UNITED NATIONS: The monitors for freedom of expression for the United
Nations and the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights Wednesday condemned
the use of force against journalists reporting on demonstrations that have
rocked cities across the United States over the past two weeks following the
death of George Floyd, an unarmed African-American man, by police in
Minneapolis.
“We have received numerous reports of journalists attacked,
harassed, arrested and detained in the course of their work covering protests
in the United States against systemic racism and police brutality in the United
States”, UN Special Rapporteur David Kaye, and his counterpart from the
Organization of American States (OAS), Edison Lanza, said in a joint statement.
“Law enforcement has the duty to ensure the safety of journalists
who are covering protests and to guarantee the right of the public to seek and
receive information about these social mobilizations.” The statement
underlined the “essential watchdog role”, of the press in democratic
societies, and the experts reminded US authorities that reporters must be
afforded “the highest degree of protection” in order to perform their
work freely.
“This obligation includes both the duty to avoid the use or threat
of force against journalists and to protect journalists against third party
violence,” they said.
“The targeting of media workers with lethal or less-lethal force for
doing their work is prohibited under international human rights law and contrary
to best policing standards.
Those violating such rules must be subject to accountability and
disciplinary processes.” Similarly, “public authorities should
condemn attacks against journalists and promote the role played by the
press”, the statement said.
The experts have previously addressed what they described as US President
Donald Trump’s “years-long attack” on the media, which has fostered a
climate of hostility and intolerance.
Nearly two years ago, they expressed concern over the President referring
to the media as the “enemy of the American people”, “very
dishonest” or “fake news”, and accusing the press of
“distorting democracy”, among other charges.
“We are deeply concerned that the militarization of policing in the
United States not only interferes with the right to peacefully assemble but
also limits the ability of the press to cover protests”, the experts
added.
“It encourages law enforcement to see protesters and journalists as
belligerents, and we strongly encourage demilitarisation and a reliance on
international standards for the management of protests”.
Kaye, an American, was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in August
2014 to monitor protection of the right to freedom of expression across the
world.
Lanza, who is from Uruguay, has served as the Special Rapporteur for
Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR)
since October 2014.
The IACHR is a principal and autonomous organ of the Organization of
American States (OAS).
Newspaper: Urdu Point
