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TAEMUN 20
15
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Handbook B
PROTECTION OF MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION
INSTANCES ON ARMED CONFLICTS
CHAIRMAN
Ricardo Mercado
MODERATOR
Pablo Espinosa
CONFERENCE OFFICER
Roco Lpez
TAEMUN 2015
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5 TAEMUN
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SECURITY COUNCIL
2015 TAE
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TAEMUN 2015
SECURITY COUNCIL
TAEMUN 2015
SECURITY COUNCIL
TV, radio, and Internet press are the most important means of
communication, because of the level of diffusion they have, but they
all depend on different ways of journalism. Thesefacilitate information
to become public and accessible for people. Many illegal and hostile
activities are documented by media, which makes it an important tool
against crime and inhuman acts.
One of the main causes of crimes committed against journalists and media
personnel is the lack of freedom of expression, in countries where all media
content is strictly controlled, and its difficult finding a trustful source of
information; therefore, the ones trying to make the informationpublic
are punished according to the local law. Many journalist have been
judged and sanctioned outside their country during their contribution to
international community.
There are several cases known where journalists have been victims of
different crimes, that range from being censored, to being tortured or
even killed. According to statistics taken by the CPJ (Committee to Protect
Journalists) during 2014 there were more than 250 unsolved murder
cases during their work; in other stats by the CPJ the number of foreign
journalists increased in 2014, especially in the Middle East region.
Dueto the risks journalists experience, different organizations have
created several ways to protect them. The International Humanitarian
Law protects them in article 79, which states that they keep the civilian
status in presence of an armed conflict. If any journalist is intentionally
killed or injured during the conflict, it can be consider as a war crime. In
non-armed conflicts, they are considered as civilians, too, for them to be
guaranteed their right to full protection, they shouldnt be part of any
hostile acts.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) protects media
personnel, providing them with direct information and connection to
their families. They support the National Red Cross organisms for these
to help directly the affected ones. Another important organism is the
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), which is in charge of the protection
of journalists in any situation; it also looks to protect freedom of expression
all around the world, this institution isnt formally associated with any
country, but journalistsfrom any nationality can be part of it and profit
from its services.
The main problem isnt the lack of legislation to protect media and its
personnel during armed conflict, but the violation of their rights and the
great amount of cases of anti-humanitarian treatment against journalists
during their duty. The United Nations Security Council protects journalist,
media professionals and associated personnel in the resolution 1738. This
TAEMUN 2015
SECURITY COUNCIL