A global media forum has called on the United Nations Secretary-General to appoint a Special Rapporteur on the Protection of Journalists in peace and war. The third World Electronic Media Forum (WEMF3), meeting in Kuala Lumpur, made the call after hearing that 2007 was already the bloodiest year on record for journalists’ deaths, with at least 172 news media staff killed as a result of their work.
The forum, which brought broadcasters, journalists, policy makers, academics and others, urged states to implement UN Resolution 1738, adopted by the Security Council in December 2006. The resolution calls on states to end impunity for those who kill journalists and other news professionals, to investigate incidents of violence against news media, and to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The forum also called for greater efforts to preserve the world’s endangered audiovisual archives. In addition, it said broadcasters must maintain their core values and principles, such as accuracy, objectivity and ethical reporting, in the face of rapid technological change.
The forum, an event of the World Broadcasting Unions, took place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on 10-11 December and attracted more than 200 participants.
(Source: Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)
