Concern over journalists' safety around the world
Wednesday, 13 Feb 2008 08:43
The report claims the world's journalists are at risk
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A new report has expressed concern over the safety of journalists worldwide, accusing public officials of "impotence, cowardice and duplicity" in defending freedom of expression.
The Reporters Without Borders annual press freedom report claimed that the actions of some western countries and major international bodies were harming press freedom.
In the publication released today, secretary general Robert Menard said that: "The lack of determination by democratic countries in defending the values they supposedly stand for is alarming."
Mr Menard claimed that more should be done to counter the actions of global leaders who try and prevent international media coverage in their countries.
"Pressure must be maintained on dictatorships to stop freely abusing the right of their citizens. But we also increasingly need to get democratic countries and major institutions to defend these rights around the world," he said.
The report also criticised the UN and EU in failing to defend human rights.
A list of global problems for the coming year were highlighted, including key elections in
Pakistan (February 18th), Russia (March 2nd),
Iran (March 14th) and
Zimbabwe (March 29th).
Concerns were also raised over the safety of journalists covering fighting in Sri Lanka,
Somalia, Niger, Chad,
Palestine and Iraq.
It claimed that "journalists continue to be buried almost every week" in Iraq.
The report highlighted alleged media repression in China in the lead-up to the Olympic Games in Beijing this summer.
"Nobody apart from the International Olympic Committee seems to believe the government will make a significant human rights concession before the Games start," it said.
In 2007, 86 journalists were killed as a result of violence and on average two were arrested every day.