UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity 5/23/20151

What is the UN Plan of Action? It is a UN-wide plan which aims toward the creation of a free and safe environment for journalists and media workers, including social media producers, in both conflict and non- conflict situations, with a view to strengthening peace, democracy and development worldwide 5/23/20152

UNESCO Condemns Killings of Journalists 5/23/20153

Cases Unsolved According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), in 9 out of 10 cases in which journalists are murdered, the perpetrators go free As at 20 March 2012, 565 journalists have been murdered with impunity since /23/20154

How did it began? … UNESCO-IPDC In 2010, the 39-Member of the Intergovernmental Council UNESCO-IPDC made the Decision on The Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity to request the Director-General to consult with Member States on: “the feasibility of convening an inter-agency meeting of all relevant UN agencies with a view to formulating a comprehensive, coherent and action-oriented approach to the safety of journalists and the issue of impunity.” 5/23/20155

UN Plan of Action Timeline 5/23/20156 UN Plan of Action on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (approved by the UN CEB on 13 April 2012) 2 nd UN Inter-Agency Meeting (Vienna, Nov 2012) Implementation Strategy (Guideline for Implementing at Global and National Level) Operationalization Strategy at the National Level 1st UN Inter-Agency Meeting ( UNESCO Paris, Sept 2011) 2010 UNESCO-IPDC Decision on The Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity

1 st UN Inter-Agency Meeting On the basis of the responses received following this consultation, the Director-General decided to organize the first UN Inter-Agency Meeting on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, and this took place on September The result of this meeting & further consultations with UN agencies, programmes & funds, Member States, professional associations and NGOs is the final draft of the UN Plan of Action on The Safety of Journalists and The Issue of Impunity that is now presented to the Intergovernmental Council. 5/23/20157

UN Plan of Action Timeline 5/23/20158 UN Plan of Action on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (approved by the UN CEB on 13 April 2012) 2 nd UN Inter-Agency Meeting (Vienna, Nov 2012) Implementation Strategy (Guideline for Implementing at Global and National Level) Operationalization Strategy at the National Level 1st UN Inter-Agency Meeting ( UNESCO Paris, Sept 2011) 2010 UNESCO-IPDC Decision on The Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity

Who has endorsed the UN Plan of Action? A: The UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, was endorsed on 13 April 2012 by the UN Chief Executives Board, the highest level coordination mechanism of the UN system. In addition, the Plan has also been highly welcomed by international and regional press freedom organizations. 5/23/20159

Objective of the UN Plan Working toward the creation of a free and safe environment for journalists and media workers in both conflict and non-conflict situations, with a view to strengthening peace, democracy and development worldwide. 5/23/201510

Specifically… 1.By Strengthening UN Mechanisms 2.By Cooperating with Member States 3.By Partnering with Other Organizations and Institutions 4.By Raising Awareness 5.By Fostering Safety Initiatives 5/23/201511

By Strengthening UN Mechanisms Establish focal points within the UN actors and a coordinated inter-agency mechanism Incorporate safety & impunity in UN strategies at country level Promote freedom of expression, safety and impunity issues within the wider UN development agenda Strengthening office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as mandate and resources of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, and of the Special Rapporteurs on Extra-judicial Summary or Arbitrary Executions, Violence Against Women and Torture. 5/23/201512

By Cooperating with Member States Assist MS to develop laws & mechanisms guaranteeing freedom of expression and information Assist MS to fully implement existing international rules and principles Encourage MS to take an active role in the prevention of attacks against journalists, and take prompt action in response to attacks Encourage MS to comply fully with UNESCO General Conference Resolution 29 entitled ‘Condemnation of Violence against Journalists Encourage MS to comply with the IPDC Decision on the Safety of Journalist and the Issue of Impunity Encourage MS to broaden scope of Security Council Resolution 1738, to also include safety of journalists and the fight against impunity in non-conflict situations. 5/23/201513

By Partnering with Other Organizations and Institutions Reinforce collaboration between UN agencies and other intergovernmental organizations Strengthen partnerships between the UN and civil society organizations and professional associations Building momentum to the issues in conjunction with the International Day Against Impunity (23 Nov) and the International Anti-Corruption Day (9 Dec) 5/23/201514

By Raising Awareness The importance of FOE and the dangers that impunity for crimes against media professionals represents for freedom and democracy Journalists, media owners and policy-makers on existing international instruments and conventions, as well as various existing practical guides on the safety of journalists All the above to hostage-taking, sexual violence, kidnapping, wrongful arrest and other forms of punishment and other emerging threats to media professionals General public on the importance of the safety of journalists Encourage journalism schools to teach safety and impunity issues Disseminate good practices on the safety of journalists and counteracting impunity 5/23/201515

By Fostering Safety Initiatives Urge all stakeholders, and in particular the media industry and its professional associations, to establish general safety provisions for journalists Develop accessible, real-time emergency response mechanisms for groups and media organizations Sensitize news organizations, media owners, editors and journalists on the dangers confronting their staff, particularly those faced by local journalists Strengthen provisions for the safety of journalists in conflict zones 5/23/201516

What is the progress of the UN Plan of Action? 5/23/201517

UN Plan of Action Timeline 5/23/ UN Plan of Action on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (approved by the UN CEB on 13 April 2012) 2 nd UN Inter-Agency Meeting (Vienna, Nov 2012) Implementation Strategy (Guideline for Implementing at Global and National Level) Operationalization Strategy at the National Level 1st UN Inter-Agency Meeting ( UNESCO Paris, Sept 2011) 2010 UNESCO-IPDC Decision on The Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity

2 nd UN Inter-Agency Meeting, Vienna November 2012 United Nations Office in Vienna, Austria Co-Hosted by UNESCO, UNDP, OHCHR, UNODC and supported by UNDPI 23 November: International Day Against Impunity Meeting outcome: Implementation Strategy 5/23/201519

UN Plan of Action Timeline 5/23/ UN Plan of Action on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (approved by the UN CEB on 13 April 2012) 2 nd UN Inter-Agency Meeting (Vienna, Nov 2012) Implementation Strategy (Guideline for Implementing at Global and National Level) Operationalization Strategy at the National Level 1st UN Inter-Agency Meeting ( UNESCO Paris, Sept 2011) 2010 UNESCO-IPDC Decision on The Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity

Implementation Strategy Objective: formulating a concrete United Nations Implementation Strategy on The Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity for the period in order to implement the UN Plan of Action 5/23/201521

Implementation Strategy To be designed primarily by o UN agencies, programmes, funds & UN Special Rapporteurs o In consultation with other intergovernmental organizations, Member States, media houses, professional associations and NGOs 5/23/201522

UN Plan of Action Timeline 5/23/ UN Plan of Action on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (approved by the UN CEB on 13 April 2012) 2 nd UN Inter-Agency Meeting (Vienna, Nov 2012) Implementation Strategy (Guideline for Implementing at Global and National Level) Operationalization Strategy at the National Level 1st UN Inter-Agency Meeting ( UNESCO Paris, Sept 2011) 2010 UNESCO-IPDC Decision on The Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity

Operationalization Strategy: Country Level Each country is faced with its unique challenges and opportunities. For an effective local operationalization strategy of the UN Plan, each strategy must be based the need of the country. To select 5 countries to begin to operationalize the UN Plan of Action: o South Sudan o Iraq o Pakistan o Nepal o Mexico 5/23/201524

Operationalization Strategy: Country Level These needs could include: the need for legislation to protect freedom of expression, whether for media professionals, bloggers or ordinary citizens; the need to implement legislation and improve institutional capacity to do so; the need to decriminalise laws like criminal defamation the need for crimes against freedom of expression to be investigated and the perpetrators prosecuted; the need for safety-related training for media professionals, media owners, lawmakers, police forces, lawyers; the need for a safety fund for journalists in danger; the need for a network of lawyers for media professionals; the need for specific training for female media professionals; the need for dialogue with all relevant stakeholders and harmonisation of activities. the need for national sensitization campaign 5/23/201525

How can you contribute? The African Union Commission, NGOs including FAJ, and the Governments in Africa are vital partners in the success of UN Plan of Action The Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa 5/23/2015Footer Text26