Agenda item 11: IPDC SPECIAL INITIATIVE ON THE SAFETY OF JOURNALISTS: FUTURE STRATEGY

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1 CI-16/COUNCIL-30/6 4 Octber 2016 Agenda item 11: IPDC SPECIAL INITIATIVE ON THE SAFETY OF JOURNALISTS: FUTURE STRATEGY SUMMARY CONTENT OF DOCUMENT This dcument presents a strategy fr IPDC s wrk n the safety f jurnalists and the issue f impunity fr the perid f 2017 and 2018, with a fcus n reinfrcing IPDC s mnitring and reprting mechanism, as requested by the 60th IPDC Bureau meeting (17-18 March 2016). IPDC SPECIAL INITIATIVE ON THE SAFETY OF JOURNALISTS: FUTURE STRATEGY 1. Intrductin 2. Backgrund 3. Strategy 4. Cuncil actin 1. INTRODUCTION During the 60 th IPDC Bureau meeting held in March 2016, the IPDC Bureau members requested the IPDC Secretariat t prmte the uniqueness f IPDC s wrk n the safety f jurnalists, particularly its reprting and mnitring mechanism and its flagship Reprt by the Directr-General t the Cuncil f IPDC n the Safety f Jurnalists and the Danger f Impunity. Fr this purpse, the IPDC Bureau further requested the IPDC Secretariat t present a dcument t the Intergvernmental Cuncil f the IPDC (referred t in this dcument as the IPDC Cuncil). The strategy fr IPDC presented belw takes int accunt decisins taken by the Bureau at its 60 th meeting which cver IPDC wrk: T cntinue t develp natinal assessments based n the IPDC-apprved Jurnalists Safety Indicatrs. T ensure gender mainstreaming in IPDC safety prjects, by addressing - when apprpriate - particular risks and dangers faced by wmen jurnalists. 1

2 T cmpile and disseminate best practices in mnitring, reprting n and prmting the safety f jurnalists, including natinal and reginal prtectin mechanisms fr jurnalists. T frmulate, publish, translate and disseminate a bklet explaining IPDC s mnitring and reprting mechanism. T imprve IPDC branding f the Prgramme s rle in prmting the safety f jurnalists, particularly the reprting and mnitring mechanisms. T mnitr the implementatin f the 2030 Agenda fr Sustainable Develpment Target and related Indicatr , including by encuraging Member States t c-perate with the IPDC s wrk in mnitring and prmting the safety f jurnalists. The IPDC Bureau als requested the Secretariat t prepare prpsals t dnrs, in particular thse imprving reprting and mnitring mechanisms at natinal level. All f these actins fall in the framewrk f UNESCO s wider actins t enhance the safety f jurnalists and t tackle impunity. 2. BACKGROUND It was in 2008 that the IPDC Cuncil decided t give particular pririty t the prmtin f the safety f jurnalists and the fight against impunity. It was reflected as such in the first IPDC Decisin n The Safety f Jurnalists and the Issue f Impunity. That year the first UNESCO s Directr-General Reprt n The Safety f Jurnalists and the Danger f Impunity was als launched with the aim f prviding analytical infrmatin n the killing f jurnalists and the judicial inquiries, based n infrmatin prvided by Member States n a vluntary basis. It is the nly reprt wrldwide that prvides this type f infrmatin, and it is the UN system s surce f fficial infrmatin n these issues. The reprt is a fundamental mechanism t supprt gvernments and civil sciety rganizatins with factual infrmatin as they tackle the issue f impunity. In 2016, the fifth reprt is being tabled at the 30 th meeting f the IPDC Cuncil. In 2010, the IPDC Cuncil planted the seed fr the develpment f the UN Plan f Actin n The Safety f Jurnalists and the Issue f Impunity (frm nw n, the UN Plan). Its 2010 IPDC Decisin n The Safety f Jurnalists and the Issue f Impunity invited UNESCO s Directr-General t evaluate the feasibility f cnvening an inter-agency meeting f all the relevant UN agencies with a view t frmulating a cmprehensive, cherent, and actinriented apprach t the safety f jurnalists and the issue f impunity. In 2012, after a multi-stakehlder prcess, the UN Plan was apprved by the highest-level crdinatin frum f the United Natins (UN) system, the UN Chief Executives Bard (CEB), and subsequently welcmed by the UN General Assembly, the UN Security Cuncil and the UN Human Rights Cuncil. In additin, an implementatin strategy was apprved t guide the wrk fr the next few years, whse executin has als been supprted by the IPDC. Since then, the UN Plan has served as a radmap fr gvernments and ther actrs. Its impact, particularly at the UN nrmative level where nine reslutins have been passed in recent years, has been significant. The Plan was reviewed in 2014, and a fllw-up review is in planning. IPDC s subsequent wrk n the safety f jurnalists perates n the basis f these develpments and within the framewrk f UNESCO s cntinued leadership f the Plan. 2

3 The IPDC is als behind the creatin f critical tls t assess natinal media landscapes, including jurnalists safety. The success f the Media Develpment Indicatrs (MDIs), created within and endrsed by the IPDC in 2008, led t the develpment f the Jurnalists Safety Indicatrs (JSIs) that are designed t assess the security challenges faced by jurnalists. The results are a useful set f data and recmmendatins fr gvernments and ther stakehlders t address this issue. The JSIs have been applied in Guatemala, Hnduras, Kenya, Nepal and Pakistan and studies are underway in Afghanistan, Iraq, Rwanda, Suth Sudan, and Uganda. Since the IPDC decided t give pririty t jurnalists safety in 2008, 74 prjects in this area have been apprved fr funding in mre than 35 cuntries fr clse t US$ 1.4 millin dllars 1. In terms f gegraphical distributin, figures shw that the Africa regin has received the mst supprt related t safety, which is aligned with UNESCO s pririty given t this cntinent. Asia and the Pacific cme secnd, Latin America and the Caribbean third and then the Arab Regin. These IPDC prjects mainly invlve building capacities amng jurnalists, prfessinal assciatins and public institutins and reinfrcing mnitring mechanisms and advcacy tls t raise awareness n the imprtant rle that jurnalism plays in bth demcracy and sustainable develpment. In additin, in the last eight years, the IPDC has allcated mre than half a millin dllars t special prjects related t safety. Althugh nt nly fcused n safety, nearly US$450,000 were allcated t the prject Develp and design cmmunicatin and infrmatin strategies fr the recvery, recnstructin, and demcratizatin f the Tunisian Sciety. Additinally, US$55,000 were spent in applying the JSIs. At the 60 th IPDC Bureau meeting in March 2016, the Bureau allcated anther US$30,000 t the JSIs and US$70,000 t varius prjects aiming t reinfrce safety reprting and mnitring mechanisms and t cllect gd practices abut prmting safety and cmbatting impunity. 3. STRATEGY FOR IPDC This IPDC s future strategy n Jurnalists Safety and against Impunity aims t build upn the uniqueness f the IPDC s wrk in fulfilling its respnsibilities fr supprting the safety f jurnalists, and particularly upn the mandate f its reprting and mnitring mechanisms. This is cmplementary t wider actins led by UNESCO t enhance the safety f jurnalists and t tackle impunity. It fllws that this strategy dcument defines IPDC s cntributin t UNESCO s wider leadership f the UN Plan f Actin n the Safety f Jurnalists and the Issue f Impunity. The strategy als includes prpsals fr funding, as requested by the IPDC Bureau. The strategy recgnizes further that while challenges related t the safety f jurnalists are many and interrelated, IPDC s effrts need t be priritized in a limited number f areas in rder t have an impact, while als ptimizing their cmplementarity t the wrk f ther UNESCO initiatives in this area. The guiding ratinale is t put the fcus n activities which 1 This infrmatin is based n the analytical paper The Rle in the Prmtin f the Safety f Jurnalists: A Way Frward, prepared fr the IPDC by Silvia Chcarr Marcesse. This data includes IPDC prjects entirely fcused n, r including sme activities related t, the prmtin f the safety f jurnalists. 3

4 the IPDC is particularly well placed t successfully address, with an emphasis n actins that cmplement ther activities and which avid duplicatin. Fr example, ne area f activity where IPDC is well placed is t make the link between the Directr-General s Reprt and what needs t be dne in a selected number f cuntries with interests in c-peratin with IPDC, in rder t address the issue f impunity. This line f actin calls n IPDC t encurage strategic partnerships in the field, and t reprt n prgress made when the subsequent Reprts f the Directr General are presented. In additin, IPDC s character as an Intergvernmental Prgramme enables it t bring different actrs tgether, and t link wrk at glbal level with grassrts initiatives. Mrever, IPDC using its indicatrs and its rle in mnitring prgress n SDG brings a knwledge-driven advantage t the field. All this cmplements the extensive ther wrk als being dne n safety and impunity within UNESCO. It reinfrces, fr example, the prmtin f the UN Plan and wrldwide cmmemratins f the Internatinal Day t End Impunity fr Crimes Against Jurnalists, which actins are implemented by the Freedm f Expressin Divisin in the Cmmunicatin-Infrmatin Sectr. The IPDC s niche activity n safety further synergises that by numerus ther actrs, particularly at lcal level. In several cases, initiatives riginating in IPDC have the ptential t be taken up, expanded and c-implemented by ther parts f UNESCO as well as by external actrs. In verview, this future strategy fr IPDC s special initiative n safety highlight the distinctive character f this stream within UNESCO as it jins with ther flws that can tgether cnstitute a pwerful river. Against this backgrund, this strategy is based n the fllwing dcuments, as requested by the IPDC Bureau: The utcmes f the UNESCO cnference News Organizatins standing up fr the safety f media prfessinals. The analytical paper IPDC s Rle in the Prmtin f the Safety f Jurnalists: A Way Frward, presented t the 60 th meeting f the IPDC Bureau. The discussin which tk place at the 60 th Bureau meeting. Overall bjective T strategically priritize the wrk f the IPDC n the safety f jurnalists and the issue f impunity t increase the impact f this wrk, particularly in terms f reprting and mnitring mechanisms. Outputs IPDC wrk n jurnalists safety and impunity at the strategic level reinfrced. IPDC s standard-setting rle is strengthened. IPDC s reprting and mnitring mechanisms are supprted. IPDC s knwledge-driven rle n the issue f the safety f jurnalists is reinfrced. IPDC safety prjects are strategically priritized s as t increase IPDC impact wrldwide. Activities IPDC s strategic and standard-setting level 4

5 T prmte debates and discussins twards the advancement f IPDC s standardsetting rle, fllwing the traditin f planting the seed fr initiatives such as the UN Plan, the Media Develpment Indicatrs (MDIs), the Jurnalists Safety Indicatrs (JSIs), and the Directr-General s Reprt n the Safety f Jurnalists and the Danger f Impunity. The recently created initiative IPDCTalks can als be used fr this purpse, and specific funding prpsals can be submitted t rganize similar events at natinal and reginal levels where media and ther actrs can tell stries that generate and disseminate infrmatin n the tpic f safety and which highlight the standard that this is f great significance t sustainable develpment (and SDG in particular). T ensure IPDC jurnalists safety initiatives are in synergy with ther IPDC initiatives prmting free, independent and pluralistic media as well as with all ther UNESCO actins related t this issue, including in Field Offices. T strengthen synergies with ther internatinal and reginal rganizatins, Member States, civil sciety grups, prfessinal assciatins, academia, and media utlets as part f IPDC cntributin t UNESCO s wider wrk in leading the UN Plan f Actin. T increase external cmmunicatin t disseminate and make widely available the value f the IPDC-driven initiatives amng States, civil sciety grups, prfessinal assciatins, academia and media utlets, in particular its reprting and mnitring mechanisms. This invlves ensuring that any reprt, paper and training material prepared within the IPDC is widely distributed and publicized amng all relevant actrs. IPDC s mandated reprting and mnitring rle: T cntinue t reinfrce the quality f IPDC s reprting and mnitring mechanisms which underpin the UNESCO s Directr-General s Reprt n the Safety f Jurnalists and the Danger f Impunity. T request infrmatin frm Member States n gd practices they have develped in rder t address safety and impunity, and t add this infrmatin as a new chapter in future Reprts f the Directr-General n the Safety f Jurnalists and the Danger f Impunity. T increase distributin and disseminatin f the Directr-General s Reprt amng all stakehlders, such as the UN, ther internatinal and reginal rganizatins, NGOs, academia and media utlets. T prepare a cmmunicatin and marketing strategy fr this purpse, als fr scial media. 2 2 The IPDC Bureau, fr example, in 2016 allcated US$20,000 fr the frmulatin, publicatin, translatin (English, French, Spanish, Arabic) and disseminatin f a (print and n-line) bklet explaining IPDC s mnitring and reprting mechanism n the safety f jurnalists and impunity issues t Member States, UN bdies, civil sciety, NGOs, human rights bdies, media prfessinals and ther stakehlders. 5

6 T identify cmplementary mnitring mechanisms develped by ther internatinal, reginal and natinal institutins with which IPDC can create synergies. An example is the ne supprted by the Cuncil f Eurpe. T cntribute t the mnitring f the implementatin f SDG n public access t infrmatin, by prviding IPDC s infrmatin n killings and impunity as an input t the wider field f indicatr : number f verified cases f killing, kidnapping, enfrced disappearance, arbitrary detentin and trture f jurnalists and assciated persnnel. T supprt Member States t reinfrce their reprting and mnitring mechanisms fr the UNESCO Directr-General s Reprt. 3 T reinfrce the use f the IPDC reprting and mnitring mechanisms t prvide inputs n killings and judicial prcess t the Universal Peridic Review (UPR) and ther dcuments prepared within the UN and ther intergvernmental rganizatins. T reinfrce the use f the IPDC s reprting and mnitring mechanisms as a surce f relevant infrmatin by nn-gvernmental institutins and academia. IPDC s knwledge-driven rle: T prmte the IPDC as a think tank fr issues related t jurnalists safety in cmplementarity with UNESCO s wrk, by rganizing discussins under the brand IPDC Talks as well as debates during the IPDC Cuncils n issues related t safety. T cntinue t supprt research in the field f jurnalists safety and impunity, including applicatin f the Jurnalism Safety Indicatrs. This culd include creating a brand fr supprting relevant academic research. This brand culd be called IPDC Fellwships n Freedm f Expressin and Media Develpment which culd prvide funds annually t at least tw researchers t cntribute t knwledge develpment n the issue, while als reinfrcing UNESCO s wider prmtin f this agenda within academia. This specific IPDC Fellwship initiative culd be submitted t dnrs fr funding. IPDC s safety prjects: Amngst its grant-making, IPDC gives pririty t applicatins fr supprt fr safety prjects. The chice f prjects t supprt in future can be cnsidered mre clsely within the fllwing niche, in particular where an IPDC grant, cming frm a specialised intergvernmental bdy within UNESCO, can invlve all stakehlders in: 3 The IPDC Bureau in 2016 allcated US$20,000 t allw a pilt prject in a selected cuntry and effrts are already being made in Iraq and Pakistan. Mre resurcing will be needed t fllw thrugh and cnslidate these initiatives. 6

7 Carrying ut assessments based n the Jurnalists Safety Indicatrs, as a first step t develp medium-term strategies within the framewrk f the UN Plan. Creating and/r reinfrcing natinal reprting and mnitring mechanisms that can supprt the UNESCO s Directr-General s Reprt n The Safety f Jurnalists and the Danger f Impunity, as well as mnitring f SDG indicatr Strengthening judicial systems t be capable f tackling the issue f impunity fr crimes against jurnalists. Sensitizing gvernment fficials, law enfrcement and military persnnel n the imprtance f jurnalists safety. Prmting the inclusin f the issue f safety f jurnalists within educatin and training institutins. Implementing gender-transfrmative prjects in the area f safety. As per track recrd, sme f these apprved IPDC prjects will cntinue t supprt activities that reinfrce nrms arund safety and impunity with glbal, reginal r natinal impact. Other prjects will deal with capacity building amngst actrs, including at grassrts level, such as jurnalism schls r jurnalist unins. By way f grant-making t prjects, IPDC is a valuable channel fr external ideas. It can thus be respnsive in prvide resurcing t external actrs in rder that they can implement specific safetyrelated activities. In this way, the prjects that win a grant als cmplement the brader wrk by the IPDC gverning bdies n nrms and strategies, as well as the specific wrk by the IPDC secretariat which is resurced thrugh special allcatins by the IPDC Bureau. The IPDC prjects fcused n the safety f jurnalists and the issue f impunity shuld take int accunt the fllwing crsscutting principles: Fstering multi-stakehlder prcesses. Prmting cllectin, sharing and implementatin f gd practices. Mainstreaming gender. Prmting Suth-Suth cperatin. Increased financial supprt t IPDC wuld enable the Bureau t cnsider many mre wrthwhile initiatives which can imprve safety and cmbat impunity at grassrts level. Evaluatin: This IPDC strategy will be fllwed-up n a regular basis by the IPDC Bureau. Its implementatin will be mnitred by the IPDC s Bureau members thrugh reprts t the annual IPDC Bureau meetings. It will be adapted t new circumstances r challenges, if needed, by the IPDC Secretariat in cnsultatin with the IPDC Chair and the IPDC Bureau. 4. COUNCIL ACTION The Cuncil, having discussed this dcument, may wish t cnsider endrsing the strategy, as prvided fr within the wider prpsed Decisin n IPDC and the Safety f Jurnalists and the Issue f Impunity. 7