Ensuring freedom of the press around the world by continued protection of reports. MUNOFS VII Research Report

Transcription

1 Ensuring freedom of the press around the world by continued protection of reports MUNOFS VII Research Report

2 Forum: Human Rights First Committee Issue: Ensuring freedom of the press around the world by continued protection of reports Student Officer: Laurence Barns Position: Deputy Chair

3 Introduction The restriction of the press has occurred in two ways. The first method was through censorship or a compulsory license by the government in advance of a publication. Often phrases that might have been considered against national interest were censored by governments. The second restriction of the press which is the punishment of material that is considered by the government to be seditious libel. This is the one of the most prevalent problems that is being faced today. Journalists around the world are being persecuted for exercising there profession on the basis of reasons such as espionage and disseminating false information.

4 The freedom of media around the world is a priority in ensuring the transparency, political discourse and contributing to fight against poverty. Is one of the many beliefs held today by organizations such as the Committee to Protect Journalist (CPJ) on the problem and such beliefs such as the freedom of expression and access to information is necessary in accountability are believed to be pillars of sustainable development. The inclusion of good governance and fundamental freedoms, such as the rights to expression and association without the fears of being persecuted are part of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and yet journalists working in the field are knowingly putting there life on the line.

5 Key Terms Defined Human Rights - Freedoms established by custom or international agreement that impose standards of conduct on all nations. Human rights are distinct from civil liberties, which are freedoms established by the law of a particular state and applied by that state in its own jurisdiction. Free Press - A press not restricted or controlled by government censorship regarding politics or ideology. Censorship - The suppression or proscription of speech or writing that is deemed obscene, indecent, or unduly controversial. International Law - The body of law that governs the legal relations between or among states or nations. UN Charter - The UN Charter is a multilateral treaty that serves as the UN s constitution UDHR - The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Universal Declaration) is an international document that states basic rights and fundamental freedoms to which all human beings are entitled

6 History The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was signed in 1961 that was the first paving stone towards greater freedom of the press around the world. Since then the United Nations and non-government organizations (NGOs) have made further progress towards this goal and the protection of the journalists who provide such information. During the Vietnam war, in the late 1960s and early 70s there were frequent charges on journalists by the government on accounts of risks of national security.

7 The declaration of Windhoek, which was endorsed by the UN General Conference on 3 rd of May 1991 at its twenty-sixth session was the result of an UN agreement to the fostering of independent, pluralistic and free press. With the tragedies of African Journalists being killed in the exercise of their profession between 1969 and 1990, was another step towards the protection of the journalists. Recent events such as the imprisonment of American Journalists in 2009 who had illegally entered North Korea have sparked questioning into the ethical professionalism of these journalists and have led to further workshops in the training of journalists. Even more recently, in Syria Islamic extremists have put journalists at risk and in one case they went so far as to beheading the reporter James Foley after forcing him to read out propaganda.

8 Key Issues Journalists around the world are being imprisoned and even persecuted for exercising there profession as many government believes that there actions are attempts to undermine integrity or even go so far to call it acts of espionage. Recent events such such as the murder of James Foley a freelance Journalist working in Syria, Iran arresting journalists without elucidation. Somalia detaining journalists without charge have been some serious problems that have been putting government actions into question.

9 Further issues persist, while there are claims that these journalists have been publishing the likes of classified information. Do journalists really have the right to pry into the private lives of others and publish information about what people conduct in secret. In addition the dissemination of inaccurate reports can not only provide a negative outlook on individuals or governments but it can permanently damage the lives of people even though what reported may not be true. Disclosure of military secrets can also be a risk to national security and should that justify the imprisonment of individuals who publicize such information.

10 General Overview of Topic/ Un perspective Journalism provides a platform for informed discussion across a wide range of development issues from environmental challenges and scientific progress to gender equality, youth engagement and peacebuilding. Only when journalists are at liberty to monitor, investigate and criticize policies and actions can good governance exist. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova However the UN believes that sometimes the defamation of religion needs to be prohibited as the UN Human Rights council passed a resolution proposed by Islamic countries saying it is deeply concerned about the definitions of religion. So the UN has allowed for some areas of censorship that may offend peoples religion and resolutions with have justified censorship have been passed by the UN, an overall stance of the United Nations is leaning towards the freedom of journalism and the protection of the journalists themselves which is just simple upholding basic human rights and freedoms.

11 Major Parties Involved and Their Views The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) An independent, nonprofit organization that promotes press freedom worldwide Reporters Without Border Sets up the World Press Freedom Index and an acting consultant of the United Nations Currently in Egypt journalists have being sentenced to several years on charges including aiding the Muslim Brotherhood and reporting false news. Ethiopian authorities have imprisoned many journalists on the accounts of intent of overthrowing the government and undermining public trust in the government.. Syria, an Islamic state that has according to RWP having 39 journalists killed and 15 journalists imprisoned since Even in Turkey a journalist has been put on trial for insulting the prime minister.

12 Timeline of Events Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948 Committee to Protect Journalists was founded in 1981 Reporters Without Border founded in France 1985 Declaration of Windhoek endorsed in 1991 Proclamation of a World Press Freedom Day in 1993 to celebrated on May 3 rd Establishment in 1997 of the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 2 May 2013 Ban Ki Moon (UN Secretary General) issues a call to action to ensure the safety of journalists in every country

13 UN Involvement, Relevant Resolutions, Treaties and Events Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 Proclamation of a World Press Freedom Day in 1993 to celebrated on May 3 rd Declaration of Windhoek endorsed in 1991 Establishment in 1997 of the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 2 May 2013 Ban Ki Moon (UN Secretary General) issues a call to action to ensure the safety of journalists in every country UN Workshops educating journalists in Africa about professional and ethical practice.

14 Evaluation of Previous Attempts to Solve the Issue While declarations which have been adopted by the United Nations such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 19). Many of the nations at question have signed the declaration; current government actions may suggest otherwise, as the prosecution of journalists without proper justification (but not limited to Syria, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia). World Press Freedom Day 3 rd is another UN attempt to bringer greater awareness to the problem and is an attempt at wider development objective of empowering people and so far with the collaboration of Reporters Without Border, statistics regarding the treatment of journalists have been promoting participation in public and political discourse

15 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a good example of UN contribution towards the education of professional and ethical practice in journalism. Such journalism foster democracy, dialogue and development. With active efforts by UNESCO in training journalists even to the extent of publishing guidebooks for journalism (Journalism Education and Training). NGO organizations such as Reporters without Borders and Committee to Protect Journalists are organizations which also try to promote greater awareness of the poor treatment journalists receive through providing factual reports and statistics. Especially in putting pressure on governments detaining journalists in hopes of there release has been some successful in some cases.

16 Possible Solutions Provide feasible guidelines in which the protection of journalists world-wide through ways such as but not limited to asking the governments of nations to cooperate and release currently imprisoned journalists. Pass a resolution that takes into consideration the disclosure of classified information that may compromise national security. Supporting safety training courses and workshops for journalists and media workers worldwide. Use of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to help make recommendations in trials regarding the imprisonment of journalists.

17 Further Reading Press Freedom Barometer Declaration of Windhoek _democracy/windhoek.htm Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 19) Committee to protect journalists

18 Works Cited "- About CPJ - Committee to Protect Journalists." - About CPJ - Committee to Protect Journalists. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Aug "Basic Texts in Communication." Basic Texts in Communication. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Aug "Press, News, Journalists, Journalism, Freedom, Reporting, Censorship, Expression, Media, Governance, Democracy, Democratic, Windhoek, UNESCO, United Nations." UN News Center. UN, n.d. Web. 19 Aug "United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights: What Are Human Rights? : Youth For Human Rights Video." United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights: What Are Human Rights? : Youth For Human Rights Video. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Aug

19 "The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UDHR, Declaration of Human Rights, Human Rights Declaration, Human Rights Charter, The Un and Human Rights." UN News Center. UN, n.d. Web. 17 Aug "On World Press Freedom Day, UN Officials Issue Call to Protect Journalists' Safety." UN News Center. UN, 02 May Web. 19 Aug "Human+Rights." TheFreeDictionary.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Aug "Press Freedom United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization." Press Freedom United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Aug Infoplease. Infoplease, n.d. Web. 21 Aug "Journalism Education and Training United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization." Journalism Education and Training United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Aug