Oral statement of the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) delivered by the PEC representative Gianfranco Fattorini

General Assembly

Human Rights Council

17th session

Item 1:            Organizational and procedural matters

Report of the HC on the status of the implementation of the conclusions contained in the report of the fact-finding mission  (HRC/17/47)

Item 7:  Human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories

"Mr. President,

The Press Emblem Campaign would like to thank Madame High-Commissioner for her report.

Justice Karl Hudson-Phillips, Chair of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission said the Mission made critical findings. As far as journalists are concerned Justice Karl Hudson-Phillips noted in a press conference last March that the attack on the Mavi Marmara started from where the press center was functioning. He added Israeli Special Forces confiscated all equipment of journalists, several journalists were severely injured and at least one, a Turkish journalist was brutally killed.

The PEC asks whether the inaction of the international community on crimes against journalists will turn those tragedies in forgotten stories and requests the Council to take concrete action to bring the perpetrators of those attacks to justice.

The flotilla attacks reflect the escalating nature of killings which require an added attention from the international community to the global problem of the protection of journalists.

Mr. President,

The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) monitored 218 violations against journalists and media outlets during 2010 in West Bank and Gaza Strip. During the Year 2011 there were no improvements regarding media freedoms in the Palestinian occupied territories. MADA has monitored many violations against journalists, committed by both the Israeli Occupation Forces and Palestinian security services.

The Center monitored 12 violations against media during last May. The Israeli Occupation Forces attacked 13 journalists, detained 5, prevented one from traveling, arrested two and prevented a group of journalists from covering. On the Palestinian side, there were many violations against journalists in the West Bank and the Gaza strip.

The PEC reminds the Council that during period of the Gaza war carried out by Israel a cap on media coverage was imposed by the Israeli authorities.

The Press Emblem Campaign would suggest to the Council to organize a working group to document all violations against journalists in 2010 and 2011 as a yardstick that would encourage the Council to embark on a resolution that would accord journalists in situations of military conflict a special status.

I thank you Mr. President.

14th June 2011"