Connect with us

International

Director-General of UNESCO: "At this crucial moment and for our future, we need a free press"

Published

4 years ago

on

Message from Ms Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day (3 May)
At a time when we are mired in worry and uncertainty because of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, free information is essential to helping us face, understand, think about and overcome this crisis.
First, we must consider the vital importance of information in this situation: informing the public means giving everyone the means of combatting the illness by adopting appropriate practices.
This is why the Organization has teamed up with the rest of the United Nations family to fight the “infodemic” of rumours and disinformation which is exacerbating the pandemic and putting lives at risk.
To help put an end to the problem, we have joined forces to promote two major social-media campaigns, Together for Facts, Science and Solidarity and Don’t Go Viral. To bolster the effectiveness of these initiatives, UNESCO has also created a COVID-19 resource centre for the media. This online platform aims to help journalists track false information regarding the pandemic and report on the crisis reliably and effectively, as encouraged by the theme of World Press Freedom Day 2020, “journalism without fear or favour”.
This theme is a timely celebration of the work of those who stand up for freedom of information and for an independent press which examines and states the facts.
Too often, we see interference with freedom of the press. Whether this interference involves political, ideological or economic control, defamatory attacks intended to discredit their target, or harassment, too often, it aims to silence journalists – particularly, women journalists.
Unfortunately, the extraordinary nature of our present circumstances is aggravating this pressure on journalists.The ongoing crisis is also increasing economic uncertainty for journalists.
For example, at the very moment that the transition to digital technology is picking up speed, advertising revenue, on which many publications depend, is decreasing or even plummeting. Eventually, newspapers could thus be forced to reduce or cease operation, depriving communities of a different perspective on the world, of a focus necessary to the diversity of opinion.
In a world as profoundly interdependent as this crisis has shown ours to be, every threat to or attack on the diversity of the press, the freedom of the press and the safety of journalists concerns us all.
This is why the United Nations system of organizations, together with new coalitions formed by media, governments, and actors from the spheres of law, academia and civil society worldwide, is supporting journalists and their fight for independence and the truth.
Today, I wish to call for a redoubling of these efforts. At this crucial moment and for our future, we need a free press, and journalists need to be able to count on all of us.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
7 Comments
Subscribe
Notify of
7 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

International

Netanyahu faces mounting protests amid hostage deaths and ceasefire dispute

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces intense protests after six hostages were killed by Hamas, with critics accusing him of prioritizing personal interests. As calls grow for a ceasefire, Netanyahu’s refusal to withdraw troops from Gaza’s border fuels further outrage at home and abroad.

Published

3 days ago

on

5 September 2024

By

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing increasing public pressure from families of hostages, political critics, and Middle Eastern leaders following the deaths of six hostages held by Hamas.

On Wednesday, protests erupted across Israel, including outside the Likud headquarters and at the homes of key lawmakers, as frustrations mounted over Netanyahu’s handling of the hostage crisis and the ongoing war in Gaza.

The protests intensified after Netanyahu publicly rejected calls to withdraw Israeli forces from the Gaza-Egypt border, a key demand in ongoing ceasefire negotiations.

The prime minister has insisted that maintaining a military presence in the so-called Philadelphi corridor is crucial to prevent Hamas from using the area for arms smuggling. His stance has been widely criticized both domestically and internationally, with many seeing it as a significant obstacle to progress in negotiations.

Families of the slain hostages have expressed their outrage after the release of a video by Hamas, showing one of the hostages, Eden Yerushalmi, accusing the Israeli government of abandoning her and other captives.

Yerushalmi, 24, who was abducted from the Nova music festival on 7 October, appeared gaunt and emotionally distressed in the two-minute video, which was posted by Hamas’ Al-Qassam Brigades on Monday. In the video, she pointedly blamed Netanyahu for failing to secure their release, further fueling anger among the families of hostages and the public.

The video’s release coincided with the funerals of the six hostages whose bodies were recovered from a tunnel near the Gaza-Egypt border.

Among the dead were Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alex Lobanov, Ori Danino, Carmel Gat, and Almog Sarusi. Yerushalmi’s family authorized the release of a short clip from the video, which has since been widely circulated as a grim reminder of the failed negotiations. The Hostage Families Forum condemned the video as “shocking psychological terror” aimed at inflicting further pain on the families.

Hamas also released a separate video of Lobanov and Gat, who, like Yerushalmi, criticized the Israeli government for its failure to negotiate their release. Lobanov accused Netanyahu of neglecting the hostages, referencing the Shalit deal in which Israel released over a thousand Palestinian prisoners in exchange for one Israeli soldier.

“You failed and neglected us on October 7, and now you continue to fail in every attempt to release us alive,” he said, highlighting the dire conditions under which they were held and the bombing by Israeli forces.

Similarly, Gat, who had been in captivity for nearly 11 months, pleaded with the government to stop the bombing and prioritize their release.

Both hostages called on Israeli citizens to take to the streets and protest, urging the government to act. The release of these videos has intensified public anger and fueled ongoing protests demanding action from Netanyahu’s administration.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s refusal to withdraw from the Philadelphi corridor has drawn sharp criticism from his former war cabinet colleague, Benny Gantz, and international condemnation from Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

While Gantz acknowledged the importance of the corridor for Israel’s security, he stressed that the return of hostages must be prioritized over territorial control.

Critics have also pointed out that Netanyahu’s personal interests may be at play in prolonging the conflict.

Facing charges of fraud, bribery, and breach of trust in three cases filed in 2019, Netanyahu’s continued tenure as prime minister is seen by many as a strategic move to avoid legal repercussions.

If convicted, Netanyahu could face up to 10 years in prison, and some argue that staying in power shields him from potential imprisonment.

His critics claim that Netanyahu is willing to risk regional stability and global peace to remain in office, as losing his political position could leave him vulnerable to prosecution, potentially leading to a life behind bars.

As tensions escalate, Netanyahu faces a critical test in navigating the hostage crisis and the broader conflict, with both domestic and international pressure mounting.

Many are questioning whether his decisions are driven by national security or personal survival, adding to the growing discontent within Israel and beyond.

Continue Reading

International

UK suspends arms export licences to Israel over humanitarian law concerns

The UK has suspended some arms export licences to Israel, citing a “clear risk” they may violate international humanitarian law in Gaza. The move, affecting components for military aircraft, helicopters, and drones, marks a break from US policy and raises concerns over UK-Israel relations.

Published

5 days ago

on

3 September 2024

By

In a move that could strain relations with the Biden administration, the United Kingdom has announced the suspension of several arms export licences to Israel, citing a “clear risk” that these arms could be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law. This decision marks a significant divergence from the tightly coordinated policy between the UK and the US regarding Israel.

The UK’s Foreign Office revealed that a two-month internal review raised concerns over Israel’s conduct in the ongoing Gaza conflict, particularly regarding the treatment of Palestinian detainees and the obstruction of aid to Gaza.

Although no definitive conclusion has been reached on whether UK-exported arms contributed to the destruction in Gaza, the scale of the devastation and civilian casualties has prompted the UK to take this precautionary measure.

The suspension affects components for military aircraft, helicopters, drones, and targeting equipment, covering 30 out of 350 existing arms licences.

Notably, components related to the F-35 fighter jet programme are largely exempt due to their integration into a global supply chain controlled by the US, a point seen as a significant loophole by pro-Palestinian groups.

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy emphasized that this suspension is not a full arms embargo and does not match the level of previous suspensions, such as those imposed by Margaret Thatcher in 1982.

Lammy described the decision as one made “in sorrow rather than anger,” stressing that it does not amount to a judgment on Israel’s actions but is rather a forward-looking measure based on the potential risks involved.

Israeli officials reacted with dismay to the UK’s decision. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant expressed deep disappointment, emphasizing Israel’s need to defend itself against multiple threats, including those from Hamas, which recently executed six Israeli hostages.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz also criticized the UK’s move, stating it sends a problematic message to Hamas and its backers in Iran. The decision comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces mounting political pressure following a general strike and public outrage over his handling of the Gaza ceasefire terms.

In his address to the House of Commons, Lammy explained that the decision was driven by evidence concerning Israel’s treatment of Palestinian prisoners and restrictions on humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The UK’s legal advice indicated that Israel could have taken more reasonable measures to facilitate humanitarian access and distribution, and it criticized Israel’s restrictive approach to dual-use items and the insufficiency of aid provided to Gaza.

The suspension is expected to complicate the UK’s relationship with the US, where the Biden administration and some Republicans close to Donald Trump have resisted similar measures, arguing there is no basis under international humanitarian law for suspending arms exports to Israel. Biden has faced pressure from the pro-Palestinian wing of the Democratic Party to leverage arms sales to force Israeli concessions in ceasefire negotiations.

In Europe, only Belgium and Spain have imposed arms embargoes on Israel, while Germany has refrained from doing so.

The UK’s decision is also likely to influence domestic legal challenges, including an upcoming case brought by Global Legal Action Network and the Palestinian human rights organization Al-Haq.

The Labour Party’s annual conference may see heated debates over the suspension, but Lammy’s careful calibration of the decision could help him navigate the potential backlash.

British arms exports to Israel amounted to £42 million in 2022, a relatively small portion of the UK’s overall arms trade, but the political implications of this suspension are likely to resonate far beyond the financial impact.

The UK’s suspension of arms export licences to Israel comes amid escalating violence in Gaza, where the death toll has surged to 40,786, according to Gaza-based health authorities.

In the past 24 hours alone, 48 people were killed and 70 wounded by Israeli military actions, bringing the total number of injured to 94,224 since the conflict erupted in early October 2023.

The Israeli military’s large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip is in retaliation for a Hamas-led rampage on 7 October 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,169 people by Hamas militants and Israeli security forces under the Hannibal directive, and the taking of around 250 hostages.

Continue Reading

Trending