UNESCO Work Plan -version 2 on Safety of Journalists

and the Issue of Impunity

11/13/2012 1

Coming up

1. Context, objective and

background

2. Who the Work Plan is for

3. Five elements of the Work Plan

4. Summary and way ahead

11/13/2012 2

Putting matter into context…

0

20

40

60

80

100

20092010

2011oct.-12

78

65 62

100

Number of Killings

Condemned by

UNESCO

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What is the UNESCO Work Plan on Safety?

• The UNESCO Work Plan is a working

document providing action lines to

guide the Secretariat on UNESCO´s aim

to promote the safety of journalists and

combat impunity;

• Unlike the C5, it does not describe

concrete activities.

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Objective The promotion of a free and safe

environment for journalists, media

workers and social media producers in

both conflict and non-conflict situations,

with a view to strengthening peace,

democracy and development

worldwide

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How did it begin? …UNESCO-IPDC

• The Decision on The Safety of Journalists and

the Issue of Impunity approved by the

Intergovernmental Council of IPDC on 23

March 2012, requested “the Director-

General to prepare, in consultation with

Member States and other relevant and

representative actors, a UNESCO Work Plan

on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of

Impunity, and to present it to the Executive Board at its 191st Session”

11/13/2012 6

UNESCO Work Plan & other trajectories

• Work Plan is in line with the United Nations

Plan of Action on The Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity as endorsed by

the UN Chief Executive Board on 13 April

2012.

• It corresponds to the UNESCO Medium-Term

Strategy (2008-2013) 34 C/4 and the 36 C/5

Major Programme V: Communication and

Information.

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Through 5 action lines: 1. By Cooperating with Member States

2. By Working with UN System

3. By Partnering with Other

Organizations and Institutions

4. By Raising Awareness

5. By Preventing Attacks Against

Journalists

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1. By Cooperating with Member States

i. Assistance to fully implement existing international

norms and principles

ii. Development of appropriate legislative framework

and institutional arrangements to create a safe

environment for journalists.

iii. Facilitation of capacity-building in state institutions.

iv. Promotion of good practices among MS

v. Development of a visible heritage around the

issues of press freedom and journalistic safety at

national level.

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2. By Working within UN System

i. Coordination of the implementation of the UN

Plan of Action at a global & national level in

cooperation with UNCT & Delivering As One

framework.

ii. Contributing information relevant to UNESCO’s

mandate in the framework of the Universal

Periodic Review,

iii. Reinforcement of UN Coordination mechanisms on

the safety of journalists, including cooperation with

relevant UN HRC Special Procedures.

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3. By Partnering with Other

Organizations and Institutions i. Collaboration with other IGOs, institutions,

relevant professional and civil society organizations.

ii. Promotion of training on safety issues, including developing handbooks and guidelines for journalists, the media industry, political parties & parliamentarians, & other social actors

iii. Development of a specific journalism safety module in the UNESCO Model Curricula for Journalism Education, and cooperation with academic institutions, including UNESCO Chairs, and professional associations.

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4. By Raising Awareness i. Sensitization of stakeholders through conferences &

thematic debates, participating in international campaigns, conducting research & publishing the results.

ii. As per UNESCO Res. 29 (1997), continue to condemn violence against journalists and to call MS to investigate and punish crimes against journalists

iii. Following the IPDC Decision on The Safety of Journalists and The Issue of Impunity, ensure the compilation and dissemination of the DG Report on The Safety of Journalists and the Danger of Impunity, incl. judicial inquiries and actions taken by MS.

iv. As per Res. 43 of the 36th UNESCO General Conference , presentation at the GC of a report on the status of FOE, incl. safety of journalists.

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5. By Preventing Attacks Against Journalists

i. Supporting existing international alert mechanisms

for journalists in danger.

ii. Establishing preventive mechanisms and policies

with a gender-sensitive approach.

iii. Promoting training and awareness-raising actions

on the prevention of violence against journalists

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2nd UN Inter-

Agency Meeting

(22-23 Nov 2012)

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• Time to hear MS oral comments

• Written comments to: S.Coudray@unesco.org

• Deadline: 31 November 2012

• Version 3 will go to the Executive Board in April 2013

• Thank you

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Summary and Way Forward