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THREATS, RISKS, ATTACKS FOR JOURNALISTS – UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION – CROATIA WOMEN JOURNALISTS EXAMPLE +
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UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION INCLUDING SECURITY OF JOURNALISTS: S/RES/2222 (2015)
Direct Link to Full 5-Page Resolution: http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/RES/2222(2015)
Requests the Secretary-General to include consistently as a sub-item in his reports on the protection of civilians in armed conflict the issue of the safety and security of journalists, media professionals and associated personnel, including the existence of measures to protect such individuals facing an imminent threat, and to ensure that information on attacks and violence against journalists, media professionals and associated personnel and preventative actions taken to prevent such incidents is included as a specific aspect in relevant country specific reports.
Full Article: http://news.yahoo.com/3-al-jazeera-english-reporters-await-egyptian-court-073934921.html
August 29, 2015 - CAIRO (AP) — An Egyptian
court sentenced three Al-Jazeera English journalists to three years in prison
on Saturday for broadcasting "false news," sparking an international
outcry and underlining how authorities are trampling over free speech just over
a year into general-turned-politician Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi's presidency……..
The verdict comes just weeks after el-Sissi
issued a new anti-terrorism law, which sets a sweeping definition for who could
face a harsh set of punishments, including journalists who don't toe the
government line. The new law, like Saturday's verdict, has drawn criticism from
diplomats, press freedom advocates and human rights organizations……..
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http://us6.campaign-archive1.com/?u=b11aceda364f8f9afa6cadbbb&id=822c2a8a27&e=056b99cec0
"Journalists’ safety is a more
relevant topic today than ever before,” Dunja Mijatović, the OSCE
Representative on Freedom of the Media, said. “The increasing number of attacks
on journalists throughout the OSCE region is deeply worrying, and I call on all
57 participating States in the OSCE to do their utmost to ensure that
journalists can do their work in a free and safe manner.”
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Croatia - Crime Journalist Katarina Maric Banje among Many Croatia Journalists Receiving Threats
July
16 – 2015 - Katarina Marić Banje, journalist covering the crime news section
in Slobodna Dalmacija, received on Sunday from an unknown sender a
death threatening letter that read “You’re poisonous as a snake; you’ll end up
like Ćuruvija”. HND issued a statement where they strongly condemned the
threat. The statement signed by the president of the HND, Saša Leković, said
the following:
Croatian Journalists’ Association strongly condemns the death
threat that the journalist of the crime news section in Slobodna
Dalmacija Katarina Marić Banje received and requests that the authorities
find and punish the author of the threats. Croatian Journalists’ Association has
been warning about the recurring threats and attacks on journalists in Croatia
and demands that reporters are provided with safe working conditions without
the fear for their physical safety.
Fairpress spoke with journalist Marić Banje. From
the interview we learn that the letter she received is not the first time she
has been threatened by the people she writes about. Moreover, she is constantly
exposed to threats, insults and pressure, as well as her colleagues.
FP: When
and where did you receive the letter?
Katarina Marić Banje: I received the
letter in the editorial office in Split where I opened and read it on Sunday, 5
July, little after 12 p.m. It was delivered in a blue envelope with my name on
it and the address of the editorial office written by hand. Inside was a torn paper
from a notebook that said: „You’re poisonousas a snake; you’ll
end up like Ćuruvija!!”
FP: Did
you file a police report?
Katarina Marić Banje: I immediately
contacted the police department of Split-Dalmatia and was advised to report the
threat to the First Police station Split that was located nearest to the
editorial office. The letter remained with the police.
FP: Do
you have any indication on the origin of the threat?
Katarina Marić Banje: I have been working
as a journalist specializing in crime related topics for the last 20 years and
I know from experience how threats can be linked to any case; ranging from the
most banal cases I covered to the most serious crimes. For example, it could be
related to the text I wrote about few days earlier, or a case I wrote about a
year or two ago, but the person related to the case was just now set free
from jail. I would suspend the speculations regarding this particular case for
now, but would like to point out that I and my colleagues, especially from the
editorial of the crime news, are continuously exposed to threats, pressures and
insults from the people we write about, their families and their friends.
I have reported threats to the police on several occasions before because I
think this is one of the important ways to fight for media freedom and the role
of journalists as a “watchdogs” of democracy.
Fairpress received notice from the First Police
station Split that they had received the report and the criminal investigation
is in progress.
OSCE – Organization for Security & Co-Operation in
Europe
http://us6.campaign-archive1.com/?u=b11aceda364f8f9afa6cadbbb&id=c239666bf9&e=056b99cec0
Croatia – OSCE Representative on Freedom of
Media Calls for Swift, Transparent Investigations Following Alarmingly High
Number of Recent Attacks on Croatian Journalists - Gender
VIENNA, 14 August 2015 – OSCE Representative on
Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović wrote to Croatia’s Foreign Minister Vesna
Pusić on Thursday, calling for swift and transparent investigations following
an alarmingly high number of attacks on journalists in the country over the
last two months.
“The authorities play a critical role in
ensuring that alternative, critical, and provocative voices and opinions in a
democratic society are protected,” Mijatović wrote in her letter to the Foreign
Minister.
Most recently, a prominent theatre director and
columnist Oliver Frljić has been receiving threats.
Additionally, on 7 August, a group of
journalists and activists, including journalists Hrvoje Šimičević and Vladimir
Kinđerski were physically attacked by unknown persons as they were leaving a
theatre in Rijeka, after Oliver Frljić’s play.
In her letter to Foreign Minister Pusić, the
Representative raised several other cases of death threats and physical attacks
on members of the media. They include attacks and threats against:
“As far as I am aware, all these cases remain
unresolved,” Mijatović wrote. “Condemnation coming from the highest level of
government should be a clear sign these acts of intimidation and violence
against journalists will not be tolerated.”
In her letter, the Representative welcomed the
latest progress in the investigation of the attempted murder of investigative
journalist and blogger Željko Peratović. Three men were placed under
investigation the day after the attack on suspicion of inflicting bodily harm.
A court ruled last week that they should instead be investigated for the more
serious offence of attempted murder.
“I raised this case in a public statement on 29 May, and I am encouraged by the swift reaction and positive developments in this investigation,” Mijatović said. (See statement of 29 May here: http://www.osce.org/fom/160851).