More than 700 journalists have been killed in the last decade – one every five days – according to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. In marking the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on Monday, the UN chief highlighted the urgent need to do more to protect journalists; and bring those who harm members of the media to justice. This year’s annual commemoration of the international day on crimes against journalists was dedicated to two French journalists assassinated in Mali in November 2013. With hundreds of journalists having been killed in the line of duty in the last decade, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said more must be done to ensure the safety of journalists around the world. Mr Ban said ending the impunity that often exists when a journalist is murdered would be instrumental to that effort. Only 7 per cent of such cases are resolved, he said, with less than 10 per cent even fully investigated.
Such impunity deepens fear among journalists and enables Governments to carry out censorship, said Mr Ban. Obviously, violence against those who work in the media is far more endemic when the figures beyond the number of deaths are tallied. And as the UN points out, the issue is not just about violence but also the culture of impunity within which the violence is unleashed. “In nine out of 10 cases,” the UN notes, “the killers go unpunished. Impunity leads to more killings and is often a symptom of worsening conflict and the breakdown of law and justice systems.” The report pinpoints eight sources of threat to the journalists: militants, political networks, religious parties, ethnic groups, tribal and feudal lords and law enforcement agencies-basically all stakeholders in Pakistan’s politics. The threats include killing, unjustly detaining, abduction and torture.
Yes, this is a dangerous job. Journalists have to tread into dangerous territory to be able to get first-hand information. But the threat to a journalist in Pakistan is mostly not proportional to the incident, and that is the problem. Pakistan is not Syria, or Iraq or Afghanistan. “Free media is essential to democracy in Pakistan as it promotes transparency and accountability, a prerequisite of sustained economic uplift.” The impunity enjoyed by those who attack journalists is compromising the quality of information that is provided to the Pakistan citizen. This is a matter of national interest and communal survival. When the media stops being free, when powerful papers and TV channels cannot report, what room is left for the common man’s freedom? The media itself should take the lead in ensuring safety of media practitioners. Local, national and international print, electronic and online media should ensure long-term follow-up of cases of assault on media organisations and workers. Journalists should be provided with safety and first-aid trainings and guidance on how to report in a hostile environment. Journalists working in conflict areas should also be provided with guidance in recognising and dealing with stress and post-traumatic stress. Safety equipment, including bulletproof jackets and medical kits, should be given to journalists covering conflicts. Threats and attacks can be reduced to some extent by adopting a professional approach and impartial and unbiased reporting.
pk.shafaqna.com
