UN body asked to request 'safe corridors' for journalists in Gaza
01/08/2009 | 11:13 AM
MANILA, Philippines – The international media movement Press Emblem Campaign and the International Covenant for the Protection of Journalists called on the UN Human Rights Council that will be meeting Friday in Geneva to endorse the call for "media corridors" in Gaza.
The media groups also called on the parties to the conflict to agree on a moratorium on military activities. "Hostilities shall be suspended during an agreed period of time to allow all media professionnals to do freely their job," the media groups said in a statement issued from Geneva on Thursday.
The PEC made the suggestion in a draft convention circulated to UN member states in December 2007 to facilitate access to media in zones of conflict.
"Once again, the situation in Gaza reinforces the PEC-ICPJ call to UN member states to open a serious discussion on a new international convention for the protection of journalists in conflict zones," the group's statement said.
The proposal said that during a military conflict, and in case of a military attack, a specific warning shall be given through "efficient means" to media without exception.
The two Geneva-based organizations expressed support to journalists covering the Gaza conflict and particularly shared the concerns voiced by the Palestinian Syndicate of Journalists which has organized a March in Ramallah Thursday to condemn attacks against media installations in Gaza. - Joe Torres, GMANews.TV
The media groups also called on the parties to the conflict to agree on a moratorium on military activities. "Hostilities shall be suspended during an agreed period of time to allow all media professionnals to do freely their job," the media groups said in a statement issued from Geneva on Thursday.
The PEC made the suggestion in a draft convention circulated to UN member states in December 2007 to facilitate access to media in zones of conflict.
"Once again, the situation in Gaza reinforces the PEC-ICPJ call to UN member states to open a serious discussion on a new international convention for the protection of journalists in conflict zones," the group's statement said.
The proposal said that during a military conflict, and in case of a military attack, a specific warning shall be given through "efficient means" to media without exception.
The two Geneva-based organizations expressed support to journalists covering the Gaza conflict and particularly shared the concerns voiced by the Palestinian Syndicate of Journalists which has organized a March in Ramallah Thursday to condemn attacks against media installations in Gaza. - Joe Torres, GMANews.TV
