A resolution on Safety of journalists and the issue of impunity is to be voted by the 3rd Committee of UN on 26 Nov 2013

Monday November 2! 2013 Just days following the International Day to End Impunity, a draft resolution on the Safety of journalists and the issue of impunity, now cosponsored by over 60 states, will be voted on by the hird !ommittee tomorrow and then hopefully go before the plenary of the "# $eneral %ssembly in #ew &or' early ne(t month) *f particular interest is the resolution+s call to ma'e the International Day to End Impunity an official "# day to be commemorated on , #ovember) he draft resolution follows"nited #ations %.!)/.60.1)20.3ev)4 General Assembly Promotion and protection of human rights: human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, hile, olombia, osta !ica, roatia, yprus, zech !epublic, "l #alvador, "stonia, $rance, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, %reland, %taly, &apan, 'atvia, 'u(embourg, )ali, )alta, *etherlands, *igeria, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, +atar, !epublic of ,orea, !omania, #erbia, #lova-ia, #lovenia, #pain, .unisia, .ur-ey, /nited #tates of America and /ruguay: revised draft resolution #afety of journalists and the issue of impunity The General Assembly,

Guided by the purposes and principles of the !harter of the "nited #ations, Reaffirming the "niversal Declaration of 5uman 3ights4 and recalling relevant international human rights treaties, including the International !ovenant on !ivil and 6olitical 3ights, and the International !onvention for the 6rotection of %ll 6ersons from Enforced Disappearance,/ as well as the $eneva !onventions of 47272 and the %dditional 6rotocols thereto,8 Recalling the "nited #ations 6lan of %ction on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, endorsed by the "nited #ations System !hief E(ecutives 9oard for !oordination on 4, %pril ,04,, in which "nited #ations agencies, funds and programmes were invited to wor' with :ember States towards a free and safe environment for journalists and media wor'ers in both conflict and non;conflict situations, with a view to strengthening peace, democracy and development worldwide, Recalling also 5uman 3ights !ouncil resolutions ,4.4, of ,< September ,04, on the safety of journalists, ,0.0 of 8 July ,04, on the promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the Internet and ,2.48 of ,< September ,04, on the =orld 6rogramme for 5uman 3ights Education and 5uman 3ights !ouncil decision ,2.446 of ,6 September ,04/ on a panel discussion on the safety of journalists, as well as Security !ouncil resolution4</0 >,006? of ,/ December ,006, Taking note of the reports of the Special 3apporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and e(pression6 and the Special 3apporteur on e(trajudicial, summary or arbitrary e(ecutions,< submitted to the 5uman 3ights !ouncil at its twentieth session, Commending the role and the activities of the *ffice of the "nited #ations 5igh !ommissioner for 5uman 3ights and the "nited #ations Educational, Scientific and !ultural *rgani@ation with regard to the safety of journalists and the issue of impunity, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the *ffice of the "nited #ations 5igh !ommissioner for 5uman 3ights on good practices on the safety of journalists,0 submitted to the 5uman 3ights !ouncil at its twenty;fourth session, Noting with appreciation the international conference on the safety of journalists held in =arsaw on ,/ and ,2 %pril ,04/ and its specific recommendations, Acknowledging that journalism is continuously evolving to include inputs from media institutions, private individuals and a range of organi@ations that see', receive and impart information and ideas of all 'inds, online as well as offline, in the e(ercise of freedom of opinion and e(pression, in accordance with article 47 of the International !ovenant on !ivil and 6olitical 3ights, thus contributing to shape public debate,

Recognizing the relevance of freedom of e(pression and of free media in building 'nowledge;inclusive societies and democracies and in fostering intercultural dialogue, peace and good governance, Recognizing also that the wor' of journalists often puts them at specific ris' of intimidation, harassment and violence, Taking note of the good practices of different countries aimed at the protection of journalists, as well as, inter alia, those designed for the protection of human rights defenders that can, where applicable, be relevant to the protection of journalists, Recognizing that the number of people whose lives are influenced by the way information is presented is significant and that journalism influences public opinion, Bearing in mind that impunity for attac's against journalists constitutes one of the main challenges to strengthening the protection of journalists,Recalling in this regard that journalists, media professionals and associated personnel engaged in dangerous professional missions in areas of armed conflict shall be considered as civilians and shall be respected and protected as such, provided that they ta'e no action adversely affecting their status as civilians, Expressing concern at the threat to the safety of journalists posed by non;State actors, including terrorist groups and criminal organi@ations, Acknowledging the specific ris's faced by women journalists in the e(ercise of their wor', and underlining, in this conte(t, the importance of ta'ing a gender;sensitive approach when considering measures to address the safety of journalists, 4) Takes note with appreciation of the "nited #ations 6lan of %ction on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of ImpunityA ,) Condemns unequivocally all attac's and violence against journalists and media wor'ers, such as torture, e(trajudicial 'illings, enforced disappearances and arbitrary detention, as well as intimidation and harassment in both conflict and non;conflict situationsA /) ecides to proclaim , #ovember as the International Day to End Impunity for !rimes against JournalistsA 2) Requests the "nited #ations Educational, Scientific and !ultural *rgani@ation, in consultation with relevant entities of the "nited #ations system, and mindful of the provisions of the anne( to Economic and Social !ouncil resolution 4700.6< of ,8 July 4700, to facilitate the implementation of the International Day in collaboration with $overnments and relevant sta'eholdersA 8) !rges :ember States to do their utmost to prevent violence against journalists and media wor'ers, to ensure accountability through the conduct of impartial, speedy and

effective investigations into all alleged violence against journalists and media wor'ers falling within their jurisdiction, and to bring the perpetrators of such crimes to justice and to ensure that victims have access to appropriate remediesA 6) Calls upon States to promote a safe and enabling environment for journalists to perform their wor' independently and without undue interference, including by means of>a? legislative measuresA >b? awareness;raising in the judiciary and among law enforcement officers and military personnel, as well as among journalists and in civil society, regarding international human rights and humanitarian law obligations and commitments relating to the safety of journalistsA >c? the monitoring and reporting of attac's against journalistsA >d? publicly condemning attac'sA and >e? dedicating the resources necessary to investigate and prosecute such attac'sA <) "nvites the relevant agencies, organi@ations, funds and programmes of the "nited #ations system to consider identifying focal points for the e(change of information about the implementation of the "nited #ations 6lan of %ction on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, in cooperation with :ember States and under the overall coordination of the "nited #ations Educational, Scientific and !ultural *rgani@ationA 0) Requests the Secretary;$eneral to report to the $eneral %ssembly at its si(ty;ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution) ,0 #ovember ,04/ #i(ty0eighth session .hird ommittee %genda item 67 >b? 111111111111111111 4 3esolution ,4< % >III?) , See resolution ,,00 % >BBI?, anne() / 3esolution 64.4<<, anne() 2 "nited #ations, Treaty Series, vol) <8, #os) 7<0;7</) 8 Ibid), vol) 44,8, #os) 4<84, and 4<84/) 6 %.53!.,0.4<) < %.53!.,0.,, and !orr)4) 0 %.53!.,2.,/) !ourtesy ; ICEB