع فقد صرح ممثل الحملة في الهند

Nava Thakuria

فقد فقدت الهند نحو 400 صحفي بسبب الوباء ولكن اسباب وفاة مائة منهم ما زالت محل بحث.

وصرح سكرتير عام الحملة بليز ليمبان أنه من حسن الطالع أن الوباء بدأ في التخفيف من شراسته في النصف الثاني من 2021 بسبب استخدام التطعيمات على مدى واسع.

في النصف الثاني من 2021 تم تسجيل 225 حالة وفاة من كورونا بزيادة كبيرة في أوروبا وأنخفاض حاد في أمريكا اللاتينية وآسيا: في ديسمبر قتل 25، وفي نوفمبر 28، وفي أكتوبر 27، وفي ستمبر 33، وفي أغسطس 42 وفي يوليو 70. في النصف الأول من 2021 توفى بسبب كورونا 1175.

وتأمل حملة الشارة استمرار انخفاض الأعداد إلا أنها تعرب عن قلقها بسبب زيادة الاصابات من أوميكرون، وتطالب كل العاملين في الاعلام بأخذ الجرعات الاضافية من التطعيم.

ومنذ مارس 2020 تتصدر البرازيل الدول بوفاة 295 من الصحفيين، ثم الهند: 279، ثم بيرو: 199، ثم المكسيك: 122، فكولومبيا: 79، فبنجلاديش: 68

وتوفى من كورونا في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية 66، وإيطاليا 61، ففنزويلا: 59، الايكوادور: 51، الأرجنتين 46، إندونيسيا 42، روسيا: 42، إيران: 34، المملكة المتحدة: 33، تركيا: 29، جمهورية الدومينيكان: 29، باكستان: 27، نيبال: 23، مصر: 22، بوليفيا 20، هندوراس: 19، جنوب إفريقيا: 19، أسبانيا: 19، أوكرانيا: 19.

ثم بنما: 17، بولنده: 14، فرنسا: 11، جواتيمالا: 11، نيجيريا: 11، أفغانستان: 10، نيكاراجوا: 10، زيمبابوي: 10، الجزائر: 9، كوبا: 9، باراجواي: 8، الفلبين: 7، أوروجواي: 7، كازاخستان: 5، كينيا: 5، رومانيا: 5، المغرب: 4، الكاميرون: 4، العراق: 4.

وقتل على الأقل 3 صحفيين في 6 دول هي البانيا وأذربيجان وكوستا ريكا، والبرتغال، والسلفادور، والسويد. .

وتوفى 2 في كل من النمسا وبيلاروس وبنين وبلغاريا، وكندا، وشيلي، وألمانيا، وغانا، واليونان، وجويانا، وسريلانكا، وسويسرا، وأوغندا.

كما توفى صحفي واحد في 30 دولة هي: أنجولا، باربادوس، البوسنة، جمهورية التشيك، جمهورية الكونغو الديمقراطية، إسرائيل، جامايكا، اليابان، الأردن، كيرغيستان، كوسوفو، لبنان، ليثوانيا، ماليزيا، مالاوي، مالي، مولدوفا، موزامبيق، ماينمار، نيوزيلاند، النرويج، فلسطين، المملكة العربية السعودية، كوريا الجنوبية، تايلاند، توجو، تاجيكستان، تونس، الإمارات العربية المتحدة، واليمن..

برجاء تصفح موقع الحملة لمزيد من المعلومات

05.01.2022. INDIA. PEC demands actions against online abusers of women scribes

by Nava Thakuria, PEC South Asia Representative

Geneva: Expressing shock over the repeated incident of targeting women, including many Indian scribes in social media, the global media safety and rights body Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) demands proper actions against the individuals behind the ‘Bulli Bai’ online application.

It may be mentioned that over a hundred women, probably all are Muslims, were listed with photographs in the app as readied for online auction (to sell as maids) in the first week of January 2022. Those included in the list belong to various professions including
journalism. Lately the app is being closed down.

This is not the first time that a group of women is put on public auction. A similar humiliating app ‘Sulli Deals’ was made public in
July 2021 targeting nearly 80 minority community women. Though there was no actual auction, the initiative was enough to abuse the women, who remained otherwise vocal against various injustices.

Meanwhile, a police complaint has been lodged in the capital city of India after a number of women activists expressed their dismays over the app. After New Delhi, similar complaints were also registered in Mumbai city also under various sections of Indian laws dealing with gender bias, sexual harassment, religious enmity, etc.

“We urge the Indian federal government in New Delhi to take necessary actions against the perpetrators. Virtual attacks against the journalists are seemingly aimed to discourage them in performing their duties, which can not be accepted,” said Blaise Lempen, secretary-general of PEC (www.pressemblem.ch)

PEC’s India representative Nava Thakuria informed that the Mumbai police have already detained a number of suspects (including a young Indian student) involved in the case and continued the investigation. Meanwhile, the information technology minister Ashwini Vaishnaw assured all supports for justice to the affected individuals.

03.01.2022. Entretien publié sur heidi.news avec Blaise Lempen, secrétaire général de la PEC, sur son livre "La Dictature numérique en marche".

"En matière de technologies, nous dérivons vers le modèle chinois".

par Grégoire Barbey

La pandémie de Covid-19 a accéléré le déploiement de technologies toujours plus intrusives, selon le journaliste Blaise Lempen, qui signe La dictature numérique en marche, société de l’hypersurveillance: un appel à la vigilance (L’Harmattan). Une situation qui le préoccupe, au point de considérer dans son livre que nous vivons désormais à l’ère de la dictature high-tech.

Selon l’auteur, la dimension intrusive des technologies est telle qu’elle mène à une convergence des systèmes politiques. Alors que l’Occident aime à faire de la Chine l’exemple même du recours aux technologies pour asservir la population, Blaise Lempen met en garde: les Etats occidentaux se rapprochent de plus en plus du modèle chinois.

Heidi.news – Dans votre livre, vous parlez de «dictature high-tech», n’est-ce pas exagéré?

Blaise Lempen – La dictature high-tech est le résultat de la convergence des technologies de l’information, des télécommunications et de l’intelligence artificielle. Désormais, sans internet et sans smartphone, pas de vie sociale. Il est impossible de la contourner, donc c’est une forme de dictature.

En quoi est-ce un problème? Pour beaucoup, il s'agit de l'inévitable évolution de la société.

C’est un problème parce qu’en même temps, nous échangeons continuellement des données transmises à des tiers, nous sommes suivis à la trace, nous révélons nos comportements et nos pensées en fonction de nos clics et de nos publications sur les plateformes. Nous sommes entrés dans un monde où tout communique et donc nous sommes très vulnérables, exposés à tous les virus, informatiques, sanitaires, émotionnels, informationnels (fake news, propagande, intox, etc.). Un autre problème est que les algorithmes décident à notre place.

Est-ce que la protection des données personnelles est aujourd'hui suffisante? Et sinon, que faudrait-il faire pour protéger l'individu contre la mise à nu de sa vie privée?

La protection des données personnelles n’existe plus que sur le papier. Des milliards de capteurs nous épient en permanence, des satellites aux antennes 5G, en passant par les objets connectés, les drones, les caméras de surveillance, les cookies sur ordinateur, nos applications sur smartphone. Chacun d’entre nous est complice, lorsqu’il publie des informations, photographies, vidéos y compris sensibles et intimes sur les réseaux sociaux. Protéger l’individu signifie d’abord qu’il soit conscient des risques liés à son activité d’internaute, or ce n’est que rarement le cas. Les géants de la Tech sont très habiles pour créer une addiction à leurs produits.

Vous mentionnez la fameuse «fatigue du consentement» évoquée par la Commission nationale française de l’informatique et des libertés (CNIL). Les gens en ont marre de devoir donner leur accord pour être tracé, et pourtant ils jugent cet accord indispensable. N'est-ce pas la preuve qu'il faudrait plutôt considérer la récolte de données comme une exception? Aujourd'hui, elle est la norme…

Les conditions d’utilisation évoluent constamment et il est pratiquement impossible de ne pas donner son accord si l’on veut utiliser une plateforme, une application ou un service. Vous citez la CNIL. C’est une excellente institution, mais elle manque de moyens pour répondre à toutes les plaintes et ses avis sont uniquement consultatifs. Il en va de même du Préposé fédéral à la protection des données et à la transparence en Suisse. Il faudrait renforcer ces institutions indispensables au contrôle de notre vie numérique.

On a beaucoup évoqué ces derniers mois ce fameux «métavers», cet univers virtuel où l'on pourra tout faire, ça vous inquiète?

Oui, car l’innovation se développe à toute vitesse sans aucune réflexion capable de l’encadrer. Les responsables politiques sont complètement dépassés. La maison était jusqu’à il y a peu le lieu par excellence de la vie privée. Désormais, le domicile connecté avec des assistants personnels, autant d’espions, est devenu une maison de verre. De même, le secret médical impliquait que les données de notre corps (tension artérielle, pouls, état général) restaient entre nous et notre médecin. Ce n’est plus le cas lorsque ces données même anonymisées sont retraitées par toute une série d’entreprises avides de profit grâce aux objets connectés.

Justement, en parlant d’objets connectés, beaucoup y voient une innovation bienvenue… Pas vous?

Il n’est pas question de rejeter l’innovation. Il est par contre nécessaire de mieux la comprendre et d’en contrôler les développements. Le laisser faire est suicidaire parce que les outils que l’homme ne cesse d’inventer sont beaucoup trop dangereux pour la vie sur Terre et pour lui-même.

Vous consacrez un chapitre aux conséquences de la pandémie sur l'adoption de nouvelles technologies intrusives. Vous ne croyez pas aux discours des autorités sur le recours limité dans le temps à ces nouveaux outils numériques?

La crise Covid-19 a accentué notre dépendance aux technologies de l’information (télétravail, téléachat, télé-enseignement, visioconférence, suivi des contacts). La pandémie a justifié des mesures de surveillance accrues, par exemple de la mobilité des personnes. La société de l’hypersurveillance a franchi un stade supplémentaire et créé une accoutumance à des restrictions de nos libertés au nom de la sécurité sanitaire.

Vous revenez également dans votre ouvrage sur la censure opérée par les réseaux sociaux comme Twitter ou Facebook, notamment à l'égard de Donald Trump. N'agissent-ils pas de la sorte parce que les gouvernements les poussent à réguler les contenus qui transitent sur leurs plateformes?

Oui et ce faisant, les gouvernements contribuent à accroître le pouvoir des plateformes sur la communication politique et sociale. Cette censure est impersonnelle, arbitraire, sans recours immédiat, elle est le fait d’acteurs situés dans un pays lointain, au mépris de la souveraineté nationale. Il a été abusif d’exclure Donald Trump de Twitter et Facebook, un dirigeant élu démocratiquement, même si je ne partage pas ses opinions. C’est une décision politique qui ne relève pas d’entreprises privées, mais éventuellement du Congrès américain ou de la justice.

Vous évoquez la convergence des systèmes politiques. Les technologies numériques condamnent-elles nos démocraties à recourir à des méthodes que l'on aurait cru autrefois réservées aux pires dictatures? Est-ce qu'il existe une alternative?

C’est la conclusion la plus importante de mon livre. Nous critiquons à juste titre la Chine pour la surveillance de ses citoyens, son système de crédit social, une forme de goulag électronique. Mais en Occident, nous dérivons lentement vers le modèle chinois. Les caméras de surveillance se multiplient dans nos villes, la reconnaissance faciale a toujours plus d’applications, les systèmes de notation se répandent dans tous les domaines, les algorithmes décident à notre insu. Oui, il existe des alternatives, il n’y a pas de fatalité technologique. II n’est pas trop tard pour se réveiller, dans les pays démocratiques nous pouvons encore débattre, critiquer. J’évoque des pistes pour éviter que les développements sans contrôle de la technique n’enterrent nos libertés: démantèlement des géants de la tech, droit à la déconnexion, sobriété numérique, réglementation de la reconnaissance faciale. A nous de réagir, mais la sensibilisation du grand public à ces défis est encore largement insuffisante, ce qui m’a motivé à écrire ce livre.

01.01.2022. 2021 marks a decrease of 14% in journo-killings globally

En français après l'anglais

Geneva - Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body, wishes all media workers around the world a happy, secured and prosperous new year 2022. The bygone year witnessed the killing of 79 media employees by assailants in 29 countries marking an improvement in journo-murder index by 14% compared to last year where 92 were killed.

PEC has lately confirmed the death of Burmese journalist A Kay Sai (also known as Sai Win Aung) because of serious head injuries by the shell operated by the Myanmar military junta at Maekheewar village of Karen State on 25 December last. Sai (38) was trapped in crossfire between the junta forces and KNLA rebels and finally hit by artillery from Tatmadaw.

“We strongly condemn the killing of journalists by the Burmese military personnel. Prior to him, Yangon-based freelance
photojournalist Ko Soe Naing died under military custody on 14 December. PEC condolences their demise and urges the military dictator Min Aung Hlaing to deliver justice to the bereaved families,” said Blaise Lempen, secretary-general of PEC.

Myanmar (also known as Burma) is witnessing a series of unpleasant incidents since 1 February 2021 military coup that deposed
the democratically elected Aung San Suu Kyi-led government in Naypietaw, where the media fraternity also faces unprecedented
atrocities. The military personnel detained nearly 125 journalists in the last 11 months and nearly 30 are still behind bars.

Afghanistan emerged as the most dangerous country for journalists with 12 casualties in 2021, followed by Mexico (10 dead), Pakistan (7), India (6), the Philippines, Yemen (4 each), Democratic Republic of Congo (3), Myanmar, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia, Azerbaijan, Turkey (2 each), etc.

“India has otherwise lost a huge number of scribes to Covid-19 complications since March 2020, only following Brazil (294
corona-media casualties). India (279) is followed by Peru (199), Mexico (122), Colombia (79), Bangladesh (68), USA (66), Italy (60), Indonesia (42), Pakistan (27), Nepal (23) etc,” said PEC's Asian representative Nava Thakuria.

L'année 2021 enregistre une baisse de 14% des meurtres de journalistes dans le monde.

Genève – L'ONG internationale de défense des droits et de la sécurité des médias, Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), souhaite à

tous les professionnels des médias dans le monde une nouvelle année 2022 heureuse, sûre et prospère. Au cours de l'année

écoulée, 79 personnes employées par des médias ont été tuées dans 29 pays, ce qui représente une diminution de 14% du

nombre de meurtres de journalistes par rapport à l'année précédente, où 92 personnes avaient été

tuées.

La PEC a récemment confirmé la mort du journaliste birman A Kay Sai (également connu sous le nom de Sai Win Aung),

gravement blessé à la tête par un obus tiré le 25 décembre par la junte militaire du Myanmar dans le village de Maekheewar, dans

l'État Karen. Sai (38 ans) a été pris au piège dans des tirs croisés entre les forces de la junte et les rebelles de la KNLA.

« Nous condamnons fermement le meurtre de journalistes par les militaires birmans. Avant lui, le photojournaliste indépendant Ko

Soe Naing, basé à Yangon, était mort en détention le 14 décembre. La PEC présente ses condoléances aux familles des deux

victimes et demande instamment au dictateur militaire Min Aung Hlaing de rendre justice aux familles endeuillées », a déclaré

Blaise Lempen, secrétaire général de la PEC.

Le Myanmar (également connu sous le nom de Birmanie) est le témoin d'une série d'incidents regrettables survenus depuis le

coup d'État militaire du 1er février 2021 qui a renversé le gouvernement démocratiquement élu d'Aung San Suu Kyi à Naypyidaw,

où la communauté des médias est confrontée à des atrocités sans précédent. Les militaires putchistes ont arrêté quelque 125

journalistes au cours des onze derniers mois et près de 30 sont toujours derrière les barreaux.

C’est l'Afghanistan qui s’est révélé être le pays le plus dangereux pour les journalistes en 2021, avec 12 victimes. Il est suivi par le

Mexique (10 morts), le Pakistan (7), l'Inde (6), les Philippines, le Yémen (4 chacun), la République démocratique du Congo (3), le

Myanmar, le Bangladesh, le Brésil, la Colombie, le Kenya, le Nigeria, la Somalie, l'Azerbaïdjan et la Turquie (2 chacun), etc..

Un lourd tribut au Covid-19

« L'Inde a par ailleurs perdu un nombre considérable de journalistes depuis mars 2020 (279) à cause des complications liées au

Covid-19, n’étant précédé que par le Brésil (294 victimes). Viennent ensuite le Pérou (199), le Mexique (122), la Colombie (79), le

Bangladesh (68), les États-Unis (66), l'Italie (60), l'Indonésie (42), le Pakistan (27), le Népal (23), etc… », a déclaré Nava Thakuria,

représentant de la PEC pour l'Asie.

26.12.2021. Afghanistan most dangerous country for scribes in 2021 - Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) expresses serious concern over the negative development to Afghan media

By PEC’s south Asia representative Nava Thakuria

Geneva: As the year 2021 sets to finish its cycle, Afghanistan emerges as the most dangerous country for scribes with 12 journo-casualties, followed by Mexico (10 dead), Pakistan (7), and India (6). The south Asian nation also lost at least 10 media workers to the Covid-19 complications till date, said Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body.

Since the Taliban take over the country in August, it also witnessed the collapse of over 150 print media outlets following new
restrictions and many opted for online news services. Thousands of professional journalists lost their jobs and many left their country for safer places to practice journalism. Afghan women journalists have to face the worst situation as they are restricted from various outdoor activities.

Financial crisis is looming large over the Afghan media as the newspapers lost readership and commercial advertisement revenues drastically in the last four months. Almost half of the media outlets including radio and televisions in Kabul had closed down their operations leaving thousands of media workers jobless that put them in acute crisis with no or little hope of revival.

“PEC expresses serious concern over the negative development to Afghan media. Lately a young reporter (Javid Yousufi) was stabbed in Kabul by the miscreants. Other localities like Balk, Takhar and Kunduz also witnessed physical attacks on journalists in the last few days. The regime in Kabul must protect the journalists as they are doing their duties,” said Blaise Lempen, secretary-general of PEC.

He also appreciated the management of TOLO news, the country’s first recognized news channel presenting news in Dari and Pashto languages since August 2010, for continuing to engage female reporter-news anchors defying the Taliban restrictions. Speaking to PEC’s south Asia representative Nava Thakuria, an Afghan lady reporter expressed optimism that other media outlets would also follow the same principle of not bowing down to the Taliban regime.

16.12.2021. MYANMAR. Burmese photojournalist dies in military custody, PEC deplores

by Nava Thakuria, PEC South-East Asia Representative

Geneva: Freelance photojournalist Ko Soe Naing died lately under the Myanmar military custody and thus the young scribe becomes the first media-victims in the country (also known as Burma or Brahmadesh) after the 1 February 2021 military coup that deposed the democratically elected Aung San Suu Kyi led government in Naypietaw.

Naing, who used to contribute for various media outlets of the south-east Asian country, was arrested from Yangon while he was
covering an anti-junta demonstration on 10 December (Human Rights Day) in the former capital of Myanmar. Later he was sent to a military interrogation centre, where he died probably on 14 December. Naing left behind his wife, a minor son and other relatives.

“Unconfirmed reports suggest that nearly 90 Burmese citizens died during interrogation since the coup day. With the ground input, we claim that Ko Soe Naing is the first media worker died in Myanmar military custody since 1 February. We reiterate our demand to Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing for releasing all prisoners including the journalists,” said Blaise Lempen, secretary-general of PEC.

Speaking to Nava Thakuria, PEC’s south-east Asia representative, a Yangon (formerly Rangoon)-based journalist informed that the Burmese photojournalist was initially trained as a graphic designer and later he started taking photographs of various anti-military demonstrations.

In some occasions, his photographs were also used by a number of outside agencies, which gave Naing instant visibility inside the
country.

Ethnic Shan journalists jailed in Myanmar, PEC deplores sentences

Geneva: Three ethnic Shan journalists along with a civilian were imprisoned for three years recently by a military court in Myanmar for
spreading misinformation about the regime in Naypyidaw. Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body, deplores the
sentences and urges the military junta to respect the freedom of press.

Editor Nann Nann Tai (also known as Nann Nway Nway Hlaing), publisher Ko Tin Aung Kyaw and female reporter Nan Win Yi of Kanbawza Tai News
along with Ko Sai Sithu, who were detained by the security forces from Hopong locality of Shan State on 24 March, continued to be in
Nyaungshwe prison and incidentally the verdict came on Human Rights Day.

Quoting Ko Zay Tai, chief editor of the independent news portal with the focus on Shan State, The Irrawaddy reported that the junta forces
detained Ko Sai Sithu just as a hostage. Moreover, the military personnel claim that he is also a professional reporter. Since the 1
February military coup, the south-east Asian nation continues to witness unrelented harassment of media workers.

“Journalism must not be identified as a crime and they should be allowed to perform their duties by the military rulers of Myanmar. We
urge the Min Aung Hlaing led military regime to sanction an unconditional release of all imprisoned media workers,” said Blaise
Lempen, secretary-general of PEC.

Various organizations of Myanmar (also known as Burma) claim that over 1,300 people have been killed by the security forces since the coup
deposing Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratically elected government. More than 10,000 anti-junta demonstrators were arrested from various parts
of the country, where over 120 media persons also faced detention and among them 25 are still behind bars.

A few days back, video journalist Ma Hmu Yadanar Khet Moh Moh Tun and photojournalist Ko Kaung Sett Lin sustained serious injuries during an
anti-junta protest march in Yangon as it was rammed by a military vehicle. Speaking to Nava Thakuria, PEC’s south-east Asia representative, a Yangon-based journalist informed that both of them are now recovering in the hospital, however they still remain under detention.

09.12.2021. PEC annual report. Afghanistan and Mexico most dangerous countries in 2021 for journalists -

French, Spanish and Arabic after English - List of victims on our page Casualties

Geneva, December 9, 2021 (PEC) Afghanistan and Mexico are the most dangerous countries for media work this year, the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) said in its annual report in Geneva on Thursday in view of Human Rights Day. Since January, 77 media workers have been killed in 28 countries around the world.

Afghanistan leads with 12 assassinations, ahead of Mexico where 10 journalists were killed. Among the most dangerous countries are Pakistan (7), India (6), the Philippines (4), Yemen (4), and Democratic Republic of Congo (3).

Two deaths were recorded in Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Burkina-Faso, Colombia, as well as in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia and Turkey.

Finally, one victim has been identified in the following countries: Ecuador, Gaza, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Lebanon, Netherlands, Syria, and United States of America.

Improvement in Latin America

By region, Asia, with 40 dead (+7), is ahead of Latin America 17 (-10), Africa 14 (+5), Europe 5 (+2) and North America 1 (+1).

“The number of journalists killed decreased by 8% compared to the same period of last year, a slight improvement. Improvement has taken place in Latin America outside of Mexico, deterioration is observed in Africa and Europe. Mexico and Afghanistan are among the most dangerous countries for journalists for many years, but the rise in Africa is particularly worrying”, commented PEC Secretary General Blaise Lempen.

In Europe, the targeted killings of 3 journalists, in Greece, Georgia and the Netherlands is a very sad development. In Burma (Myanmar) after the coup and in Afghanistan after the departure of the NATO troops, press freedom has registered a very serious setback.

Of the 77 journalists murdered, 29 were in war zones (Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Burkina Faso, DRC, Ethiopia, Gaza, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen). Terrorist groups were responsible of at least 20 murders (Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen), an increase compared to previous years.

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

Over the last 5 years, Mexico has recorded the highest victims (66), ahead of Afghanistan (53), then India (40), Pakistan (35), Syria (29), the Philippines (22), Iraq (18), Yemen (17), and Somalia (16).

In ten years, from 2012 to 2021, 1150 journalists were killed, or 115 per year, 2.2 per week, according to figures from the PEC.

One positive development, says PEC President Hedayat Abdel Nabi is that the awareness across the globe has become more widespread due to the impressive engagement of media colleagues spreading the message of media protection and the safety of journalists as well as press freedom.

More than 1900 journalists have also died from Covid-19 since March 2020, among them at least 1300 since January this year. The PEC will make a special report at a later stage.

L’Afghanistan et le Mexique pays les plus dangereux pour les journalistes en 2021

Genève, 9 Décembre 2021 (PEC) L’Afghanistan et le Mexique ont été les pays les plus dagereux pour les journalistes cette année, a indiqué jeudi à Genève la Presse Emblème Campagne (PEC) dans son rapport annuel en vue de la Journée des droits de l'Homme. Depuis janvier, 77 travailleurs des médias ont été tués dans 28 pays.

L’Afghanistan a recensé le plus de victimes, avec 12 tués, devant le Mexique où 10 journalistes ont été assassinés. Parmi les pays les plus dangereux viennent ensuite le Pakistan (7 tués), l’Inde (6), les Philippines (4), le Yemen (4), et la République démocratique du Congo (3).

Deux journalistes ont été tués en Azerbaïdjan, au Bangladesh, au Brésil, au Burkina Faso, en Colombie ainsi qu’en Ethiopie, au Kenya, au Nigeria, en Somalie et en Turquie.

Une victime a été recensée dans les pays suivants: Equateur, Etats-Unis d’Amérique, Gaza, Géorgie, Ghana, Grèce, Guatemala, Haïti, Liban, Pays-Bas, Syrie.

Amélioration en Amérique latine

Par région du monde, l’Asie est en tête avec 40 victimes (+7), devant l’Amérique latine 17 (-10), l’Afrique 14 (+5), l’Europe 5 (+2) et l’Amérique du Nord 1 (+1).

“Le nombre de journalistes tués a diminué de 8% par rapport à la même période de l’an dernier, une légère amélioration. Une amélioration a eu lieu en Amérique latine en dehors du Mexique, par contre une détérioration est observée en Afrique et en Europe. Le Mexique et l’Afghanistan sont parmi les pays les plus dangereux depuis plusieurs années, mais l’augmentation en Afrique est particulièrement inquiétante”, a déclaré le secrétaire général de la PEC Blaise Lempen.

En Europe, les assassinats ciblés de trois journalistes, en Grèce, en Géorgie et aux Pays-Bas est un développement affligeant. En Birmanie (Myanmar) après le coup d’Etat militaire et en Afghanistan après le départ des troupes de l’OTAN, la liberté de la presse a enregistré un très grave revers.

Sur les 77 journalistes tués, 29 l’ont été dans des zones de guerre (Afghanistan, Azerbaïdjan, Burkina Faso, Ethiopie, Gaza, République démocratique du Congo, Somalie, Syrie et Yemen). Des groupes terroristes ont été responsables d’au moins 20 assassinats (Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Pakistan, Somalie, Yemen), en hausse par rapport aux années précédentes.

La PEC condamne fermement ces attaques et demande à ce que leurs responsables soient poursuivis et traduits en justice pour leurs crimes.

Sur les cinq dernières années, le Mexique a enregistré le plus grand nombre de victimes (66), devant l’Afghanistan (53), l’Inde (40), le Pakistan (35), la Syrie (29), les Philippines (22), l’Irak (18), le Yemen (17) et la Somalie (16).

En dix ans, de 2012 à 2021, 1150 journalistes ont été tués, ou 115 par année, soit 2,2 par semaine, selon les chiffres de la PEC.

Un développement positif, a souligné la présidente de la PEC Hedayat Abdel Nabi, est que la sensibilisation au problème s’est accrue autour du globe grâce à l’engagement impressionnant de professionnels des médias qui ont partagé le message de la protection des journalistes et de la liberté de la presse.

Plus de 1900 journalistes ont par ailleurs succombé au virus du Covid-19 depuis le début de la pandémie en mars 2020, dont 1300 depuis le début de cette année. La PEC fera un rapport spécial à un stade ultérieur.

La PEC recense tous les travailleurs des médias tués, que leur mort soit liée ou non à leur activité profesionnelle. Il est en effet difficile de prouver qu’un crime a eu lieu en raison du travail d’un journaliste sans des enquêtes complètes et indépendantes qui manquent le plus souvent.

Afganistán y México, los países más peligrosos para los periodistas en 2021

Ginebra, 9 de diciembre (PEC).- Afganistán y México son los países más peligrosos para el trabajo de los medios de comunicación este año, según ha declarado la Campaña del Emblema de la Prensa (PEC, por sus siglas en inglés) en su informe anual, presentado el jueves en Ginebra en vista del Dia de los Derechos Humanos. Desde enero de 2021, 77 trabajadores de los medios de comunicación han sido asesinados en 28 países del mundo.

Afganistán está a la cabeza, con 12 asesinatos, por delante de México, donde murieron 10 periodistas. Entre los países más peligrosos están Pakistán (7), India (6), Yemen (4), Filipinas (4) y República Democrática del Congo (3 asesinados).

Se registraron dos asesinatos en Azerbaiyán, Bangladesh, Brasil, Burkina-Faso y Colombia, así como en Etiopía, Kenia, Nigeria, Somalia y Turquía.

Por último, se ha identificado una víctima en los siguientes países: Ecuador, Gaza, Georgia, Ghana, Grecia, Guatemala, Haití, Líbano, Países Bajos, Siria y Estados Unidos de América.

Mejora en América Latina

Por regiones, Asia, con 40 muertos (+7), está por delante de América Latina 17 (-10), África 14 (+5), Europa 5 (+2) y América del Norte 1 (+1).

"El número de periodistas asesinados ha disminuido un 8% con respecto al mismo periodo del año pasado, lo que supone una ligera mejora. Esta se ha producido en América Latina, fuera de México ; y el deterioro se observa en África y Europa. México y Afganistán figuran, desde hace años, entre los países más peligrosos para los periodistas, pero el aumento en África es especialmente preocupante", ha comentado el Secretario General de la PEC, Blaise Lempen.

En Europa, el asesinato selectivo de tres periodistas, en Grecia, Georgia y Holanda, es un hecho muy triste. En Birmania, tras el golpe de Estado, y en Afganistán, tras la salida de las tropas de la OTAN, la libertad de prensa ha registrado un gravísimo retroceso.

De los 77 periodistas asesinados, 29 lo fueron en zonas de guerra (Afganistán, Azerbaiyán, Burkina Faso, RDC, Etiopía, Gaza, Somalia, Siria y Yemen). Los grupos terroristas fueron responsables de al menos 20 asesinatos (Afganistán, Burkina Faso, Pakistán, Somalia y Yemen), lo que supone un aumento con respecto a años anteriores.

El PEC condena enérgicamente estos ataques y pide que los responsables de estos crímenes sean llevados ante la justicia.

En los últimos 5 años, México es el país que más víctimas ha registrado (66), por delante de Afganistán (53), después de India (40), Pakistán (35), Siria (29), Filipinas (22), Irak (18), Yemen (17) y Somalia (16).

En diez años, de 2012 a 2021, fueron asesinados 1,150 periodistas, es decir, 115 por año ; 2,2 por semana, según las cifras de la PEC.

Según la Presidenta de la PEC, Hedayat Abdel Nabi, un hecho positivo es que la concientización en todo el mundo se ha extendido gracias al compromiso impresionante de los colegas de los medios de comunicación para difundir el mensaje relacionado con la seguridad de los periodistas, así como el respeto de la libertad de prensa.

Además, desde marzo de 2020 hasta la fecha, han muerto más de 1,900 periodistas por Covid-19, entre ellos al menos 1,300 desde enero de este año. La PEC hará un informe especial más adelante.

La PEC hace una lista de todos los trabajadores de los medios de comunicación muertos, estén o no relacionados con su actividad profesional. En efecto, es difícil demostrar que un crimen se debe al trabajo de un periodista sin la realización de investigaciones independientes y exhaustivas, que a menudo no existen.

حملة الشارة الدولية: أكثر الدول خطورة للعمل الصحفي:

أفغانستان والمكسيك

جنيف في 9 ديسمبر (حملة الشارة الدولية) – أعلنت حملة الشارة الدولية من مقرها في جنيف بمناسبة اطلاق تقريرها السنوي لسنة 2021 أن أكثر الدول خطورة للعمل الصحفي هي أفغانستان والمكسيك.

وأوضح التقرير أن 77 صحفيا قتلوا منذ بداية العام الحالي في 28 دولة.

تأتي في المقدمة أفغانستان: 12 صحفيا قتلوا، المكسيك 10، باكستان 7، اليمن 4، جمهورية الكونغو الديمقراطية 3 والفلبيين 4.

وقتل 2 من الصحفيين في أذربيجان وبنجلاديش والبرازيل وبوركينا فاسو وكولومبيا، وإثيوبيا وكينيا ونيجيريا والصومال وتركيا.

وقتل صحفي واحد في كل من الايكوادور وغزة وجورجيا وغانا واليونان وجواتيمالا وهايتي ولبنان وهولنده وسوريا والولايات المتحدة الأمريكية.

تصدرت آسيا الضحايا من الصحفيين: 40، فأمريكا اللاتينية: 17، إفريقيا: 5 وأمريكا الشمالية 1.

وصرح سكرتير عام الحملة بليز ليمبان أن عدد القتلى من الصحفيين قد نقص بنسبة 8 بالمائة بالمقارنة بنفس الفترة من العام الماضي، وشهد التحسن أمريكا اللاتينية خارج المكسيك، وتدهورت الأوضاع في إفريقيا وأوروبا، أذ أن أفغانستان والمكسيك ظلا أماكن خطرة للعمل الصحفي لسنوات طويلة إلا أن زيادة العدد في إفريقيا يدعو إلى القلق.

في أوروبا فإن قتل 3 من الحصفيين في اليونان وجورجيا وهولنده يمثل تطور محزن للغاية. وفي بورما بعد الانقلاب العسكري وأفغانستان بعد انسحاب قوات حلف الناتو واجهت الصحافة تراجعت حرية الصحافة بشكل ملحوظ.

والجدير بالذكر أن 29 صحفياً من بين الـ 77 الذين قتلوا هذا العام لقوا حتفهم في مناطق نزاع مسلح: أفغانستان، أذربيجان، بوركينا فاسو، جمهورية الكونغو الديمقراطية، إثيوبيا، غزة، الصومال، سوريا واليمن. وكانت الجماعات الإرهابية متسببة في مقتل الصحفيين نحو 20 منهم في أفغانستان وبوركينا فاسو وباكستان والصومال واليمن بشكل متزايد عن الأعوام السابقة. وتدين حملة الشارة الدولية بشدة هذه الجرائم في حق الصحفيين وتطالب بتقديم مرتكبيها إلى العدالة.

خلال السنوات الخمس الماضية سجلت المكسيك أعلى رقم للضحايا: 66، أفغانستان 53، الهند 40، باكستان 35، سوريا 29، الفلبين 22، العراق 18، اليمن 17 والصومال 16.

خلال العقد الحالي من 2012 إلى 2021 قتل 1150 صحفيا بمعدل 115 سنويا وأكثر من 2 في الأسبوع طبقاً لأرقام حملة الشارة.

وصرحت هدايت عبد النبي، رئيسة حملة الشارة الدولية، أن التطور الايجابي هو تواصل الصحفيين في كل أنحاء العالم مع الجملة ونشر مبادئ الحملة وهي حماية الصحفيين والتأكيد على حرية الصحافة.

ومن جانب أخر ذكرت حملة الشارة أن أكثر من 1900 صحفي سقطوا من وباء كورونا منذ مارس 2020 وعلى الأقل 1300 منذ يناير من العام الحالي وستقوم الحملة بإعداد تقرير منفصل لاحقاً.

برجاء تصفح موقع حملة الشارة لمزيد من المعلومات:

07.12.2021. PEC demands unconditional release of all Myanmar journalists

by Nava Thakuria, PEC South Asia Representative

Geneva, 7 December 2021: As the year approaches end, Myanmar continues to be an unsafe country for journalists in particular and
pro-democracy activists in general. Soon after the military coup on 1 February last, the south-east Asian nation witnessed the detention of
over 120 media workers among whom at least 40 are still behind bars.

Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global safety and media rights body, demands an unconditional release of all imprisoned journalists by the
military junta. Lately the PEC expresses serious concern over a recent intentional attack on anti-junta protesters that left many seriously
wounded including a female journalist who was on duty at that moment in the Yangon city.

Media reports from Myanmar (also known as Burma and Brahmadesh) reveal that video journalist Ma Hmu Yandanar Khet Moh Moh Tun sustained severe injuries as a vehicle was driven over an agitating crowd in Kyimyindaing locality of Yangon. Associated with Myanmar Pressphoto Agency, the female journalist suffered a head injury and still remains in critical condition after the Sunday morning incident.

“It’s already a grave situation in Myanmar and following the imprisonment of pro-democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi by the
military court in NayPieTaw the situation may deteriorate more. The Monday verdict against the popular civilian leader can derail the
process of reconciliation between the military rulers and political leaders. The country has seemingly arrived at a point of no return,”
said Blaise Lempen, secretary-general of PEC.

Various organisations based in Myanmar claim that over 1,300 people were killed by the security forces since the coup ten months back.
More than 10,000 anti-junta demonstrators have been arrested. But the protest programs continue in various parts of the country and so thus
the military crackdowns. Lately the UN Security Council also called for a cessation of escalating violence against the common Myanmarese.

Speaking to Nava Thakuria, PEC’s south-east Asia representative, a native journalist informed that the Sunday crackdown in Yangon left at
least five demonstrators killed besides many others injured. The journalist, who wanted anonymity, also added that family members of
the lady journalist have not been allowed to meet her in the hospital and they are clueless about her health, but only expecting that she is
alive.

30.11.2021. PEC AWARD 2021. The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) rewards Indian journalist NAVA THAKURIA

for his relentless initiatives to safeguard the rights of media persons in the south Asian country and defending the press

freedom in the region with an exemplary commitment. Last year, a record number of 15 journalists were killed in India,

and six more this year. Journalists were targeted documenting abuses, corruption, criminal activities. In 2021, India

was also one of the most affected country by the coronavirus. Around 300 journalists died throughout India with

Covid-19 complications. The PEC award pays tribute to them.

Read more on our special page PEC AWARD

14.11.2021. INDIA and AFGHANISTAN. Two young Asian scribes killed; PEC condoles their demise

by Nava Thakuria, PEC south Asia Representative

Geneva: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body, condoles the sad demise of two young journalists in India and Afghanistan within 24 hours and urges the concerned authorities to probe the developments that led to their untimely deaths, and subsequently to book the perpetrators to justice.

It may be mentioned that a 22 years old journalist cum Right to Information (RTI) activist named Buddhinath Jha (also known as Avinash Jha) was found dead in Madhubani district of Bihar in eastern India. Buddhinath used to report on many fake medical clinics operating in his locality and some of those were also closed by the authority.

Suddenly he went missing four days back and later his charred body was found by a roadside on 12 November. The Benipatti-based family claimed that Buddhinath was offered a lot of money (as bribes) by some illegal healthcare clinic owners, but he did not respond to them. Later he received a number of threatening calls from unknown persons.

“It is frustrating that a young scribe has to lose his life for exposing the fake clinics, which are otherwise killing innocent people
with incompetent medical interventions. It seems, those criminals are more organized to offer bribes as well as threats. The Bihar State government must ensure an authentic probe into his death and punish the culprits,” said Blaise Lempen, secretary-general of PEC.

Meanwhile, an Afghan television news presenter Hamid Saighani was killed in an explosion that rocked Kabul city on 13 November. The young scribe used to work for Khurahid and Aryana News. Hamid's wife, also a journalist, Fawzia Wahdat confirmed the heart-breaking news. He is the 12th journalist (including Indian photojournalist Danish Siddiqui) to be killed in the war-torn Afghanistan since the beginning of 2021.

Prior to Buddhinath, India lost five journalists namely Ashu Yadav, Sulabh Srivastava, Ch. Keshav, Manish Kumar Singh and Raman Kashyap to assailants this year, said PEC’s south Asia representative Nava Thakuria, adding that India’s two neighbours Pakistan and Bangladesh reported seven and two casualties of media workers respectively.

12.11.2021. BURMA. PEC demands unconditional release of American journalist Danny Fenster

by Nava Thakuria, PEC South Asia Representative

Geneva: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body, expressed its dismay over the 11-year imprisonment of American journalist Danny Fenster by the military junta of Myanmar (also known as Burma and Brahmadesh) and demanded his immediate and unconditional release by the military dictators in Naypietaw.

Mentionable is that the US journalist was arrested on 24 May 2021 from Yangon (Rangoon) International Airport as he was preparing to leave Myanmar for visiting his family in Detroit, Michigan. Since then, Danny (around 40 years old) has been imprisoned in Insein jail of Yangon, the former capital of Myanmar, as the scribe was repeatedly denied bail.

Lately, the military court inside the infamous prison, which otherwise enjoys little liberty in the military ruled south-east Asian nation, pronounced the verdict on 12 November to imprison Danny for 11 years against various charges of visa breaches, defaming the Burmese military personnel and also joining hands with unlawful elements. Conspiracy is seemingly hatched against Danny to keep him inside bars for whole life.

“It is frustrating that a professional journalist has been targeted with various baseless allegations and tried under the military court
with no credibility. The military regime, led by Min Aung Hlaing, is trying its best to destroy the free press in Myanmar. They even dared to diktat the foreign media outlets to describe the military government properly,” said Blaise Lempen, general-secretary of PEC.

Danny becomes the third foreign journalist to be arrested by the military junta. Earlier they detained independent scribes Robert
Bociaga from Poland and Yuki Kitazumi from Japan, who were later released and subsequently deported from Myanmar. Associated with Frontier Myanmar, a digital media outlet covering political affairs, business, environment, etc of Myanmar, Danny earlier worked for Myanmar Now, lately banned by the military regime.

Various international organisations have criticised the Burmese junta for fraudulently detaining the US journalist and demanded his urgent release. The US State Department in a statement issued from Washington commented that Danny’s sentence is ‘an unjust conviction of an innocent person’. While condemning the decision, the United States asserted it will continue to work for Danny’s release so that he can return home safely.

Speaking to PEC’s south-east Asia representative Nava Thakuria, a Burmese journalist claimed that the military generals after grabbing political power on 1 February last deposing Aung San Suu Kyi led National League for Democracy government, had imprisoned over 125 journalists, who supported the anti-junta movements across Myanmar. Nearly 50 among them are still behind bars, added the journalist who wanted anonymity.

12.11.2021. Le comité de la PEC a appris avec tristesse le décès, dimanche 7 novembre 2021 à Lausanne, de l’un de ses membres fondateurs, Daniel Favre, à l’âge de 82 ans // The PEC committee learned with sadness of the death, Sunday November 7, 2021 in Lausanne, of one of its founding members, Daniel Favre, at the age of 82.

English after French

Vice-président de la PEC, Daniel Favre avait contribué à la création de la PEC à Genève en 2004 et depuis lui avait constamment apporté son soutien ainsi que celui de l’Association suisse des journalistes francophones, l’une des premières associations à rejoindre la PEC.

«Nous sommes consternés par cette disparition. Daniel a été un grand supporter de la PEC depuis le début de notre association en 2004», a déclaré la présidente de la PEC Hedayat Abdelnabi.

« Sans le soutien de Daniel Favre, le PEC n’aurait pas traversé les mers agitées de ses débuts. Favre a été une source de force et de lumière. 
La PEC honorera ce grand journaliste lors de sa prochaine cérémonie de remise des prix le 2 décembre », a ajouté Hedayat.

«Nous perdons un de nos membres les plus fidèles», a déclaré le secrétaire général de la PEC Blaise Lempen. «Je me souviens de nos démarches communes auprès d’ambassades à Genève pour convaincre des gouvernements de soutenir notre projet de convention internationale. Il était toujours disponible et savait user de diplomatie dans ses nombreux contacts», a-t-il ajouté.

Daniel a apporté le soutien financier de son association à la PEC pendant plus de 16 ans et a contribué à faire connaître le travail de l’ONG auprès des journalistes francophones par des articles dans le journal de l’association au niveau suisse et international ainsi que sur son site internet.

Daniel Favre a travaillé à la Radio suisse romande du début des années 1960 jusqu’à 2004, date de sa retraite, comme chef de la rubrique nationale, puis rédacteur en chef. Ardent défenseur de la presse francophone, il était resté actif comme président d’honneur de la section suisse et vice-président de l’Union de la presse francophone (UPF) pour l’Europe jusqu’à son décès, après avoir présidé l’UPF durant douze ans.

Il a mis au service de la protection des journalistes son réseau de relations tant en Suisse qu’à l’étranger. Avec un autre grand journaliste de la presse suisse francophone, ancien rédacteur en chef du journal 24 Heures, Jean-Marie Vodoz, il a fondé également l’association Défense du français en 2004.

Nous transmettons à sa famille et à ses proches nos plus sincères condoléances.

English:

PEC Vice-President, Daniel Favre had contributed to the creation of the PEC in Geneva in 2004 and since then had constantly supported it as well as that of the
Swiss Association of Francophone Journalists, one of the first associations to join the PEC.

“We are appalled by this disappearance. Daniel has been a great supporter of PEC since the start of our association in 2004, ”said PEC President
Hedayat Abdelnabi.

“Without the support of Daniel Favre the PEC wouldn’t drive through the rough seas when it started. Favre was a source of strength and light.
The PEC will honor this great journalist during its next award ceremony on 2 December”, added Hedayat.

“We are losing one of our most loyal members,” added PEC General Secretary Blaise Lempen. “I remember our joint efforts with the embassies
in Geneva to convince governments to support our project for an international convention. He was always available and knew how to use
diplomacy in his numerous contacts, ”he added.

Daniel Favre has provided financial support from his association to the PEC for more than 16 years and has helped publicize the work of the
NGO to French-speaking journalists through articles in the association's journal at Swiss and international level as well as on its website.

Daniel Favre worked at Radio Suisse Romande from the early 1960s until 2004, when he retired, as head of the national news, then
editor-in-chief. An ardent defender of the French-speaking press, he remained active as honorary president of the Swiss section and
vice-president of the Union de la presse francophone (UPF) for Europe until his death, after having chaired the UPF for twelve years.

He has put his network of contacts at the service of the protection of journalists both in Switzerland and abroad. With another great journalist
from the French-speaking Swiss press, former editor-in-chief of the 24 Heures newspaper, Jean-Marie Vodoz, he also founded the Defense du
Français association in 2004.

We send our most sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.

11.11..2021. PEC demands fair probe into murder of another Pakistani digital media user

by Nava Thakuria, Asia Correspondent

Geneva: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body, expresses serious concern over the relentless murder of
scribes, citizen journalists and digital media users in Pakistan for exposing anomalies in the government, administration, and society
through various media outlets and demands fair probes into all those assassinations.

Local media outlets reported that one more active Pakistani social media user named Muhammad Zada was killed by two gunmen on 8 November 2021 at his residence in Sakhakot area of Malakand locality under Pakistan’s northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Zada ran a digital platform titled Citizen Journalist PK, where he used to post socially relevant issues relating to his home district of Malakand.

The outspoken social activist always took his stand against the illegal drug mafia and expressed his concern about the new generation,
who are seemingly under the grip of such consumption. Zada remained critical against the corrupt politicians, government officials and
some local leaders, who were making money from the illegal business with impunity.

As Zada became popular in his locality, he earned enmity from some influential personalities including a few police officers. He claimed
that a Malakand district police officer was harassing and threatening him for his activities. Zada was asked to stop putting posts in the
social media and otherwise face the consequence. But he was not scared while putting inputs against local criminal groups, who often enjoy
support from the administration.

“It is shocking that Pakistan loses one more socially responsible media activist after the murder of Nazim Samwal Jokhio, a videographer
in western Sindh province, on 4 November. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Mahmood Khan must take the brutal murder of Muhammad Zada seriously and assure that the culprits will not enjoy the impunity,” said Blaise Lempen, secretary-general of PEC.

Nazim Jokhio, a local journalist, was allegedly tortured to death at the farmhouse of accused PPP MPA for trying to prevent his foreign guests from illegal hunting of endangered houbara bustard. An autopsy found severe torture marks and bruises all over the body of the deceased. MPA Sindh Assembly Jam Owais has been remanded to police custody. Nazim Jokhio was tortured to death for recording the MPA’s hunting expedition of the highly rare bird species along with Arab hunters.

The troubled south Asian nation earlier lost five professional journalists namely Ajay Laalwani (18 March, Sindh), Waseem Alam (10
April, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Abdul Wahid Raisani (24 April, Balochistan), Kashif Hussain (10 August, Punjab) and Shahid Zehri (10
October, Balochistan) to assailants since 1 January 2021, revealed PEC’s south Asia representative Nava Thakuria adding that India and
Bangladesh have witnessed the murder of five and two scribes respectively this year till date.

08.11.2021. UNITED NATIONS. Civil society participation at UN Human Rights Council cannot be an afterthought

Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) joined dozens of organisations in a joint letter addressed to the President of the UN Human Rights Council, Ambassador of Austria to the UN in Geneva, Director-General of the United Nations at Geneva, and all Members and Observers of the UN Human Rights Council

We have consistently raised our concerns that the special emergency measures and ongoing budget constraints adopted by the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in 2019 and 2020, coupled with measures adopted to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, have heavily restricted civil society participation at the HRC. Given that civic space conditions globally are declining year on year, these ‘efficiency measures’ have been instrumentalised by some delegations, under the pretext of ‘saving meeting times’, to serve other interests, particularly restricting civil society participation and undermining the HRC’s ability to respond to human rights emergencies and to address country situations.

We reiterate our concerns that the removal of General Debates from the June sessions since 2020 has had a critical negative impact on non-governmental organisation (NGO) engagement, as well as the de facto capping of General Debates in the March and September sessions. General Debates are the only opportunities for States and NGOs to address situations in countries that are not formally on the HRC’s agenda, including those countries in which there are early warning signs of a deteriorating human rights situation, as well as countries on the HRC agenda but that are not the object of interactive dialogues. General debate contributions are essential to inform the HRC and to enhance its capacity to fulfil its prevention mandate. The cancellation of general debates during the June session, which is when many reports and discussions related to gender take place, has left many feminist groups and defenders, including women human rights defenders and those working to combat violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, without speaking slots to address the HRC. We strongly recommend the reinstatement of General Debates in HRC June sessions.

The use of remote participation tools, such as video statements in all debates of the HRC, has proven to be an effective way to promote more flexibility of diverse and inclusive engagement, including children and youth, partly compensating for the restrictions on in-person participation due to the COVID-19 crisis. The enhanced participation of national civil society actors through video statements helps ensure that the HRC is informed by and responsive to human rights priorities and needs on the ground. Moreover, remote participation has provided a space for under-resourced civil society actors who would otherwise not be able to attend the HRC in person. This is particularly the case of child and youth led movements and gender and sexual diverse advocates who are otherwise rarely heard at the HRC. Remote participation has been a long-standing demand of organisations that are not based in Geneva, and should be maintained as a complement to in-person participation. We strongly recommend the maintenance of the option of remote participation in all debates, including open-ended General Debates and dialogues of the HRC, regardless of COVID-19 measures.

We also take this opportunity to recall the already significant barriers to entering multilateral spaces faced by civil society organisations and human rights defenders, particularly those working at the national level. These barriers include denial of visas, ECOSOC status requirements, unsustainable costs of travel, lack of translation and interpretation issues, accessibility for people with disabilities, technology access and safety issues. All “efficiency measures” that restrict civil society participation add to those challenges and take away the nuance and expertise that civil society brings to the Council.

Furthermore, the UN human rights pillar suffers from chronic gross and disproportionate underfunding compared to the other pillars of the UN (Peace and Security and Development). The Human Rights pillar only receives about 3.7% of the UN regular budget compared to its other two pillars. Organisations have reiterated over the years that improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the HRC must also be part of the strengthening of the human rights pillar of the UN. Any argument for consistent UN-wide budget cuts must be placed in the context of balancing UN-wide budget allocation. Further restricting the resources and reach of the highest UN body dedicated to human rights is at odds with UN values and runs contrary to improving the effectiveness and impact of UN human rights bodies. We call for all Member States to ensure adequate funding for the UN’s human rights pillar.

The drive for expediency leading to the renewal of ‘efficiency’ measures is obstructing rather than advancing broad and diverse participation, and the chronic underfunding of the Secretariat only increases the exclusion. The HRC must center human rights principles of equality and non-discrimination, accountability, participation, accessibility and access to information rather than ”efficiency”. Efficiency cannot be prioritized from effectiveness, as restricting participation of those who raise human rights concerns cannot be said to contribute to the HRC’s effectiveness in addressing these concerns. An efficient and effective HRC is a Council that responds to the issues raised by, demands, needs and concerns of human rights defenders, victims and survivors, and their families. Limiting the space for such issues to be raised at the HRC subsequently limits its ability to be effective.

As the HRC reconsiders these decisions at its upcoming Organisational Session on 6 December 2021, we urge you to prioritize inclusiveness and expertise over expediency by ensuring that civil society is broadly and effectively consulted. We urge all States to ensure that civil society participation is promoted and safeguarded at the HRC as a crucial part of its work.

02.11.2021. PEC endorses demand of Cambodian civil society organizations for ensuring safety to working journalists

by Nava Thakuria, PEC South-east Asia representative

Press Emblem Campaign, the global safety and media rights body, endorses the statement of Cambodian civil society organizations
(CSO) on the occasion of ‘International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists’ (2 November 2021) for ensuring safety and
security to all working journalists in the south-east Asian country and urged the Cambodian government in Phnom Penh to allow the media
persons to perform their duties without any fear and trepidations.

According to a group of CSOs, the tiny nation has lost at least 17 journalists to assailants since 1994, where the scribes were targeted
mostly because of their works. Shockingly, perpetrators in 12 cases are yet to be brought to justice. Moreover, the incidents of
persecution against journalists are also increasing while over 80 media persons were targeted in 2021 till date. Among them over 30 were
arrested, 20 subjected to violence, 8 faced judicial harassment, etc.

Crimes against journalists are egregious and constitute a real threat. When they are targeted for their works, the freedom of expression is
undermined. With more to it, if the concerned authority fails to investigate and punish the culprits against journalists, it sends a
wrong message to the society, asserted the statement endorsed by Cambodian Association for Protection of Journalists, Cambodian Center
for Independent Media, Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association, Cambodian Center for Human Rights, etc.

Days back, the PEC raised the demand for justice to all victim journalists around the world and opined that observation on the journo-impunity day would be fruitful only if the culprits, who killed, abused or threatened media persons, are booked under the law of respective nations. Till date, not less than 66 journalists (2 more than last year in 10 months) have been killed this year across the world, where Afghanistan and Mexico remain the most dangerous countries for working journalists.

“There is no progress for the safety of media workers and often the assassins of journalists get away with murders. No crime
should go unpunished, particularly in case of sentinels of the society,” said PEC secretary-general Blaise Lempen, adding that no one
has been held to account in 81% of journalist murders during the last 10 years. The United Nations had already urged member countries to
implement definite measures countering the culture of impunity and promote a safe environment for scribes, stated Lempen.

Philippines in the south-east Asian region emerged as a risky nation for journalists, where most of the killers go unpunished. The island
nation lost three media persons namely Renante Rey Cortes (killed on 22 July), Gwenn Salamida (17 August) and Orlando Dinoy (30 October)
to assailants this year, said PEC’s south-east Asia representative Nava Thakuria adding that the media fraternity continues to face harassments from various agencies in the region, especially in Myanmar (Burma) where over 20 journalists are still behind bars.

31.10.2021. PEC demands justice to victim journalists on the impunity day - 64 journalists killed this year so far

With Nava Thakuria, PEC Correspondent

Geneva, 31 October 2021 - On the impending occasion of United Nation’s impunity day on crimes against journalists, the Geneva-based media safety and rights body Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) raises demands for justice to all victim scribes around the world. The PEC
opines that the observation on the particular day will be fruitful only if the culprits-who killed, abused or threatened media persons
are booked under the law of respective nations.

Need not to mention that the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2 November as the ‘International Day to End Impunity for
Crimes against Journalists’ through which it urged member countries to implement definite measures countering the culture of impunity and
also promote a safe and enabling environment for journalists to perform their duties independently and without undue interference. The
date was chosen in commemoration of the assassination of two French journalists in Mali in 2013.

According to PEC figures, at least 64 journalists have been killed so far this year. Last year the global media fraternity lost 92 scribes
to assailants, followed by 75 (in 2019), 117 (2018), 99 (2017), 156 (2016), 135 (2015), 138 (2014), 129 (2013), 141 (2012), 107 ( 2011),
etc. The statistics include murders among journalists, correspondents, freelancers, cameraperson, photojournalists, news-bulletin producers,
etc.
“Afghanistan and Mexico remain the most dangerous countries for working journalists,” said PEC secretary-general Blaise Lempen,
adding that there is no progress for the safety of media workers and often the assassins of journalists get away with murders. No crime
should go unpunished, particularly in case of sentinels of the society, asserted Lempen.

On Thursday, Mexican journalist Fredy López Arévalo was shot dead outside his residence at San Cristobal de las Casas. Lopez, who was a
former correspondent for El Universal in Guatemala, worked for Panorama and was in charge of the Notimex office in Chiapas. He was
also associated with Novedades and published articles in Proceso. With Lopez’s murder, the total figure for journo-murders in Mexico
increased up to 9 since January 2021.

Trouble-torn south-Asian nation Afghanistan lost 11 journalists till date. The journo-casualties started from 1 January of 2021 with the
murder of Adel Aimaq (Voice of Ghor radio), followed by Mursal Waheedi, Saadia Sadat, Shahnaz Raoufi (each in Enikas TV), Mina Khairi
(Ariana News), Toofan Omar (Paktia Ghag Radio), Danish Siddiqui (Indian photojournalist with Reuters), Alireza Ahmadi (Raha), Najma
Sadeqi (Jahan-e-Sehat TV), Fahim Dashty (Kabul Weekly) and Sayyed Marof Saadat (Nangarhar).

India and Pakistan witnessed the murder of five journalists each, while Bangladesh lost two scribes to assailants till date this year.
The populous country, recognized as the largest democracy in the globe, witnessed the murders of Ashu Yadav, Sulabh Srivastava, Ch.
Keshav, Manish Kumar Singh and Raman Kashyap. Pakistan lost Ajay Laalwani, Waseem Alam, Abdul Wahid Raisani,Kashif Hussain and Shahid Zehri.

“Relatively a small but populous country Bangladesh lost two journalists this year to assailants namely Borhan Uddin Muzakkir and
Mushtaq Ahmed,” said PEC’s south and south-east Asian representative Nava Thakuria adding that India’s other neighbors namely Bhutan,
Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Myanmar have not reported any incident of journo-murder, even though the media fraternity continues to face
harassments from various agencies there.

06.10.2021. CAMBODIA. PEC insists on fair trial to convicted Cambodian journalist Youn Chhiv

by Nava Thakuria, PEC South Asia Representative

Geneva/Guwahati, 6 October 2021: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the Geneva-based global media rights body expressed serious concern over the imprisonment of a Cambodian journalist without the fair trial and urged the government led by Prime minister Hun Sen to help Youn Chhiv
defending his position in the legal courses of action.

It may be mentioned that journalist and owner of Koh Kong Hot News was convicted by the Koh Kong provincial court of Cambodia on 30 September
2021 of incitement under various legal clauses and within 72 hours of his detention, the prominent journalist was sentenced to one year of
imprisonment along with a cash fine under the criminal laws of the southeast Asian nation.

Allegations were framed against the scribe that he put false information about a land grabbing matter involving an individual in
the high government position. A huge volume of land, under the possession of rural farmers, were reportedly allocated to the
individual. He was initially summoned by the police for questioning on 28 September and then compelled the media person to write an apology
letter to the concerned party.

The scribe was also forced to remove the specific post from the digital platform. But even then, he was convicted under the draconian
press-laws targeting the working journalists. With more to it, the criminal laws were also imposed over him so that the journalist can be
imprisoned arbitrarily. Without giving the opportunity to defend him legally, the court hurriedly pronounced the verdict.

“It is understood that Youn Chhiv was subjected to repeated mental harassments including death threats by vested elements for a decade
for his professional works. Journalism is not a crime and journalists must be allowed to work in a free & fair ambience. It’s time for the
Cambodian government to ensure freedom of the press if, at all, it deems to be a functioning democracy,” said Blaise Lempen, general
secretary of PEC.

Cambodia has witnessed an increase of media organs in the last few years. According to the government sources in Phnom Penh, the country
with around 16.7 million population supports nearly 1,000 media outlets in traditional, electronic and digital formats. But often the
journalists are subjected to harassments if they go for critical reporting about the authority, said the PEC’s southeast Asia
representative Nava Thakuria adding that journalists should not be victimized for their genuine works.

05.10.2021. PEC demands authentic probe into killing of Indian scribe Raman Kashyap

by Nava Thakuria, PEC Representative for India

Geneva: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), rthe Geneva-based media rights body condoles the demise of young television scribe Raman Kashyap at Lakhimpur Kheri locality of Uttar Pradesh in central India and demands an authentic probe into the incident that led to killing of the rural reporter on 3 October 2021.

According to local sources, Raman (35) was hit by a vehicle amidst a chaotic situation where a large group of agitating farmers (against farm laws brought by the Union government in New Delhi) were in confrontations with some political workers. He was along with many reporters at the site to cover an event, but Raman turned unlucky and died on the spot. Later the agitators set the vehicle on fire and finally eight others died in the violent incident.

Raman’s family members claimed that he was also shot by the miscreants. Hailed from Nighasan village, Raman used to work for a news channel and left behind his wife, two minor children and other relatives. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, while
expressing grief over the unfortunate incident, announced a compensatory package to family members of all the deceased.

“Raman Kashyap is the 59th journalists killed so far in 2021 across the globe. A day back, Afghan scribe Sayyed Marof Saadat was shot dead by miscreants at Nangarhar locality of Afghanistan,” said Blaise Lempen, general secretary of PEC, adding that last year 92 media persons lost their lives to assailants.

India earlier lost journalist Ashu Yadav (hauled from Kanpur in UP), Sulabh Srivastava (Lucknow, UP) and Ch. Keshav (Nandyal, Andhra Pradesh) to assailants since 1 January 2021. Acclaimed Indian photo journalist Danish Siddiqui was killed by the Taliban in Kandahar of Afghanistan. PEC’s India representative Nava Thakuria assumes that the populous country may improve in the journo-murder index this year compared to 2020 that ended with 15 media casualties.

04.10.2021. PEC laments the shrinking space for press freedom and collapse of media fraternity in Afghanistan

With Nava Thakuria, PEC South Asia Representative

Geneva, 4 October 2021: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the Geneva based global media rights body, laments over missing of newspapers from the stands across Afghanistan as most of the media managements shifted to online space after the arrival of Taliban forces in the capital city of Kabul. One more journalist was killed during the weekend.

Expressing serious concern on the growing security threats for professional journalists in the southeast Asian country, the PEC
(www.pressemblem.ch) calls upon the United Nations and the international community to urge the new government in Kabul to respect press freedom and the safety of journalists.

According to local media outlets, the press has been paralyzed particularly in Kabul, which is under the grip of Taliban once again
after the fall of President Ashraf Ghani's government on 15 August 2021. Before their advent, the ancient city used to witness a number of newspapers and other media outlets which surfaced in the last two decades to cater the need of readers, listeners and viewers.

“Overall, a total of 150 newspapers/magazines out of 500 media outlets including television & radio channels and news agencies have closed in the past month. The space for independent press and freedom of expression is shrinking day by day,” said a report in Afghanistan Times, adding that the safety & security of scribes and overall financial problems have deteriorated the situation.

The Afghan media and journalist fraternity are going through their worst time in the last 20 years and many of them have fled their
nation. They feel if the international community and the Taliban do not pay attention the remaining media will also collapse very soon.

“Kabul alone had around 20 newspapers available to readers in English and local languages before the arrival of Taliban forces. Now the media persons are under severe security threats and financial crisis as most of the foreign governments & non-government offices have abandoned the country and their potential supporters have also disappeared,” said PEC general secretary Blaise Lempen.

Recently a group of around 150 Afghan journalists urged the United Nations and other international groups to ensure their protection with the backdrop of threats issued by the Taliban militants. Speaking to Nava Thakuria, PEC’s south and southeast Asia representative, an Afghan journalist revealed that the media fraternity has lost its female members as the Taliban regime is understood to maintain its harsh policy towards the women journalists all along.

The freedom of expression of Afghan journalists who fled the country in August is also limited, said an Afghan journalist, who has found refuge in Belgium during August. Talking to the PEC, he commented, “Due to the risks for my colleagues, who are still in Afghanistan, I can't talk or write my own story now, probably another time, when they are also out of the country or at least there is no high risks for them.”

Afghan journalist named Sayyed Marof Saadat died in a shooting incident on 2 October 2021 along with two other people. The
incident took place in Nangarhar locality of Afghanistan, when the scribe was travelling along with others towards Jalalabad city on
Saturday evening. The miscreants targeted them with bullets where Saadat’s son also sustained injuries. The death of Sayyed Marof Saadat brings to 11 the number of media workers killed this year in Afghanistan since January, making it the most dangerous country in the world for journalists.

17.09.2021. HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 48th session, PEC urges UNHRC to initiate for release of Burmese journalists

by Nava Thakuria. PEC Representative for South-East Asia

Geneva/Guwahati, 17 September: Expressing concern over the recent arrest of three more journalists by the military rulers of Myanmar,
the Switzerland based global media rights body Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) calls upon the UN Human Rights Council meeting now in progress at Geneva to condemn the military junta and initiate for release of over 50 scribes along with a large number of political prisoners.

The military regime, which has been ruling the south-east Asian country (also known as Burma and Brahmadesh) after over-throwing Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi led democratically elected government in Nay Pyi Taw on 1 February 2021, lately arrested Myo Thant, the former editor of
Mizzima News from Kangye Htaung township in southwestern Myanmar. The military personnel tracked him in the township and finally picked him up.

Earlier, freelance photojournalist Ma Thuzar, who contributes for Myanmar Pressphoto Agency and Friday Times News Journal and then
Mandalay news agency reporter Win Naing Oo were arrested by the security forces. All of them are understood to be arrested under new
laws related to information defaming the government armed forces. If proven guilty by the court, they have to face three years of
imprisonments.

“As the world media is focused on Taliban brutalities against journalists in Afghanistan, the Burmese junta has taken it as an
advantage to continue brutalities against the media workers. The international community should not ignore the pathetic condition of
Burmese journalists and must insist on their conditional release,” said Blaise Lempen, general secretary of PEC.

Since the 1 February coup, the Min Aung Hlaing led military regime has detained over one hundred journalists for covering the anti-junta
public demonstrations across Myanmar and half of them are still under their custody. By now over one thousand Burmese nationals have lost
their lives participating in various protest programs.

More than seven thousand people have been arrested and over five thousand individuals are either detained or sentenced, whereas nearly
230,000 ethnic minorities were displaced since the military takeover. Many deaths are yet to be reported, informed Mizzima chief editor Soe
Myint, while speaking to PEC representative Nava Thakuria from an undisclosed location.

Last month, the military personnel arrested outspoken freelance journalist Sithu Aung Myint and the foreign media contributor Ma Htet
Htet Khine from Yangon. In July, three women journalists were picked up to add in the list of jailed journalists including Thin Thin Aung,
Han Thar Nyein, Min Nyo, Mya Wunn Yangon, Myo Myat Myat Pan, Tu Tu Tha, Than Htike Aung, etc.

06.09.2021. The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) condoles demise of Afghan journalist Fahim Dashty

by Nava Thakuria, PEC South Asia Representative

Geneva/Guwahati: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the Switzerland global media safety body, expressed condolences over the death of prominent Afghan journalist Fahim Dashty, who fell prey to clashes erupted between the Taliban fighters and the national resistance force in Panshir valley on 5 September 2021.

Associated with Kabul Weekly newspaper, Fahim was lately working as a spokesperson for Ahmad Massoud led National Resistance Front of Afghanistan. He was targeted by the Taliban army personnel and killed at Anaba locality in Panshir valley. As the Taliban militants invaded Afghanistan, he joined the resistance force, popularly known as Northern Alliance.

Besides pursuing professional journalism, Fahim was also engaged with Federation of Afghan Journalists and Afghanistan National Journalists Union. Born into a progressive family at Dashtak village under Anaba district in 1972, Fahim graduated from Istiqlal high school and studied law and political science at Kabul university.

“Fahim Dashty becomes the tenth journalist killed in Afghanistan since January 2021 turning the south-Asian nation the most dangerous place for working journalists. The PEC is gravely concerned about the wellbeing of local journalists as well as journalists reporting for international media outlets,” said Blaise Lempen, general secretary of PEC.

PEC calls on Afghanistan’s new authorities to ensure the safety of journalists and to respect press freedom, stated Lempen adding that the global outfit was very concerned by the rapidly changing socio-political situation in Afghanistan for some years. He added that over the past 20 years, independent media proliferated in the trouble-torn country.

As the Taliban gains power almost across Afghanistan, the journalists are coming under increasing attacks. Those who defy the Taliban face threats, pressure, kidnapping and murder. Female journalists are at greater risk due to their public roles and all of them are now banned from presenting news in television channels, asserted Lempen.

“Altogether 55 journalists have been killed so far this year and Fahim Dashty emerges as the latest victim,” said Nava Thakuria, PEC’s south and southeast Asia representative adding that the armed militants had earlier killed Bismillah Adil Aimaq, Shahnaz Raoufi, Saadia Sadat, Mursal Waheedi, Mina Khairi, Toofan Omar, Alireza Ahmadi, Najma Sadeqi and Danish Siddiqui (from India).

03.09.2021. The list of journalists dead from Covid-19 is growing

PEC press release (French, Spanish and Arabic after English) (list of victims on our page COVID-19)


Para a versão em português veja entre outros: 
https://www.dw.com/pt-br/brasil-%C3%A9-pa%C3%ADs-onde-mais-morreram-jornalistas-por-covid-19/a-59080887

Geneva, September 3, 2021 (PEC) - The list of journalists dead from Covid-19 is growing. More than 1,788 media workers have succumbed 
to the virus in 80 countries in the 18 months since the start of the pandemic, the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) announced Friday in Geneva.

During the months of July and August, at least 117 more journalists died from the coronavirus, or nearly 2 a day. More deaths have been seen 
around the globe, from the Philippines to Algeria, from Indonesia to Russia, from Brazil to the United States, from Cuba to Bangladesh.

“Journalists on the ground remain one of the most exposed professions. The number of registered victims has slowed down since June, but the 
vaccination rate remains insufficient in many countries,” said PEC General Secretary Blaise Lempen. "Some politicians, but also the media 
continue to spread false information, at a high cost, as in the United States, where three star presenters opposed to vaccination died in August 
from the virus, two in Florida and one in Tennessee" , he added.

Given the new variants, the PEC warns that the number of journalists who have died from Covid-19 is likely to reach the 2,000 mark by the 
end of the year. The average age of victims is now younger.

Brazil is the country with the highest number of victims with at least 280 journalists dead from the virus, ahead of India with at least 270 victims.
After an explosion of cases in these two countries in the spring, the situation has fortunately stabilized this summer.

Three Latin American countries follow, Peru (198 dead), Mexico (120) and Colombia (77). In Bangladesh, 65 journalists died from Covid-19, 
in Italy 59 and in the United States 55.

Among the 25 countries most affected, in Venezuela at least 53 deaths of journalists were counted, Ecuador 51, Argentina 43, Indonesia 41, 
Russia 33, Iran 32, Great Britain 31, Dominican Republic 28, Pakistan 27, Turkey 27, Bolivia 20, Nepal 19, Honduras 18, South Africa 18, 
Egypt 17, Panama 16 and Spain 16 as well. The list of 55 other countries where deaths have been reported can be found on the PEC website. 

More than half of the victims died in Latin America

By region, Latin America leads with 954 media workers dead from Covid-19, more than half of the total, ahead of Asia 485, Europe 206, 
Africa 86 and North America 57.

The total number of victims is certainly higher, because the cause of death of journalists is sometimes not specified or their death not announced. 
In a few countries, there are no reliable statistics.

The sources of the PEC are the national associations of journalists, the local media, the regional correspondents of the PEC and social networks.


La liste des journalistes morts du Covid-19 s'allonge

Genève, le 3 septembre 2021 (PEC) - La liste des journalistes morts du Covid-19 s'allonge. Plus de 1788 travailleurs des médias ont succombé au virus dans 80 pays, au cours des 18 mois qui ont suivi le début de la pandémie, a annoncé vendredi à Genève la Presse Emblème Campagne (PEC).

Pendant les mois de juillet et août, au moins 117 journalistes de plus sont morts du coronavirus, soit près de 2 par jour. Des décès supplémentaires ont été constatés tout autour du globe, des Philippines à l’Algérie, de l’Indonésie à la Russie, du Brésil aux États-Unis, de Cuba au Bangladesh.

«Les journalistes sur le terrain restent une des professions les plus exposées. Le nombre des victimes recensées a ralenti depuis le mois de juin, mais le taux de vaccination reste insuffisant dans de nombreux pays», a déclaré le secrétaire général de la PEC Blaise Lempen. «Des responsables politiques, mais aussi des médias continuent de propager de fausses informations, avec un coût élevé, comme aux États-Unis, où trois présentateurs vedettes opposés à la vaccination ont succombé en août au virus, deux en Floride et un au Tennessee», a-t-il ajouté.

Compte tenu des nouveaux variants, la PEC avertit que le nombre de journalistes décédés du Covid-19 risque d’atteindre le cap des 2000 morts d’ici la fin de l’année. L’âge moyen des victimes est maintenant plus jeune.

Le Brésil est le pays qui a recensé le plus grand nombre de victimes avec au moins 280 journalistes morts du virus, devant l’Inde, avec au moins 270 victimes. Après une explosion des cas dans ces deux pays au printemps, la situation s’est heureusement stabilisée cet été.

Suivent trois pays d’Amérique latine, le Pérou (198 morts), le Mexique (120) et la Colombie (77). Au Bangladesh, 65 journalistes sont morts du Covid-19, en Italie 59 et aux États-Unis 55.

Parmi les 25 pays les plus touchés, au Venezuela, au moins 53 décès de journalistes ont été dénombrés, en Equateur 51, en Argentine 43, en Indonésie 41, en Russie 33, en Iran 32, en Grande-Bretagne 31, en République dominicaine 28, au Pakistan 27, en Turquie 27, en Bolivie 20, au Népal 19, au Honduras 18, en Afrique du Sud 18 également en Egypte 17, en Espagne 16 comme au Panama 16. La liste des 55 autres pays où des décès ont été annoncés se trouve sur le site de la PEC.

Plus de la moitié des victimes en Amérique latine

Par région, l’Amérique latine est en tête avec 954 travailleurs des médias morts du Covid-19, soit plus de la moitié du total, devant l’Asie 485, l’Europe 206, l’Afrique 86 et l’Amérique du Nord 57.

Le chiffre total des victimes est certainement plus élevé, car la cause des décès de journalistes n’est parfois pas précisée ou leur mort pas annoncée. Dans quelques pays, il n’existe aucune statistique fiable.

Les sources de la PEC sont les associations nationales de journalistes, les médias locaux, les correspondants régionaux de la PEC et les réseaux sociaux.

Crece la lista de periodistas muertos por Covid-19

Ginebra, 3 de septiembre de 2021 (PEC). - La lista de periodistas muertos por Covid-19 está creciendo. Más de 1.788 trabajadores de los medios
de comunicación han sucumbido al virus en 80 países en los 18 meses transcurridos desde el inicio de la pandemia, anunció la Campaña de
Emblema de Prensa (PEC, por sus siglas en inglés) el viernes en Ginebra.

Durante los meses de julio y agosto, al menos 117 periodistas más murieron por el coronavirus, o casi 2 al día. Se han visto más muertes en
todo el mundo, desde Filipinas hasta Argelia, desde Indonesia hasta Rusia, desde Brasil hasta Estados Unidos, desde Cuba hasta Bangladesh.

« Los periodistas de primera línea siguen siendo una de las profesiones más expuestas. El número de víctimas registradas se ha reducido desde
junio, pero la tasa de vacunación sigue siendo insuficiente en muchos paises », dijo el secretario general de la PEC, Blaise Lempen. « Políticos,
aunque también medios de comunicación, siguen difundiendo información falsa, a un alto costo, como en Estados Unidos, donde tres
presentadores estrella opuestos a la vacunación murieron en agosto por el virus, dos en Florida y uno en Tennessee », agregó.

A la luz de las nuevas variantes, el PEC advierte que el número de periodistas que han muerto por Covid-19 puede llegar a la marca de los 2.000
a finales de año. La edad promedio de las víctimas ahora es más joven.

Brasil es el país con el mayor número de víctimas con al menos 280 periodistas muertos por el virus, por delante de India con al menos 270
víctimas. Después de una explosión de casos en estos dos países en la primavera, afortunadamente la situación se ha estabilizado este verano.

Le siguen tres países latinoamericanos, Perú (198 muertos), México (120) y Colombia (77). En Bangladesh, 65 periodistas murieron por
Covid-19, en Italia 59 y en Estados Unidos 55.

Entre los 25 países más afectados se encuentran Venezuela, donde se contabilizaron al menos 53 muertes ; Ecuador, 51 ; Argentina, 43 ;
Indonesia, 41 ; Rusia, 33 ; Irán, 32 ; Gran Bretaña, 31 ; República Dominicana, 28 ; Pakistán, 27 ; Turquía, 27 ; Bolivia, 20 ; Nepal, 19 ;
Honduras, 18 ; Africa del Sur, 18 también, Egypto 17, Panamá 16 y España 16. La lista de otros 55 países donde se han reportado muertes
se puede encontrar en el sitio web de la PEC.

Más de la mitad de las víctimas en América Latina

Por región, América Latina lidera con 954 trabajadores de medios muertos por Covid-19, más de la mitad del total, por delante de Asia 485,
Europa 206, África 86 y Norteamérica 57.

El número total de víctimas es ciertamente mayor, porque a veces no se especifica la causa de la muerte de los periodistas o no se anuncia su
muerte. En unos pocos países no existen estadísticas fiables.

Las fuentes del PEC son las asociaciones nacionales de periodistas, los medios locales, los corresponsales regionales del PEC y las redes sociales.

1788 ضحايا كورونا من الصحفيين في 18 شهراً والعدد قابل للزيادة إلى 2000

جنيف في 2 سبتمبر 2021 (حملة الشارة) – أعلنت حملة الشارة الدولية من مقرها في جنيف أن عدد ضحايا كورونا من الصحفيين يرتفع إذ بلغ 1788 في 80 دولة خلال الأشهر الـ 18 الأخيرة منذ بداية الوباء.

وأضافت الحملة أنه خلال شهري يوليو وأغسطس راح ضحية الوباء 117 من الصحفيين أي أكثر من 2 في اليوم. كما زادت حالات الوفيات من الفلبين إلى الجزائر ومن إندونسيسا إلى روسيا ومن البرازيل إلى الولايات المتحدة ومن كوبا إلى بنجلاديش.

وصرح سكرتير حملة الشارة الدولية بليز ليمبان أن الصحفيين من المهن أكثر تعرضا للوباء، في الوقت الذي انخفض فيه التسجيل لضحايا الوباء إلا أن برامج التطعيم ضده غير كافية في معظم الدول.

وأضاف ليمبان أن بعض السياسيين وبعض الإعلاميين ينشرون معلومات خاطئة عن الوباء وبصفة خاصة في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية حيث سقط ضحية للوباء في شهر أغسطس 3 من ألمع الإعلاميين لأنهم رفضوا التطعيم ضد الوباء 2 في فلوريدا وواحد في تنسي.

وحذرت الحملة من أن ظهور أنواع جديدة من الوباء يمكن أن تدفع بالأعداد من ضحايا الوباء إلى 2000 مع نهاية العام.

تأتي البرازيل في مقدمة الدول التي سقط فيها صحفيون من الوباء: 280 ثم تأتي الهند في المرتبة الثانية: 270، وقد عادت الأمور إلى طبيعتها خلال الصيف الحالي بعد تفاقم الحالات في الربيع. ثم تأتي بيرو: 198، المكسيك: 120، كولومبيا: 77، بنجلاديش: 65، إيطاليا: 59 والولايات المتحدة الأمريكية: 55.

ومن بين الدول الأكثر تضرراً: فنزويلا: 53، إكوادور: 51، الأرجنتين: 43، إندونيسيا: 41، روسيا: 33، إيران: 32، بريطانيا: 31، جمهورية الدومينكان: 28، باكستان: 27، تركيا 27، بوليفيا: 20، نيبال 19، هندوراس: 18، جنوب إفريقيا 18.

أكثر من نصف الضحايا توفوا في أمريكا اللاتينية 954، آسيا: 485، أوروبا: 206، إفريقيا 86، أمريكا الشمالية 57.

لمزيد من المعلومات رجاء تصفح موقع الحملة لقائمة الضحايا

21.08.2021. MYANMAR (BURMA): PEC expresses concern over continued harassment to Burmese journalists

by Nava Thakuria, PEC South Asia Representative

Geneva/Guwahati: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the Switzerland based global media rights body, expresses serious concern over the continued harassments to journalists and media workers in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma or Brahmadesh), by the Burmese junta which dethroned the democratically elected government with a military coup on 1 February 2021.

The military rulers have detained nearly one hundred journalists, who dared to question their credential to rule the south-east Asian nation, and over 40 are still behind the bars. The generals, led by Min Aung Hlaing, who has recently declared himself as the Premier of Myanmar, continue to target the media persons with arbitrary raid, detention and arrests. They have otherwise tried to destroy the entity of free press.

“Not only the Burmese journalists, the junta now wants to diktat the foreign media outlets with a proper way of describing the military regime, which grabbed the political power deposing Daw Aung San Suu Kyi led National League for Democracy (NLD) government in NayPieTaw,” said Blaise Lempen, general secretary of PEC.

Recently, the military officials expressed their resentments as the media outlets continue using the term ‘military junta’ to describe the regime and they warned not to repeat the mistake. Specifically indicating the foreign news agencies, which are reporting about
Myanmar, they asked the correspondents to stop using wrong terms and also spread ‘fake news’. Otherwise, the military generals threatened to take of necessary actions.

“This week, two more journalists were detained that increases the number of scribes and other media workers arrested up to 95 since the coup took place. Military personnel had recently arrested outspoken freelance journalist U Sithu Aung Myint and the foreign media contributor Ma Htet Htet Khine from Yangon,” said Aung Zaw, a senior Burmese journalist, while speaking to PEC’s India representative Nava Thakuria from an undisclosed location.

He also added that three women journalists were arrested in the month of July. Released media persons admitted that they were tortured in the name of interrogation during their detention. Families of journalists under detention including Han Thar Nyein, Min Nyo, Mya Wunn Yangon, Myo Myat Myat Pan, Thin Thin Aung, Tu Tu Tha, Than Htike Aung, etc are worried about their safety and security as the Covid-19 is also spreading across the poverty-stricken country.

For records, over one thousand Burmese nationals have lost their lives participating in various protest-demonstrations against the military regime. More than seven thousand people have been arrested and over five thousand individuals are either detained or sentenced, whereas nearly 230,000 ethnic minorities were displaced since the recent military takeover in the land of golden pagodas.

13.08.2021. INDIA. The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) demands probe into Bihar scribe’s death

by Nava Thakuria, PEC India Representative

Geneva/Guwahati: Expressing shock at the mysterious death of a television scribe in Bihar, the Switzerland based media rights body Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) demands an authentic probe into the incidents that led to Manish Kumar Singh’s untimely demise so that the probable culprits can be punished under the law.

It may be mentioned that Manish, who worked for Sudarshan news channel, was missing for some days and his semi-decomposed body was found in Champaran locality on 10 August 2021. Both of his eyes were reportedly removed. Hailed from Paharpur village, the victim’s father (Sanjay Kumar Singh) is also a journalist engaged with a Hindi newspaper.

Sudarshan channel editor Suresh Chavhanke claimed that Manish was kidnaped and murdered. He also added that two individuals namely Mohammad Arsad Alam and Amarendra Singh were arrested by the police in connection with the crime. The outspoken editor alleged that Bihar police was informed about his missing but did nothing as if they ‘waited passively for the murder’.

“After Andhra Pradesh scribe Chenna Keshav’s murder recently, it is the fourth incident of journo-deaths to assailants during 2021 in the populous country. Bihar government, led by Nitish Kumar, should do the needful to punish the culprits under relevant laws as there should be no impunity,” said Blaise Lempen, general secretary of PEC.

Last year, India recorded the highest number of journalists killed worldwide with 15 fatalities among 92 media persons killed in
different countries. PEC documents 48 journalists who lost their lives across the globe since 1st January this year, where Afghanistan tops the list with 6 journo-victims followed by Mexico & Pakistan (4 each), etc.

“India lost two journalists (Ashu Yadav and Sulabh Srivastava) to perpetrators in the first half of 2021. However, it witnessed more
than 270 journalists who fall victims of the Covid-19 pandemic since March 2020,” said Nava Thakuria, PEC’s country representative, adding that the country should consider formulating special protection laws for the media persons at the earliest.

10.08.2021. INDIA. The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) PEC demands thorough probe into journalist Keshav’s murder

by Nava Thakuria, PEC India Representative

Geneva/ Guwahati: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the Switzerland based global media rights body, expresses shock at the murder of journalist Ch. Keshav in Andhra Pradesh of central India and demanded a thorough probe into the incidents which led to his death, so that the culprits can be booked under the law. He is the third journalist to be killed in India this year.

Local media reports reveal that Keshav (35), who worked as a reporter with EV5 youtube channel, was stabbed to death by a suspended police constable with supports from another individual on 8 August 2021 at Nandyal locality of Kurnool district. It is suspected that Chennakeshavalu was targeted because of his reporting on corruptionand gambling issues.

The accused policeman Venkata Subbaiah faced the departmental suspension because of media reports on his illegal activities
including gambling. Hence it is assumed that he intentionally killed the young reporter while calling Keshav for some discussions. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital but he succumbed to injuries.

“Keshav’s murder is the third incident of journo-killings during 2021 in the populous democratic country. The State government, led by YS Jagan MohanReddy, must do the needful to punish the culprits under relevant laws. There must be no impunity,” said Blaise Lempen, general secretary of PEC.

Last year, India recorded the highest number of journalists killed worldwide with 15 fatalities among 92 media persons killed in different countries. According to the PEC, 45 journalists have lost their lives across the globe since 1rst January this year.

“India has slightly improved so far its media casualties to violence compared to last year, even though we have lost the
highest number of journalists to Covid-19 till date in the world,” said Nava Thakuria, PEC’s representative in India, adding that
in the first half of 2021 the south Asian nation lost journalists Ashu Yadav and Sulabh Srivastava to perpetrators.

05.08.2021. MYANMAR 6 MONTHS AFTER THE COUP - The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) demands relief to journalists, political prisoners, as the pandemic claims many victims in the country

by Nava Thakuria, PEC South-Asia Representative

Geneva/Guwahati: Expressing serious concerns over the latest crisis faced by the people of Myanmar (formerly Burma) due to Covid-19 pandemic under a military regime in NayPieTaw, the Switzerland based global media rights body ‘Press Emblem Campaign’ demands all political prisoners including the journalists to be released without any prerequisite.

It may be mentioned that military rulers of south-east Asian nation, have killed at least 945 people, arrested over 7,026, detained (or sentenced) nearly 5,474 and displaced more than 230,000 ethnic minorities since the coup on 1 February 2021, overthrowing the democratically elected Aung San Suu Kyi’s government (even putting the Nobel laureate behind bars).

“The Burmese junta has arrested no less than 98 journalists where 43 scribes are still behind the bars. Moreover, the military authority has crushed the free press compelling a number of media houses to lock their offices and even forced many journalists to go on hide to avoid the harassment (if not arrest) on a daily basis,” said Blaise Lempen, general secretary of PEC. "In times of pandemic it is of the utmost importance that journalists be able to inform freely about the evolution of the disease", he added.

Recently a group of Nobel peace laureates came out with the statement to call for release of Myanmar’s leading women rights defender Thin Thin Aung, who cofounded the Mizzima News group based in Yangon. Ms Aung is among hundreds who are facing imprisonments over materials (remain unpleasant to junta) published and broadcast by media outlets.

“Mizzima is outlawed and our offices are repeatedly raided. We are now operating from hideouts,” said Soe Myint, the chief editor of Mizzima group while speaking to PEC’s India representative Nava Thakuria, adding that despite all threats and troubles multiple media outlets of Mizzima continue to operate with primary aim to oppose the military coup and help restoring multi-party democracy in Myanmar.

Meanwhile, exile activists argued that the military chief Min Aung Hlaing is trying to legitimise the Burmese junta with asking
international community for offering humanitarian aids to Myanmar’s 60 million people. They pointed out that Myanmar is presently facing the pandemic with lesser number of vaccinated citizens and low-quality medical cares across the country.

“The human rights and humanitarian disasters have now been compounded in Myanmar following the latest wave of flood. The military junta has weaponized both the corona and flood for its own political gain,” said Khin Ohmar, chairperson of Progressive Voice, a participatory rights-based policy research and advocacy organization, while responding to PEC queries, adding that the junta is using relief efforts to the health disaster as a ploy to gain its much-needed legitimacy.

06.07.2021. PEC press release (French, Spanish and Arabic after English)

PEC: 35 journalists killed in first six months of 2021

Geneva, July 6, 2021 (PEC) In the first six months of the year, 35 journalists were killed in 21 countries around the world, the Emblem Campaign Press (PEC) reported on Tuesday. Afghanistan was the most dangerous country with five journalists killed.

The casualty figure is stable compared to the previous year: during the same period last year, also 35 media workers were killed (92 for the whole of 2020).

Five victims have been reported in Afghanistan since the start of the year, three in Mexico and three in Pakistan. Two victims were reported in the following countries: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, and India.

One victim in the following countries: Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Gaza, Greece, Haiti, Lebanon, Nigeria, Somalia, Turkey, United States of America, and Yemen.

Most of the victims were targeted intentionally. Almost half of the journalists were killed in an area of armed conflict (Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Nagorno-Karabakh, Gaza, Tigray, North Kivu, tribal areas in Pakistan, Somalia). Terrorist groups are responsible for nearly a third of the casualties.

"The PEC strongly condemns these killings and urges the local authorities to shed light on the causes of these crimes in order to arrest and prosecute those responsible," said PEC General Secretary Blaise Lempen. "For the remainder of the year, we are particularly concerned about the situation of the media in Afghanistan, and in particular of women journalists in that country, due to the withdrawal of NATO troops," he added.

At least 1580 journalists dead from Covid-19

The Covid-19 pandemic also continues to claim many victims among media workers. Since March 2020, the PEC has identified more than 1580 journalists dead from Covid-19 in 78 countries.

The number of victims slowed during the month of June, especially in India, with around 60 dead, compared to more than 200 in the world 
in May. Latin America witnessed the highest casualties, with more than half of the victims. During the month of June, the highest number of 
journalists dead from Covid-19 was recorded in Brazil, one every 2 days.

Until June 30, 2021, the PEC counted the highest number of victims in 20 countries: India (259) ahead of Brazil (247), Peru (163) and Mexico (115).

Next in line are Colombia with 69 dead, Italy 58, Bangladesh 54, Ecuador 51, the United States 49, Venezuela 47, Argentina 36, Iran 32, Great Britain 30, the Dominican Republic 27, the Pakistan 27, Turkey 27 also, Russia 25, Nepal 19, Bolivia 18, and Panama 16.

The sources of the PEC are the national associations of journalists, the local media, the regional correspondents of the PEC and social networks.

PEC : 35 journalistes tués au cours des six premiers mois de 2021

Genève, le 6 juillet 2021 (PEC) Au cours des six premiers mois de l’année, 35 journalistes ont été tués dans 21 pays dans le monde, a indiqué mardi la Presse Emblème Campagne (PEC). L’Afghanistan a été le pays le plus dangereux avec cinq journalistes tués.

Le chiffre des victimes est stable d’une année sur l’autre : au cours de la même période de l’an dernier, également 35 travailleurs des médias avaient été tués (92 pour toute l’année 2020).

Cinq victimes sont à déplorer en Afghanistan depuis le début de l’année, trois au Mexique et trois au Pakistan. Viennent ensuite avec deux victimes dans chaque pays : l’Azerbaïdjan, le Bangladesh, le Brésil, le Burkina Faso, l’Inde, et l’Éthiopie.

Une victime est à déplorer dans les pays suivants : Colombie, Équateur, Grèce, États-Unis, Gaza, Haïti, Liban, Nigeria, République démocratique du Congo, Somalie, Turquie, Yémen.

La plupart des victimes ont été visées intentionnellement. Près de la moitié des journalistes ont été tués dans une zone de conflit armé (Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Haut-Karabakh, Gaza, Tigré, Nord Kivu, zones tribales au Pakistan, Somalie). Des groupes terroristes sont à l’origine de près d’un tiers des victimes.

« La PEC condamne fermement ces meurtres et exhorte les autorités locales à faire toute la lumière sur les causes de ces crimes afin d’en arrêter et juger les responsables», a déclaré le secrétaire général de la PEC Blaise Lempen. « Pour la suite de l’année, nous sommes particulièrement inquiets pour la situation des médias en Afghanistan, et en particulier des femmes journalistes dans ce pays, en raison du retrait des troupes de l’OTAN», a-t-il ajouté.

Au moins 1580 journalistes morts du Covid-19

La pandémie du Covid-19 continue par ailleurs de faire de nombreuses victimes parmi les travailleurs des médias. Depuis mars 2020, la PEC a recensé plus de 1580 journalistes morts du Covid-19 dans 78 pays.

Le nombre des victimes a ralenti au cours de mois de juin, en particulier en Inde, avec une soixantaine de morts, contre plus de 200 dans le monde en mai. Il reste le plus élevé en Amérique latine, avec plus de la moitié des victimes. Au cours du mois de juin le plus grand nombre de journalistes morts du Covid-19 a été enregistré au Brésil, un tous les 2 jours.

Jusqu’au 30 juin 2021, la PEC a dénombré le plus grand nombre de victimes en Inde (259) devant le Brésil (247), le Pérou (163) et le Mexique (115).

Viennent ensuite la Colombie avec 69 morts, l’Italie 58, le Bangladesh 54, l’Équateur 51, les États-Unis 49, le Venezuela 47, l’Argentine 36, l’Iran 32, la Grande-Bretagne 30, la République dominicaine 27, le Pakistan 27, la Turquie 27 également, la Russie 25, le Népal 19, la Bolivie 18, le Panama 16 pour les 20 premiers pays les plus touchés.

Les sources de la PEC sont les associations nationales de journalistes, les médias locaux, les correspondants régionaux de la PEC et les réseaux sociaux.

PEC: 35 periodistas asesinados en los primeros seis meses de 2021

Ginebra, 6 de julio de 2021 (PEC). - En los primeros seis meses del año, 35 periodistas fueron asesinados en 21 países de todo el mundo, informó este martes la Campaña Emblema de Prensa (PEC, por sus siglas en inglés).

Afganistán fue el país más peligroso con cinco periodistas muertos.

La cifra de víctimas es estable año tras año: durante el mismo período del año pasado, también murieron 35 trabajadores de los medios de comunicación (92 por todo el 2020).

Se han reportado cinco víctimas en Afganistán desde principios de año, tres en México y tres en Pakistán. Luego vienen con dos víctimas en cada país: Azerbaiyán, Bangladés, Brasil, Burkina Faso, India y Etiopía.

Una víctima debe ser deplorada en los siguientes países: Colombia, Ecuador, Grecia, Estados Unidos, Gaza, Haití, Líbano, Nigeria, República Democrática del Congo, Somalia, Turquía, Yemen.

La mayoría de las víctimas fueron atacadas intencionalmente. Casi la mitad de los periodistas murieron en una zona de conflicto armado (Afganistán, Burkina Faso, Nagorno-Karabaj, Gaza, Tigray, Kivu del Norte, áreas tribales en Pakistán, Somalia).

Los grupos terroristas son responsables de casi un tercio de las víctimas.

"La PEC condena enérgicamente estos asesinatos e insta a las autoridades locales a esclarecer las causas de estos crímenes para poder arrestar y llevar ante la justicia a los responsables", dijo el secretario general de la PEC, Blaise Lempen.

“Para el resto del año, estamos particularmente preocupados por la situación de los medios en Afganistán, y en particular por las mujeres periodistas en ese país, debido a la retirada de las tropas de la OTAN”, agregó.

Al menos 1.580 periodistas muertos por Covid-19

La pandemia de Covid-19 también continúa cobrando muchas víctimas entre los trabajadores de los medios. Desde marzo de 2020, la PEC ha identificado al menos a 1.580 periodistas muertos por Covid-19 en 78 países.

El número de víctimas disminuyó durante el mes de junio, especialmente en la India, con alrededor de 60 muertos, frente a más de 200 en 
el mundo en mayo. Las cifras más altas se encuentran en América Latina, con más de la mitad de las víctimas. Durante el mes de junio se 
registró en Brasil el mayor número de periodistas muertos por Covid-19, uno cada 2 días.

Hasta el 30 de junio de 2021, la PEC contabilizó el mayor número de víctimas en India (259) por delante de Brasil (247), Perú (163) y México (115).

Luego viene Colombia con 69 muertos, Italia 58, Bangladés 54, Ecuador 51, Estados Unidos 49, Venezuela 47, Argentina 36, Irán 32, Gran Bretaña 30, República Dominicana 27, Pakistán 27, Turquía 27 también, Rusia 25, Nepal 19, Bolivia 18, Panamá 16 para los primeros 20 países más afectados.

Las fuentes de la PEC son las asociaciones nacionales de periodistas, los medios locales, los corresponsales regionales de la PEC y las redes sociales.

بيان صحفي

حملة الشارة: 35 صحفياً قُتِلوا في النصف الأول من العام

جنيف في 6 يوليو (حملة الشارة الدولية) – أعلنت حملة الشارة الدولية أن 35 صحفياً قُتِلوا في النصف الأول من العام الحالي، وأن أفغانستان شهدت أسوأ هذه الحوادث بمقتل 5 صحفيين.

وأكدت حملة الشارة، في بيانها، أن رقم النصف الأول من العام الحالي هو نفس رقم النصف الأول من العام الماضي، في حين قُتِل 92 صحفياً في عام 2020 بأكمله.

وسجل 5 قتلى من الصحفيين في أفغانستان و3 في المكسيك و3 في باكستان، و2 في كلٍ من أذريبجان، بنجلاديش، البرازيل، بوركينا فاسو، إثيوبيا والهند.

وصحفي واحد قُتِل في كلٍ من كولومبيا وجمهورية الكونغو الديمقراطية وإكوادور وغزة واليونان وهايتي، ولبنان، ونيجيريا، والصومال، وتركيا، والولايات المتحدة الأمريكية واليمن.

وقد تم استهداف معظم الصحفيين الذين قُتِلوا عن عمد وقُتِل نصفهم على الأقل في مناطق النزاع المسلح: أفغانستان، بوركينا فاسو، ناجورنو كاراباخ، غزة، شمال كيفو، المناطق القبلية في باكستان والصومال، وقد كانت الجماعات الإرهابية مسئولة عن هذه الجرائم في ثلثي الضحايا.

وقد صرح سكرتير عام حملة الشارة بليز ليمبان بأن الحملة تدين بشدة هذه الجرائم، وتطالب السلطات المحلية بالتحقيق في أسباب هذه الجرائم من أجل إلقاء القبض على مرتكبيها وتقديمهم للمحاكمة.

وأضاف ليمبان أن الحملة تظل قلقة للغاية من الآن وحتى نهاية العام عن حال الإعلام في أفغانستان، وبصفة خاصة وضع النساء من الصحفيين بسبب انسحاب قوات حلف الأطلنطي من هناك.

ضحايا كورونا من الصحفيين أكثر من 1580

وأوضحت حملة الشارة أنه منذ مارس 2020 قُتِل من وباء كورونا 1580 صحفياً في 78 دولة، وانخفضت أعداد الوفيات من كورونا في شهر يونيو بوفاة 60 صحفياً من الوباء بالمقارنة بأكثر من 200 في مايو. وشهدت أمريكا اللاتينية أعلى معدلات الوفيات من كورونا فقد تُوفِى نصف العدد الإجمالي بدول القارة.

وحتى 30 يونيو 2021 سجلت حملة الشارة أعلى أعداد للوفيات من كورونا في 20 دولة: الهند: 259، ثم البرازيل: 247، بيرو: 163، المكسيك: 115، كولومبيا: 69، إيطاليا: 58، إكوادور: 51، الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية: 49، فنزويلا 47، الأرجنتين: 36، إيران: 32، بريطانيا: 30، جمهورية الدومينكان: 27، باكستان: 27، تركيا: روسيا: 25، نيبال 19، بوليفيا: 18 وبنما: 16.

لمزيد من المعلومات برجاء تصفح موقع الحملة:

10.06.2021. Why so many journalists are dying from Covid-19 in Brazil?

By the PEC Representative in Brazil R. M. (anonymized for security reasons)

June 10, 2021, São Paulo/Geneva (PEC). According to PEC’s report, at least 239 media professionals had died of Covid-19 infection from March/2020 to the end of May/2021.

This number is overwhelming by itself and only compares to the category losses in Peru (163) and India (246) during the same period.

On closer inspection, the situation in Brazil is of major concern if the total number of active journalists in the country is factored in – approximately 42,300, according to data collected by the journalistic web portal Comunique-se 360 in 2019. It means around 0.6% of the total Brazilian media workers died from Covid-19 in this 15-month period.

According to the UN, currently Brazil has a population of around 214,500,000. Up until May/2021, the Government officially recognized the deaths of 465,000 inhabitants to Covid-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, or approximately 0.2% of the whole population.

The triple among journalists

In comparison to the general population, the casualties’ rate has been the triple among journalists in this South American nation.

The death toll in Brazilian journalism stands out even against other professions particularly exposed to the virus. The Ministry of Health estimates a total of 6,650,000 health workers in the country, among doctors, nurses, biomedics, PE professionals, pharmacists, physiotherapists, dentists, psychologists, radiologists, nutrition specialists, hospital managers, beauticians, cosmetologists, and biologists. They have been accounted as essential workers since day 1. Arpen-Brasil, the national association of authorities in charge of emitting death certificates, had recorded 1,411 deceased among these professionals from March/2020 to February/202 – 0.02% of the total. Ten times less deaths than within the general population.

Health professionals are possibly the only class which had access to earlier testing, and many of them also had access to hospital care when necessary. Except for a few notable Brazilian medical authorities, almost every worker in this category has observed social distancing and mask wearing rules and did not retort to unproven and inefficient treatments. The category also encompasses various professions. These factors might explain why they were not as badly affected, even though they are in the thick of the battle.

Still comparing: the information from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics dates from 2018, but it indicates the USA have lost about 0,13% of a journalist workforce of at least 37,200. The number of media workers in India is not readily available, but the business data platform Statista estimates a figure of 93,000 workers just in print media, so the Covid-19 toll among Indian journalists would account for more than 0.25% (a conservative estimate).

None of the above information indicates the pandemic is not a grave issue. The losses are enormous and comparable to the worst massacres in History, especially considering many of them were preventable. The percentages are only used as means of comparison.

Underpaid essential workers

As it is expected in a country with such high-income inequality, the virus has taken much more victims within the less favored strata of Brazilian society. Underpaid essential workers, like the ones related to the traffic and transportation group, were severely affected, with approximately 960 casualties just in the city of São Paulo, during the interval from March/2020 to March/2021, as published by the Pólis Institute.

Journalists and communications professionals were ranked as essential workers by Brazilian special pandemic rules (which also included barbers, hairdressers, and gyms, by the way).

In practice, being dimmed essential in Brazil never meant these classes were entitled to more protection from the Government in any form whatsoever, such as financial compensation, supply of masks or face shields, childcare or even a clean work environment. It just meant they were not allowed to stop showing up at their workplaces. They were denied any form of social distancing.

Working in the field

It is widely known many freelancers, reporters and their supporting teams are unable to work from their homes; they must be in the field to witness facts and keep the population informed.

This is not the reality of all press workers, such as editors, redactors, radio broadcasters and many jobs related to TV and Internet media. Even field reporters are not necessarily working in constant contact with infected people, unlike health workers in the front lines of hospitals and clinics.

Journalists in Brazil are mostly professionals with a College degree, or who have at least concluded primary education. They should have had better financial conditions to protect themselves, either at work or under home quarantine. Why is the lethality rate in this category much higher than the one verified in the health sector?

Even the police forces, which took a heavy hit form the virus, show less lethality than reporters. From a total of 513,979 officers in 26 states and a federal district, there were 465 confirmed deaths to the new coronavirus, or 0.09% of the total, as investigated by the G1 portal.

Journalists themselves are worryingly seeking hypothesis. “Fear comes from everywhere. I believe the greater risks in the work routine comes from field reporting, for example in live interviews. As much as we try to be careful, this kind of work usually requires proximity with people we do not meet frequently and know nothing about their level of self-preservation. There is also the risk in covering places with high levels of contagion, such as hospitals and public transportation”, states the journalist and chief editor of Opção newspaper, Marcos Aurélio Silva. “Newsrooms are not completely safe either. It’s a place where professionals gather, share environments and equipment”, he continues.

True information helps saving lives

To journalist Cynthia Fernandes, from Radioweb Agency, the greatest risk faced by the category during the pandemic is the delegitimization of the profession. “We are questioned about fact finding and fact checking as if we were liars”, she vents out.

Aside from being constantly in check, the professional carries the load of receiving news firsthand, even the worst ones, according to Ms. Fernandes. “Exhaustion is greater because there is no truce. News never stops, but we are overtaken by the need to keep constantly connected and updated in a pandemic situation. Following the tragedy so closely gives us illness. Just like health professionals in the heat of the battle, we are also reporting from the front lines”, explains the journalist.

Norian Segatto, head of the health department of FENAJ, reminds the average monthly death rate among Brazilian journalists in the first trimester of 2021 was of 28.6. “The cases investigated so far are the result of the Federal Government’s necropolitics. The numbers show it is urgent for society to take a stance against Jair Bolsonaro’s genocidal government”, he affirms.

Maria José Braga, president of FENAJ, adds that “just like health professionals, the journalist’s category is making a sacrifice to bring the Brazilian population qualified information. The numbers are alarming, but we will keep on fulfilling our duty, because true information also helps saving lives.”

Bolsonaro’s management

Indeed, Bolsonaro’s management of the coronavirus crisis has been classified as the worst in the world, according to a study by the Australian Lowy Institute published in January. Brazilian democratic institutions and state and municipal governments were still able to overcome some of the Central Government’s ineptitude, but they failed to remove Bolsonaro altogether, in spite of growing evidence of his administration’s crimes against the population. The Congress is sitting over 127 impeachment requests by several political parties and social groups. The result is a country with the 2^nd highest official Covid-19 death count, and the 3^rd country in number of cases, as recorded by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Although many journalists were able to maintain quarantine and work from home, they live in this context. In a nation with so many infected, an elevator ride becomes a risk. Taking out the trash and crossing with neighbors in the hallway might result in virus transmission. During the entire year of 2020 the Federal Government discouraged the use of masks and stimulated agglomerations. With the virus moving freely, it is much more likely to acquire the disease while ordering food or taking the dog for a walk. Which is why many journalists probably got infected in their private lives, even if they took precautions.

This concerning level of cases (with an average of 65,900 new daily cases) makes it more dangerous to work in the field. It should be considered that the entire first tier of Federal Government had Covid-19 and took no measures to prevent spreading it to others. Reporters covering politics and interviewing authorities were always at risk, especially considering how violent this Administration has been towards the free press.

Major reform of labor laws

Other relevant motives for the current fate of media workers in Brazil probably emerged many years before the pandemic. In 2016, former President Dilma Rousseff suffered an impeachment in Congress and was succeeded by the Vice President, Michel Temer. He was quick to propose a major reform of labor laws which would solve the unemployment issue, with ratings of 12% in that year.

The proposal met a very favorable and friendly Congress and was approved in record time. It included, among other measures, permission for mass layoffs without consulting unions, reduced fees and fines for unmotivated contract termination, facilitation to demand overtime work, possibility of reducing labor rights without the consent of unions and obstacles for workers to demand compensation in Court. Hiring employees as single-person companies to reduce taxes and labor rights ceased to be a fraud.

Five years later, unemployment peaked to 14.7%. Not just because of the pandemic. In March/2020, the rate was already a staggering 12.6%. Press workers were among the most affected with the legislative reform. As soon as it took effect in 2017, Abril group, a large and traditional Brazilian media enterprise, started a massive layoff which ended with 1,500 terminations by November/2018. Soon after they filed for receivership and stopped or reduced all severance payments.

Other groups followed suit: Folha de S. Paulo, Brazil’s largest newspaper, terminated at least 20 jobs in 2019; SBT (Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão, or Brazilian Television System), the second largest open TV channel in the country, laid off 15 journalists in 2020; Bandeirantes group dismissed another 80 press professionals in 2018. Globo organizations, the largest media conglomerate in the southern hemisphere, reportedly let go of 30 journalists in 2018 and another 15 in 2019, and then reduced wages for some of the remaining staff. Other smaller and regional groups completely shut down their news departments or simply cut them by half.

Some of these journalists found replacement with multinational groups, but since the labor market has not recovered, most had to keep working as freelancers, intermittent, temporary, contract or even unregistered workers, single-person legal entities or had to quit journalism altogether and start a career in another field.

Less access to healthcare

This change usually meant more work and smaller wages. Professional journalism had already lost much of its prestige in Brazilian society. Media in Brazil is notorious for the highly concentrated ownership. Unions lost much of their power and when the new coronavirus broke out communications professionals were forced to keep working in their newsrooms. Many companies did not bother with enforcing safety procedures and protocols. At times they were implemented but were inefficient.

Journalists who lost their jobs also lost access to private healthcare plans and hiring a new one individually can be prohibitively expensive in Brazil. These professionals had to rely on a thinly stretched public system when they got sick. They were subjected to queues for the scarce ICUs, oxygen tanks and intubation kits, same as the rest of the Brazilian population.

Deprived of the protection of a formal job, reporters just could not afford getting sick. There was no more right to a medical leave. Staying in bed at home or in a hospital meant no work and no pay. Probably many had to keep working with Covid-19 symptoms. Some might have taken chloroquine, azithromycin and ivermectin and gone to work, as recommended by the Federal Government.

A heavy blow

New laws were enacted during the first year of the pandemic to help businesses stay open. They mainly involved the possibility of reducing wages or suspending job contracts without terminating them. Again, press personnel took a heavy blow – according to FENAJ, at least 3,930 journalists had up to 25% cuts in their wages, at least 81 were suspended and a minimum of 205 were fired. The possibility of sub notification is high, because not all companies informed the respective unions of these events, as the law requires.

Under precarious employment situations, or suddenly finding themselves with a much-reduced income, many reporters had to pay for their own safety equipment during field work, aside from travel and transportation costs.

Other statistically relevant facts probably contributed to the high death toll of media professionals in the tropical nation. A poll from Comunique-se 360 portal in 2019 showed only 37% of Brazilian journalists are women. Data from WHO indicates men represent most Covid-19 victims. Deaths are also concentrated in the states of São Paulo (19), Amazonas (19), Pará (19) and Rio de Janeiro (15). São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro have together 60,5 million inhabitants and represent the most densely populated area in the country. Amazonas and Pará took no effective measures to protect their population and were severely affected by the virus, lacking hospital beds and oxygen supply during all contagion waves. A more contagious strain of the disease was first detected in Manaus, capital of Amazonas, and soon spread to the rest of the country and abroad.

A perfect storm

Taken together, these factors represented a perfect storm for many Brazilian journalists. Amidst layoffs, income cuts, loss of private healthcare, precarious employment, lack of social protection, unsatisfactory or dangerous working and sanitation conditions, the country has reached the sad mark of more than 200 media workers killed by Covid-19 infection. Whereas the rest of the world saw a reduction in death rates in 2021, Brazil experimented an acceleration. A vaccination plan was put into action, but it’s faltering – the country has yet to inoculate all the priority groups.

Caught between the need to inform and the foreshadowing of a suffocating infectious disease, Brazilian journalists keep working under adversary conditions.

The situation is not hugely different in other Latin American countries like Peru, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Bolivia, all among the most affected countries for journalists in the Covid-19 crisis worldwide, according to PEC. Latin America leads with more than half of the recorded deaths of journalists, and double the number of victims in Asia.

07.06.2021. The pandemic has claimed the lives of more than 1,500 journalists worldwide

PEC press release (French, Spanish and Arabic after English) - list of victims on our page COVID-19

Para português, leia: 
https://mediatalks.uol.com.br/2021/06/07/mais-de-1500-jornalistas-mortos-por-covid-com-india-e-brasil-no-topo-da-lista/


Geneva, June 7, 2021 (PEC) The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) announced in Geneva on Monday that the pandemic has claimed the lives of 
more than 1,500 journalists in 77 countries around the world. We deplore a record number of deaths in May, more than 200 in one month.

"More than six journalists on average died per day as a result of Covid-19 in May, a sad record," said PEC General Secretary Blaise Lempen. 
Of those, at least 95 (three deaths per day) have lost their lives in India where the pandemic has peaked in infections and 26 in Brazil (almost 
one death per day).

“Unfortunately, in developing countries, progress in immunization is insufficient for the pandemic to slow. Journalists remain a particularly 
exposed profession, on the front line, in the fight against the coronavirus”, he added.

The PEC welcomes the fact that authorities in some countries have taken steps to help the families of victimized journalists, which is recognition
for their work in providing information during the pandemic. The PEC also salutes the countries which have included journalists among 
the priority groups for immunization, thus preventing new infections.

The actual number of victims is certainly higher, as the cause of death is sometimes not specified, especially in Africa, and no reliable 
information is available in some countries. The statistics of journalists who have succumbed to the virus depend heavily on media coverage.

India ahead of Brazil

According to the PEC tally, media in India have paid the heaviest price for the novel corona virus, with at least 246 deaths since March 2020. 
Other sources in India report more than 400 deaths (including all workers in the media), with a large number of deaths in rural areas difficult to 
verify.

Brazil follows India closely with 239 journalists who died from the corona virus, ahead of Peru 163 and Mexico 112. Following among the top 
ten most affected countries are Colombia 65, Italy 58, Bangladesh 53, Ecuador 51, United States 49, Iran 32. Next come Argentina 30, Great 
Britain 30, Dominican Republic 27, Pakistan 27, Turkey 27, Russia 21, Venezuela 20, Nepal 19, Bolivia 18, and Panama 16.

Victims have also been recorded since March 2020 in the following countries: Egypt 15, Spain 15, Ukraine 15, Honduras 12, Afghanistan 9, 
France 9, Nigeria 9, South Africa 9, Guatemala 8, Paraguay 8, Nicaragua 7, Uruguay 6, Kenya 5, Cuba 4, Morocco 4, Cameroon 3, Indonesia 3, 
Philippines 3, Salvador 3, Sweden 3, Zimbabwe 3, then with 2 victims in each country: Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, 
Ghana, Guyana, Kazakhstan, Iraq, and Portugal. A victim has been recorded in 25 other countries.

By region, Latin America leads with more than half of the victims, or 795 recorded deaths (+ 122 since the previous count of April 30), ahead 
of Asia 406 (+ 152), Europe 192 (+ 17), Africa 57 (+ 1) and North America 51 (+ 4). The increase since April 30 (+296) includes deaths from 
previous months not recorded before.

The sources of the PEC are the national associations of journalists, the local media, the regional correspondents of the PEC and social networks.

La pandémie a coûté la vie à plus de 1500 journalistes dans le monde

Genève, 7 juin 2021 (PEC) La pandémie a coûté la vie à plus de 1500 journalistes dans 77 pays dans le monde, a annoncé lundi à Genève la Presse Emblème Campagne (PEC). Nous déplorons un nombre record de décès au mois de mai, plus de 200 en un seul mois.

«Plus de six journalistes par jour en moyenne sont morts des suites du Covid-19 au mois de mai, un triste record», a déclaré le secrétaire général de la PEC Blaise Lempen. Sur ce nombre, au moins 95 (trois par jour) ont perdu la vie en Inde où la pandémie a connu un pic d’infections et 26 au Brésil (presque un par jour).

«Malheureusement, dans les pays en développement, les progrès de la vaccination sont insuffisants pour que la pandémie ralentisse. Les journalistes restent une profession particulièrement exposée, en première ligne dans la lutte contre le coronavirus», a-t-il ajouté.

La PEC se félicite du fait que les autorités de certains pays aient pris des mesures pour aider les familles des journalistes victimes, ce qui est une reconnaissance pour leur travail d’information pendant la pandémie. La PEC salue aussi les pays qui ont intégré les journalistes parmi les groupes prioritaires pour la vaccination en prévenant ainsi de nouvelles infections.

Le nombre réel de victimes est certainement supérieur, car la cause des décès n’est parfois pas précisée, en particulier en Afrique, et aucune information fiable n’est disponible dans certains pays. La statistique des journalistes ayant succombé au virus dépend pour beaucoup de la couverture médiatique.

L’Inde devant le Brésil

Selon le décompte de la PEC, les médias en Inde ont payé le plus lourd tribut au nouveau coronavirus, avec au moins 246 décès depuis mars 2020. D’autres sources en Inde font état de plus de 400 morts (en incluant tous les travailleurs des médias), avec un grand nombre de décès dans les zones rurales difficilement vérifiables.

Le Brésil suit de près l’Inde avec 239 journalistes décédés du coronavirus, devant le Pérou 163 et le Mexique 112. Suivent parmi les dix premiers pays les plus touchés la Colombie 65, l’Italie 58, le Bangladesh 53, l’Équateur 51, les États-Unis 49, l’Iran 32. Viennent ensuite l’Argentine 30, la Grande-Bretagne 30, la République dominicaine 27, le Pakistan 27, la Turquie 27, la Russie 21, le Venezuela 20, le Népal 19, la Bolivie 18, et le Panama 16.

Des victimes ont également été répertoriées depuis mars 2020 dans les pays suivants: Égypte 15, Espagne 15, Ukraine 15, Honduras 12, Afghanistan 9, Afrique du Sud 9, France 9, Nigeria 9, Guatemala 8, Paraguay 8, Nicaragua 7, Uruguay 6, Kenya 5, Cuba 4, Maroc 4, Cameroun 3, Indonésie 3, Philippines 3, Salvador 3, Suède 3, Zimbabwe 3, puis avec 2 victimes dans chaque pays: Algérie, Autriche, Belgique, Canada, Chili, Costa Rica, Ghana, Guyana, Kazakhstan, Irak, et Portugal. Une victime a été recensée dans 25 autres pays.

Par région, l’Amérique latine arrive en tête avec plus de la moitié des victimes, soit 795 décès recensés (+ 122 depuis le précédent décompte du 30 avril), devant l’Asie 406 (+ 152), l’Europe 192 (+ 17), l’Afrique 57 (+ 1) et l’Amérique du Nord 51 (+ 4). L’augmentation depuis le 30 avril (+296) inclut des décès des mois précédents non enregistrés précédemment.

Les sources de la PEC sont les associations nationales de journalistes, les médias locaux, les correspondants régionaux de la PEC et les réseaux sociaux.

La pandemia se ha cobrado la vida de más de 1.500 periodistas en todo el mundo.

Ginebra, 7 de junio de 2021 (PEC) La pandemia se ha cobrado la vida de más de 1.500 periodistas en 77 países de todo el mundo, anunció la Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), en Ginebra, el lunes. Lamentamos un número récord de muertes en mayo, más de 200 en un solo mes.

"Más de seis periodistas por día, en promedio, murieron como resultado de Covid-19 en mayo, un triste récord", dijo el secretario general de la PEC, Blaise Lempen. De ellos, al menos 95 (tres muertos por día) han perdido la vida en la India, donde la pandemia ha alcanzado su punto máximo en infecciones, y 26 en Brasil (casi uno al día).

"Desafortunadamente, en los países en desarrollo, el progreso en la inmunización es insuficiente para que la pandemia se desacelere. Los periodistas siguen siendo una profesión particularmente expuesta, en la primera línea de la lucha contra el coronavirus”, agregó.

La PEC acoge con satisfacción el hecho de que las autoridades de algunos países hayan tomado medidas para ayudar a las familias de los periodistas victimizados, lo que es un reconocimiento a su labor de brindar información durante la pandemia. La PEC también saluda a los países que han incluido periodistas entre los grupos prioritarios para la vacunación, previniendo así nuevas infecciones.

El número real de víctimas es ciertamente mayor, ya que, a veces, no se especifica la causa de muerte, especialmente en África, y en algunos países no se dispone de información confiable. Las estadísticas de los periodistas que han sucumbido al virus dependen, en gran medida, de la cobertura de los medios.

India por delante de Brasil

Según el recuento de la PEC, los medios en la India han pagado el precio más alto por el nuevo coronavirus, con al menos 246 muertes desde marzo de 2020. Otras fuentes en la India informan más de 400 muertes (incluidos todos los trabajadores de los medios), con un gran número de muertes en áreas rurales que son difíciles de verificar.

Brasil sigue de cerca a la India con 239 periodistas que murieron a causa del coronavirus, por delante de Perú, 163 ; y México, 112. Entre los diez países más afectados se encuentran Colombia 65, Italia 58, Bangladesh 53, Ecuador 51, Estados Unidos 49, Irán 32. Enseguida vienen Argentina 30, Gran Bretaña 30, República Dominicana 27, Pakistán 27, Turquía 27, Rusia 21, Venezuela 20, Nepal 19, Bolivia 18 y Panamá 16.

También se han registrado víctimas desde marzo de 2020 en los siguientes países: Egipto 15, España 15, Ucrania 15, Honduras 12, Afganistán 9, Francia 9, Nigeria 9, Sudáfrica 9, Guatemala 8, Paraguay 8, Nicaragua 7, Uruguay 6, Kenia 5, Cuba 4, Marruecos 4, Camerún 3, Indonesia 3, Filipinas 3, El Salvador 3, Suecia 3, Zimbabue 3. Luego, con 2 víctimas en cada país: Argelia, Austria, Bélgica, Canadá, Chile, Costa Rica, Ghana, Guyana, Kazajstán, Irak y Portugal. Se ha registrado una víctima en otros 25 países.

Por región, América Latina lidera con más de la mitad de las víctimas, o 795 muertes registradas (+ 122 desde el conteo anterior del 30 de abril), por delante de Asia 406 (+ 152), Europa 192 (+ 17), África 57 (+ 1) y América del Norte 51 (+ 4). El aumento desde el 30 de abril (+296) incluye muertes de meses anteriores no registradas anteriormente.

Las fuentes de la PEC son las asociaciones nacionales de periodistas, los medios locales, los corresponsales regionales de la PEC y las redes sociales.

بيان حملة الشارة الدولية

وباء كورونا يحصد أكثر من 1500 صحفي في العالم

جنيف في 7 يونيو 2021 (حملة الشارة) – أعلنت حملة الشارة الدولية من جنيف أن وباء كورونا تسبب في وفاة أكثر من 1500 صحفي في العالم في 77 دولة، وأن شهر مايو شهد أعلى معدلات الوفيات بين الصحفيين بوفاة 200 صحفي.

صرح سكرتير عام الحملة بليز ليمبان أنه في المتوسط تُوفى 6 صحفيين يومياً من الوباء في مايو، وهو رقم قياسي، ومن بينهم على الأقل 95 بمعدل 3 وفيات يومياً في الهند، حيث انتشار الوباء بشكل كبير، و26 في البرازيل بمعدل وفاة واحدة في اليوم.

وأضاف ليمبان أنه للأسف فإن التطعيم غير كافٍ في الدول النامية لمعالجة الوباء، وتظل مهنة الصحافة خطرة في مواجهة الوباء.

ورحبت حملة الشارة الدولية بمواقف السلطات والنقابات الصحفية في بعض الدول التي تقوم بمساعدة أسر الصحفيين ضحايا الوباء، وهو اعتراف بعملهم في متابعة والتنبيه إلى خطورة الوباء. كما تحيى حملة الشارة الدول التي أدمجت الصحفيين في الصفوف الأولى للفئات التي تحتاج إلى تطعيم لمنع إصابات جديدة.

ويبدو أن عدد الضحايا بين الصحفيين أكبر من الأعداد المسجلة وبصفة خاصة في إفريقيا، ولا توجد معلومات موثقة في بعض الدول، وإن الأرقام مسجلة من خلال التغطية الإعلامية.

Anchor Anchor الهند قبل البرازيل

وطبقاً لأرقام حملة الشارة فإن الهند تأتي في المقدمة بوفاة 246 من الصحفيين منذ مارس 2020، مع الأخذ في الاعتبار أن بعض الأرقام تشير إلى وفاة أكثر من 400 صحفي في الهند، وأن عدداً كبيراً منهم في المناطق الريفية. Anchor Anchor

ثم تأتي البرازيل في المرتبة الثانية بوفاة 239 صحفياً متقدمة على بيرو 163، ثم المكسيك: 112، ثم كولومبيا: 65، إيطاليا: 58، بنجلاديش: 53، إيكوادور: 51، الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية: 49، إيران: 32، فالأرجنتين: 30، بريطانيا: 30، جمهورية الدومينكان: 27، باكستان: 27، تركيا: 27، روسيا: 21، فنزويلا: 20، نيبال: 19، بوليفيا: 18، وبنما: 16.

كما تم تسجيل منذ مارس 2020 وفاة 15 صحفياً في مصر، و12 في هندوراس، و9 في أفغانستان و9 في فرنسا، و9 في جنوب إفريقيا، و8 في جواتيمالا، و8 في باراجواي، و7 في نيكاراجوا، و6 في أوروجواي، و5 في كينيا، و4 في كوبا، و4 في المغرب، و3 في الكاميرون و3 في إندونيسيا، و3 في الفلبين، و3 في السلفادور، و3 في السويد، و3 في زيمبابوي، ثم 2 في كلٍ من الجزائر والنمسا وبلجيكا وكندا وشيلي وكوستاريكا وغانا وجويانا وكازاخستان والعراق والبرتغال. وصحفي واحد في 25 دولة أخرى.

تأتي قارة أمريكا اللاتينية في المقدمة بـ 795 وفاة بين الصحفيين أي بزيادة 122 منذ أرقام 30 إبريل، فآسيا 406 بزيادة 152، فأوروبا 192 بزيادة 17، فإفريقيا 57 بزيادة 1، فأمريكا الشمالية 51 بزيادة 4. وتأتي الزيادة منذ 30 إبريل الماضي بعدد 296 التي تشمل وفيات من أشهر سابقة لم تسجل من قبل.

تظل مصادر حملة الشارة هي النقابات الوطنية للصحفيين والإعلام المحلي ومراسلي حملة الشارة في العالم وشبكات التواصل الاجتماعي.

لمزيد من المعلومات برجاء تصفح موقع الشارة:

05.06.2021. Myanmar Military Intensifies Crackdown on Journalists: The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) demands unconditional release of all scribes in Myanmar

by Nava Thakuria, PEC South Asia Representative

Geneva/Guwahati: As the imprisonment of scribes and other democratic activists under arbitrary laws becomes a new normal in Myanmar
(formerly known as Burma), the Switzerland based media rights body Press Emblem Campaign (https://pressemblem.ch/) urges the military
regime in NayPieTaw to release all media workers unreservedly.

The military junta led by general Min Aung Hlaing is presently trying its best to control the public outrages since the south-east Asian
nation faced the coup on 1 February throwing the elected government virtually led by Nobel laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi out of legitimate
power. The civil disobedient movement, called by NLD chief Suu Kyi has already resulted in the killing of over 840 demonstrators by the
security forces.

At least 85 journalists were arrested in the last four months where over 50 scribes are still behind the bars as they are facing a newly
revised law on spreading wrong information. Lately two reporters namely Ko Aung Kyaw (associated with Democratic Voice of Burma) and Ko
Zaw Zaw (working for Mizzima media group) were imprisoned by a military court for two years because of their coverages on public
unrests.

The military personnel targeted the news industries with cancelling their licences, slowing down the internet services and also physically assaulting the media workers in various occasions. Even foreign journalists are also not spared as Danny Fenster, who edits Frontier Myanmar magazine, was picked up by the armed forces recently while he was about to board a flight to his home in USA.

Mizzima chief editor Soe Myint informed PEC south & southeast Asia representative Nava Thakuria that Mr Zaw became the sixth Mizzima
staff to be detained by the militaries. Five of Mizzima members including its co-founder Thin Thin Aung are currently in jail facing
three years of imprisonment. They are sentenced under section 505(a) of the penal code, which makes it a crime to publish any alleged
rumour or misinformation with intent to cause alarm among the public or incite them to commit a crime against the government.

“We always believe and pursue that journalism can not be a crime. The media fraternity in Myanmar must get the freedom to work fearless,”
asserted PEC general secretary Blaise Lempen adding that three more journalists engaged with DVB were sentenced to seven months of
imprisonment by a Thai court as they fled Myanmar to enter Thailand recently. Lempen also demands their release and requested the Thai
government not to extradite them to Myanmar hurriedly.

On the occasion of a press conference and the inauguration of the statues of David Dormino in Geneva, the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) signed the Geneva call to free Julian Assange and launched an urgent appeal to the new United States administration and to President Joe Biden to rescind their request for extradition to the United States and to authorize the British judicial system to free Julian Assange immediately, for humanitarian reasons. It is time to close this case, which has already gone on far too long, and to allow Julian Assange to join his family and return to his country.

Photo pec: the statues of whistleblowers Snowden, Assange and Manning are installed on the pier of Bains des Pâquis in front of the Jet d'eau in Geneva (with left on the fourth chair the PEC Secretary-General Blaise Lempen)

Read below the speech of PEC Secretary-General at the press conference (English and French) and the Geneva call to free Julian Assange (English and French)

To sign the GENEVA CALL, go to: https://pressclub.ch/gva-freeassange/

or: https://www.change.org/p/la-justice-du-royaume-uni-gen%C3%A8ve-lance-un-appel-pour-lib%C3%A9rer-assange

Watch the video ot the press conference on: https://pressclub.ch/gva-freeassange/

Speech of Blaise Lempen, PEC Secretary-General at the press conference (français ci-dessous):

"Just a few words to express our journalist association’s support of the Geneva Call to free Julian Assange.

Thanks first of all to David Dormino, to Anything to Say and to the Swiss Press Club. The worst thing of all to be erased from memory.

With the support of the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), David Dormino’s statues came to Geneva already in September 2015. They were then exhibited for a week at the place des Nations, in front of the headquarters of the United Nations.

We could not imagine at the time that, six years later, we would still be right where we were then.

The blind obstinacy of the judicial system and the arbitrary detention of which Julian Assange has been the victim for more than 10 years will remain, in my opinion, one of the great miscarriages of justice of the twenty-first century.

Before his detention, we received Julian Assange several times at press conferences in Geneva. I remember in particular his presentation at the Swiss Press Club on 4 November 2010, before some one hundred journalists. At the time he was denouncing the refusal of the United States to investigate the revelations published by WikiLeaks, and he spoke of a request for political asylum in Switzerland following the attacks of which he was the target.

Like other journalists, we have abundantly used the information published by Wikileaks, in particular regarding the wars in Iraq and in Afghanistan. The least we can do now is to mobilize to end the psychological torture that he is subjected to.

We are launching an appeal to the new United States administration and to President Joe Biden to rescind their request for extradition to the United States and to authorize the British judicial system to free Julian Assange immediately, for humanitarian reasons. It is time to close this case, which has already gone on far too long, and to allow Julian Assange to join his family and return to his country."

Geneva, 4 June 2021.

"Quelques mots pour exprimer le soutien de notre association de journalistes à l’Appel de Genève pour la libération de Julian Assange.

Merci d’abord à David Dormino, à Anything to Say et au Club suisse de la presse, car le pire de tout c’est l’oubli.

Avec le soutien de la Presse Emblème Campagne (PEC), les statues de David Dormino sont déjà venues à Genève, en septembre 2015. Elles avaient alors été exposées une semaine sur la place des Nations, devant le siège de l’ONU.

Nous n’imaginions pas à l’époque que près de six ans plus tard, nous en serions au même point.

L’acharnement juridique et la détention arbitraire dont Julian Assange est la victime depuis plus de 10 ans resteront à mon avis comme l’une des grandes erreurs judiciaires du XXIe siècle.

Avant sa détention, nous avions accueilli Julian Assange plusieurs fois pour des conférences de presse à Genève. Je me souviens en particulier de sa prestation au Club suisse de la presse le 4 novembre 2010, devant une centaine de journalistes. Il avait alors dénoncé le refus des États-Unis d’enquêter sur les révélations publiées par WikiLeaks et évoqué une demande d’asile politique en Suisse à la suite des attaques dont il était la cible.

Comme d’autres journalistes, nous avons largement utilisé les informations de WikiLeaks, en particulier sur le déroulement de la guerre en Irak et en Afghanistan. La moindre des choses est donc aujourd’hui de se mobiliser pour que la torture psychologique dont il est la victime prenne fin.

Nous lançons un appel à la nouvelle administration américaine et au président Joe Biden pour qu’ils mettent fin à leur demande d’extradition vers les États-Unis et autorisent la justice britannique à libérer Julian Assange dans les plus brefs délais pour des raisons humanitaires. Il est temps de classer cette affaire qui a duré trop longtemps et de permettre à Julian Assange de retrouver sa famille et son pays."

Genève, le 4 juin 2021.

At the press conference in Geneva (from right to left):

Nils Melzer
United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture
Stella Morris
Fiancée of Julian Assange
Frédérique Perler
Mayor of Geneva
Yves Daccord
Director-general ICRC (2010 – 2020)
Carlo Sommaruga
Member of the Swiss Parliament
Antoine Vey
Attorney of Julian Assange
Christophe Deloire

Director General Reporters without Borders

Jean Rossiaud
Former parlamentarier, inititiave swiss visa for Assange

Davide Dormino
Sculptor AnythingToSay?

04.06.2021. THE GENEVA CALL TO FREE JULIAN ASSANGE (open for signature)

We, the citizens of Geneva and beyond, launch the "Geneva Call" to request the immediate release of Julian Assange. In severe isolation at the Belmarsh high security prison in London, the founder of WikiLeaks is threatened with extradition to the United States where he faces a prison sentence of 175 years. His only crime is to have told the truth!

In the name of respect for inalienable human rights and the values promoted by Geneva-based human rights organizations, we request:
- the British authorities to refuse the extradition of Julian Assange and to give him his freedom

- the U.S. government to drop the charges against Julian Assange without any further delay
- all democratic states, including Switzerland, to provide Julian Assange with a safe haven from further prosecution for the WikiLeaks publications
- International organizations and non-governmental organizations in Geneva to use their skills and authorities to help free Julian Assange.
- the media to continue to report courageously, independently and impartially on the Assange case and its implications for freedom of expression and freedom to investigate and publish.
- the people of Geneva, Switzerland and the world to support the Geneva Call for the immediate release of Julian Assange.

On January 4, the British judiciary refused to extradite Julian Assange on the grounds that his life would be at risk in the US prison system. Arguments about transparency and Julian Assange's right to publish, however, were dismissed. An appeal by the U.S. Department of Justice is pending and the risk of extradition remains, as does the threat of unprecedented restrictions on press freedom.

Julian Assange has been arbitrarily detained for more than ten years in conditions that, according to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer, fall under "psychological torture or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment". Julian Assange is being prosecuted in the United States on 17 charges (+ 1 other) under the Espionage Act, a law dating back more than 100 years, which can earn him 175 years in prison.

His fault? To have published some 700,000 classified documents, in particular on the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, often in collaboration with major media such as the New York Times, The Guardian, Le Monde or the ABC channel. In particular, he revealed a video of the American army showing the massacre of a dozen civilians including two journalists from a helicopter.

The documents published by WikiLeaks revealed acts and methods of operation in violation of the Geneva Conventions and
human rights. None of these violations and war crimes have been prosecuted, while the person who revealed them has been subjected to persecution for more than ten years. This is the ultimate paradox, a flagrant denial of justice, an insult to human dignity and a culpable disregard for the rule of law.

Julian Assange must be released immediately as there is no justification for holding him in near total isolation for so long. The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has been denouncing the illegal imprisonment of Julian Assange for more than five years. Today, his physical and mental health is seriously deteriorating according to witnesses who have been able to visit him.

In the name of respect for human rights and the traditions, norms and values promoted by Geneva-based humanitarian organizations, Julian Assange must be released without delay.

Julian Assange must be released immediately because his revelations serve a basic and essential public interest. Citizens not only have a right to know, they must know. The very notion of espionage induced by the reference to the Espionage Act is absurd. By making public proven information of obvious public interest, the founder of WikiLeaks is performing a salutary act of transparency in the exact opposite of an act of espionage. Julian Assange exercised his freedom of speech, which is guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution as well as in every democracy.

The editor of WikiLeaks revealed information of fundamental public interest that the state itself should have made public because of its obligation to inform the citizenry. Julian Assange has made a unique and remarkable contribution to public interest journalism, transparency and government accountability. His courageous and tenacious contribution has been widely recognized by the media
and freedom of expression community, which has honored Julian Assange with some of the most prestigious journalism awards.

Julian Assange must be released immediately because the case against him constitutes an intolerable threat and pressure on investigative journalists. The smear campaign against the Wikileaks founder and the heavy charges against him are a warning to any whistleblower or journalist about to publish classified material. It seriously hinders the search for the facts and the
truth.

A conviction of Julian Assange would be the ultimate validation of a long line of absolutely unprecedented abuses of power with devastating consequences for free speech and journalism. Any dissemination of secret documents by any journalist or whistleblower, in any country, would then be criminalized. The U.S. Espionage Act is so broad that, for example, it could be a violation of the law to even read a news article that the U.S. believes is harmful to the country's interests.

We, the citizens of Geneva and elsewhere, launch this Appeal to free Julian Assange on this day, June 4, 2021, in Geneva, a city of peace and negotiations, the cradle of humanitarian law and human rights, and the seat of countless international and non-governmental organizations that work for the respect of our fundamental freedoms.

APPEL DE GENÈVE À LIBÉRER JULIAN ASSANGE (ouvert à la signature)

Nous, citoyens de Genève et d’ailleurs, lançons “L’ Appel de Genève” pour demander la libération immédiate de Julian Assange. En isolement cellulaire à la prison de haute sécurité de Belmarsh à Londres, le fondateur de WikiLeaks est menacé d’extradition vers les Etats-Unis où il risque une peine de prison de 175 ans. Son seul crime est d’avoir dit la vérité!

Au nom du respect des droits de l’homme inaliénables et des valeurs promues par les organisations de défense des droits humains basées à Genève, nous demandons:
• aux autorités britanniques de refuser l’extradition de Julian Assange et de lui rendre sa liberté
• au gouvernement américain de renoncer aux poursuites engagées contre Julian Assange
• à tous les Etats démocratiques, dont la Suisse, d’assurer à Julian Assange un territoire de refuge où il peut se mettre à l'abri de nouvelles poursuites liées à la publication des WikiLeaks.
• aux organisations internationales et aux organisations non gouvernementales à Genève d’user de leurs compétences et autorités pour contribuer à libérer Julian Assange.
• aux médias de continuer d’informer avec courage, indépendance et impartialité sur le cas Assange et sur ses conséquences pour la liberté d’expression ainsi que pour la liberté d’enquêter et de publier.
• Aux peuples genevois, suisse et du monde à soutenir l’Appel de Genève pour la libération immédiate de Julian Assange.

Le 4 janvier dernier, la justice britannique a refusé l’extradition de Julian Assange au motif que sa vie serait à risque dans le système carcéral américain. Les arguments invoquant la transparence et le droit de publier de Julian Assange ont cependant été balayés. Un recours du département de justice américain est en cours et le risque d’extradition reste entier ainsi que la menace d’une restriction sans précédent de la liberté de la presse.

Julian Assange est en détention arbitraire depuis plus de dix ans dans des conditions qui, selon le rapporteur spécial de l’ONU sur la torture Nils Melzer, tombent sous le coup “de la torture psychologique ou de traitements cruels, inhumains et dégradants”.

Julian Assange est poursuivi aux Etats-Unis pour 17 chefs d’accusations (+ 1 autre) relevant de l’Espionnage Act, une loi datant de plus de 100 ans, qui peuvent lui valoir 175 ans de prison. Son tort? Avoir publié quelque 700.000 documents classifiés en particulier sur la guerre en Irak et en Afghanistan, souvent en collaboration avec de grands médias comme le New York Times, The Guardian, Le Monde ou la chaîne ABC. Il a notamment révélé une vidéo de l’armée américaine montrant le massacre d’une dizaine de civils dont deux journalistes depuis un hélicoptère.

Les documents publiés par WikiLeaks ont révélé des actes et modes opératoires en violation avec les Conventions de Genève et les droits humains. Aucune de ces violations et aucun de ces crimes de guerre n’a été poursuivi alors que celui qui les a révélés est soumis à persécution depuis plus de dix ans. Paradoxe ultime qui traduit un déni de justice flagrant, une insulte à la dignité humaine et un mépris coupable de l’Etat de droit.

Julian Assange doit être libéré immédiatement car rien ne peut justifier une détention préventive en isolement presque total d’une si longue durée. Le Groupe de travail des Nations Unies sur la détention arbitraire dénonce depuis plus de cinq ans l’emprisonnement illégal de Julian Assange.

Aujourd’hui, la santé physique et mentale de ce dernier est gravement détériorée selon les témoins qui ont pu lui rendre visite. Au nom du respect des droits humains, des traditions, normes et valeurs promues par les organisations humanitaires basées à Genève, Julian Assange doit être relâché sans délai.

Julian Assange doit être libéré immédiatement parce que ses révélations répondent à un intérêt public élémentaire et essentiel. Les citoyens ont non seulement le droit de savoir, ils doivent savoir.

La notion même d’espionnage induite par le recours à la loi sur l’espionnage est absurde. En rendant publique, une information éprouvée et d’un intérêt public évident, le fondateur de WikiLeaks accomplit un acte salutaire de transparence à l’exact contraire d’un acte d’espionnage. Julian Assange a exercé sa liberté d’expression (freedom of speech) qui est garantie par le premier
amendement de la constitution américaine ainsi qu’en toute démocratie. Le rédacteur en chef de WikiLeaks a révélé des informations d’un intérêt public fondamental que l’Etat aurait lui-même dû rendre public en raison de son obligation d’information envers le citoyen.

Julian Assange a apporté une contribution unique et remarquable au journalisme d’intérêt public, à la transparence et à
l’obligation des gouvernements de rendre des comptes. Sa contribution exigeant courage et ténacité a été très largement reconnue par le monde des médias et des défenseurs de la liberté d’expression qui ont récompensé Julian Assange de quelques-uns des plus prestigieux prix de journalisme.

Julian Assange doit être libéré immédiatement parce que les poursuites engagées contre lui constituent une intolérable menace et pression pour les journalistes pratiquant l’enquête. La campagne de dénigrement menée contre le fondateur de Wikileaks ainsi que les lourdes charges qui pèsent sur lui sont autant d'avertissements à tout lanceur d’alerte ou journaliste s’apprêtant à
publier des documents classifiés. Elle entrave gravement la recherche des faits et de la vérité.

Une condamnation de Julian Assange constituerait la validation ultime d’une longue série d’abus du pouvoir, absolument sans précédent, aux conséquences ravageuses pour la liberté d’expression et le journalisme. Toute diffusion de documents secrets par n’importe quel journaliste ou un lanceur d’alerte, dans n’importe quel pays, serait alors criminalisée. La loi américaine sur l’espionnage est d’une portée tellement large que, par extension, la simple lecture d’un article de presse qui, selon les
Etats-Unis nuirait aux intérêts du pays, pourrait alors constituer une violation de la loi.

Nous citoyens de Genève et d’ailleurs, nous lançons cet Appel à libérer Julian Assange en ce jour du 4 juin 2021 à Genève, cité de paix et de négociations, berceau du droit humanitaire et des droits humains, siège d’innombrables organisations internationales ou non gouvernementales qui oeuvrent pour le respect de nos libertés fondamentales.

For further information, please contact:

Pierre Ruetschi, Executive Director of the Geneva Press Club/Club suisse de la presse: info@pressclub.ch

More informations on: www.pressclub.ch, www.bains-des-paquis.ch, www.anythingtosay.com

01.06.2021. INDIA. PEC lauds Indian authorities for corona compensation to scribes

by Nava Thakuria, PEC India Representative

Geneva/Guwahati: Press Emblem Campaign, the Switzerland based international media rights and safety body, appreciates the initiative
of Indian federal government along with many province authorities for sanctioning financial assistances to the families of Covid-19 victims
among journalists. As India continues to be a worst affected country with the highest number of scribes died of novel corona virus
infection aggravated aliments, PEC (https://pressemblem.ch/) also recommends for early vaccination to journalists along with other media
workers.

Mentionable is that the Union government in New Delhi recently announced that ₹ 5 hundred thousand (72 Indian rupees= 1 USD) each
would be offered to 67 families of journalists, who died because of Covid-19 since March 2020. Expressing grieves over the demise of
scribes in the pandemic, the federal information & broadcasting ministry approved the financial assistances to the affected families.
Many State governments also declared compensations to deceased journo-families because of Covid-19, where the Uttar Pradesh offers
the highest ( ₹10 lakh each).

PEC, while condoling the demise of over 1440 journalists around the world due to Covid-19 till date, urges all the governments to
vaccinate the journalists on a priority basis and offer aid to the victim families so that they can play their roles as frontline corona
warriors after the doctors, nurses, other health and sanitation workers, said PEC general secretary Blaise Lempen adding that safety
of media workers remains at risk in this crisis because they have to continue working on the ground.

Acc