19 Jun 2012

GENEVEA / HRC JOURNALISTS

In a report to the Human Rights Council today, the independent expert on summary killings said that he had focused his attention this year on the specific targeting of journalists. Christof Heyns said that the protection of journalists around the world remained a major challenge and that both the numbers of journalists killed and the intimidation of others into self-censorship was unacceptable. CH UNTV

Posted at: June 19, 2012 3:48 pm

Duration: 02:38

Available in: SD

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STORY: GENEVA / HRC JOURNALISTS
TRT:  2:38
SOURCE: CH UNTV 
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 19 JUNE 2012, GENEVA

SHOTLIST:

1. Wide shot, exterior, United Nations Palais, Geneva
2. Pan xx, delegates holding name cards
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Christof Heyns, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions: 
"Freedom of expression and its concomitant right of access to information has been called a meta right - it is a right on which the realization of many other rights depends.  In view of the pivotal societal role of journalists, the too numerous instances of killing of journalists by State and non-State actors, as well as the intimidation of other members of society into self-censorship is unacceptable."
4. Cutaway, US delegate
5. SOUNDBITE (English): Christof Heyns, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions:
"I have tried to imagine a world without journalists.  Attempts to silence journalists have dramatic and exponential effects on humanity: their silencing leads to ignorance in society, misunderstanding and decision-making in the absence of adequate information.  Neither democracy nor human rights can be achieved in such a world."
6. Wide shot, room
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Christof Heyns, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions:
"Two thirds of the deaths of journalists occur outside armed conflict.  Most of the journalists killed covered issues related to politics, war, corruption, crime and human rights.  The most common profile of a journalist killed is that of a local as opposed to foreign correspondents, covering political or corruption issues for a local newspaper or radio station.  I draw particular attention to the fact that impunity is a major, if not the main, cause of the high number of journalists killed each year." 
8. Cutaway, delegates
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Christof Heyns, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions:
(On Democratic Republic of Congo) "Extrajudicial killings remain widespread.  Of particular concern are the killings committed by rebel groups and the Congolese Armed Forces.  The fight against impunity should be stepped up to apply to senior commanders."
10. Cutaway, delegate from Occupied Palestinian Territory
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe, Ambassador for the United States: 
"So far in 2012, 20 journalists have been killed and 179 are in prisons worldwide for doing their jobs.  One such imprisoned journalist is Mazen Darwish, who was arrested by Syrian authorities on Feb 16 and has been held incommunicado ever since in solitary confinement without charge or trial.  We reiterate our call for his immediate release, and the release of all journalists unjustly imprisoned around the world."  
12 Cutaway, US delegate

STORYLINE:

In a report to the Human Rights Council in Geneva this afternoon (19 June), the independent expert on summary killings told the packed room that he had focused his attention this year on the specific targeting of journalists.

Christof Heyns said that the protection of journalists around the world remained a major challenge and that both the numbers of journalists killed and the intimidation of others into self-censorship was unacceptable.

"Attempts to silence journalist have dramatic and exponential effects on humanity", the South African lawyer said, and "neither democracy nor human rights can be achieved in such a world."

The most vulnerable, he added, are local journalists, as opposed to foreign correspondents, most are killed outside situations of armed conflict.  Heyns said that impunity is the main cause of the killings.

The Special Rapporteur introduced follow-up reports to missions undertaken by his predecessor to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Colombia and the United States.  Regarding the DRC, Mr Heyns said that extrajudicial killings of local populations remained widespread, and called for the fight against impunity for both rebel groups and the Congolese Armed Forces, to be stepped up.

Regarding his predecessor's mission to the United States, in June 2008, and three specific recommendations made in that Report, Mr Heyns said that no significant improvements had been made.  Referring specifically to the imposition of the death penalty; transparency in military and intelligence operations and "accountability for potentially unlawful deaths in the Government's international operations", the Special Rapporteur expressed particular concern about "targeted killings operations".

The debate on the issue of freedom of expression and summary executions of both journalists and ordinary citizens, will continue in the Council on Wednesday.