3 January 2007
2006: A GRISLY YEAR FOR THE PRESS
2006 may go down in the annals of journalism as being one of the bloodiest years ever for journalists around the world. According to separate reports released by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF), a near record number of journalists were killed last year
IFJ recorded at least 155 murders, assassinations and unexplained deaths in 2006. The conflict in Iraq accounted for 68 of the deaths.
Violence in Latin America, particularly in Mexico, Colombia and Venezuela, claimed the lives of 37 media staff, while in Asia, attacks in the Philippines and Sri Lanka pushed the death toll to 34.
IFJ's statistics include media staff - fixers, drivers, technicians, security staff and translators - and cases that are still under investigation and where the death remains unexplained.
CPJ recorded 55 journalists killed in 2006, two short of its record high of 57 in 2004. It also recorded 27 deaths in which it has not been confirmed whether they were work-related. CPJ only counts journalists killed in direct reprisal for their work, in crossfire, or while carrying out a dangerous assignment.
Iraq, Afghanistan and the Philippines were the three most dangerous countries for journalists, according to CPJ. In 2006, 32 journalists died in the line of duty in Iraq, making it the deadliest year for journalists in a single country that CPJ has ever recorded.
RSF, which like CPJ includes only individuals killed in direct relation to their work, counted 81 journalists slain in 2006, its highest total in 22 years. It also recorded 32 media staff killed.
The high number of killings was not the only significant statistic noted by RSF. It counted more than 1,400 physical attacks or threats against journalists in 2006, a record. Many of them occurred during election campaigns in various countries.
For the first time, Reporters Without Borders kept statistics on journalists kidnapped around the world. It found that at least 56 were kidnapped in 2006 in a dozen countries. The riskiest places were Iraq, where 17 were seized, and the Gaza Strip, where six were kidnapped.
Although the statistics were grim, one bright spot emerged at the end of the year. The U.N. Security Council unanimously passed a resolution calling for more action to protect journalists in conflict zones.
Resolution 1738 "condemns intentional attacks" against journalists "and calls upon all parties to put an end to such practices." It "urges all parties involved in situations of armed conflict to respect the professional independence and rights of journalists, media professionals and associated personnel as civilians."
It also urges warring parties "to do their utmost to prevent violations of international humanitarian law against civilians, including journalists, media professionals and associated personnel."
Perhaps the most important part of the resolution is its request that the U.N. Secretary General address the safety and security of journalists in his regular reports on the protection of civilians in armed conflict.
"This last point is significant," says IFJ Secretary General Aidan White. "From now on we can expect the United Nations to identify and highlight those nations that are failing to protect journalists."
CJFE counted at least 82 journalists killed last year. However, it also saw signs of hope for press freedom. In Nepal, the media played a crucial role in ensuring the restoration of democracy in May, despite facing great persecution and repression, the group noted.
In the Middle East and North Africa - the most censored region in the world - a growing number of free expression organisations and independent news media are challenging government restrictions. And in Latin America and Asia, governments are taking steps towards abolishing criminal defamation laws.
Visit these links:
- IFJ: http://www.ifj.org/default.asp?Index=4517&Language=EN
- RSF: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=20286
- CPJ: http://www.cpj.org/Briefings/2006/killed_06/killed_06.html
- CJFE: http://www.cjfe.org/releases/2006/20122006deadly.html
- Resolution 1738: http://tinyurl.com/yyyc4y
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