Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, July 2013

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Overview


On Wednesday July 17th, 2013, the Security Council held an open debate on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict with a focus on the protection of journalists under the presidency of the United States. Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson's briefing was followed by statements of four prominent journalists: Richard Engel (NBC), Kathleen Carroll (Associated Press/Committee to Protect Journalists), Mustafa Haji Abdinur (AFP) and Ghaith Abdul-Ahad (The Guardian). Multiple Member States, in addition to the European Union, addressed the Council. Several Member States made gender references in addition to the briefings of Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson and journalist Kathleen Carroll.
 

Gender Analysis


A few statements included gender references to issues such as sexual violence and harassment targeted against female journalists and the need for a gender sensitive approach when addressing the distinct experiences of women journalists in armed conflict.Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson expressed that women journalists face grave threats of rape and sexual violence. Several delegates, including the Republic of Korea, the United States, Argentina, and France, also referenced sexual violence perpetrated against women journalists during armed conflict.Not one statement made direct reference to resolutions on women, peace and security: Resolutions 1325, 1820, 1888, 1889, 1960, or 2106. It must be remembered that sexual violence as experienced by journalists in armed conflict is not mutually exclusive from sexual violence as articulated in resolutions on women, peace and security.

 

 

General Analysis


The Security Council addressed the need to hold persistent perpetrators of human rights violations against journalists in situations of armed conflict accountable and underlined the importance of implementing concrete action plans to prevent abuses. Additional topics articulated during the debate on the protection of journalists included the inextricable link between journalists and civilians, the relationship between freedom of expression and democracy, and the particular need for protection of local journalists reporting about domestic corruption and crime. Furthermore, the debate consisted of statements that addressed the role of new media (blogging, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) in activism and journalism at large—more specifically, how this complicates the definition of who is a journalist.

 

 

 

 

Statements


Member States who spoke at the debate included representatives of: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Ecuador, France, Greece, Guatemala, India, Israel, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Senegal, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, and Venezuela.

 

 


UN and Civil Society representatives at the debate included: Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Jan Eliasson and journalists: Richard Engel (NBC), Kathleen Carroll (Associated Press/Committee to Protect Journalists), Mustafa Haji Abdinur (AFP) and Ghaith Abdul-Ahad (The Guardian). The representative of the European Union delegation also delivered a statement.

 

Please choose

General Women, Peace and Security

  • Country

    Argentina

  • Extracts

    According to the Secretary-General's 2012 report (S/2012/376), the state of protection of civilians remains terrible. Among violations of international humanitarian law, it describes ongoing attacks by combattants on non-combattants; disproportionate attacks; displacements within and across borders; violence against women and children, including sexual violence; air strikes, including with unregistered aircraft; and other actions that prevent or hinder the provision of humanitarian assistance, such as deliberate assaults on hospitals, schools and humanitarian operations. In many situations on the ground, journalists are principal victims of such violations of international humanitarian law.

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Statement

  • Country

    S. Korea

  • Extracts

    While the majority of victims are male journalists, we note with concern that female journalists are also subject to violations in conflict situations. They face additional risks, such as those of sexual violence or sexual abuse in detention. We believe that a gender-sensitive approach is needed when considering measures to address the issue of violence against journalists.

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Statement

  • Country

    United States of America

  • Extracts

    We also underscore the specific risks faced by women journalists, including sexual and gender-­ based violence. A gender-­sensitive approach is needed when considering measures to address the safety of journalists.

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Statement
Protection

  • Country

    Guatemala

  • Extracts

    Despite the Council's pronouncements, we note that, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, the situation has not improved; rather, it has worsened. There are alarming reports of imprisonment, beatings, disappearances and even violent deaths. Of similar concern are attacks against women journalists, who are even more vulnerable during armed conflicts.

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Statement
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

  • Country

    Argentina

  • Extracts

    According to the Secretary-General's 2012 report (S/2012/376), the state of protection of civilians remains terrible. Among violations of international humanitarian law, it describes ongoing attacks by combattants on non-combattants; disproportionate attacks; displacements within and across borders; violence against women and children, including sexual violence; air strikes, including with unregistered aircraft; and other actions that prevent or hinder the provision of humanitarian assistance, such as deliberate assaults on hospitals, schools and humanitarian operations. In many situations on the ground, journalists are principal victims of such violations of international humanitarian law.

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Statement

  • Country

    France

  • Extracts

    Today, we note that, unfortunately, that step was insufficient. Quite to the contrary, it was far from being sufficient because 2012 was perhaps the most murderous year. More than 120 journalists were killed in the exercise of their profession, which was double the figure for 2011. Several hundred others were imprisoned and sometimes tortured. Many were subject to intimidation, kidnappings, forced disappearances and arbitrary detentions. Women journalists are often the deliberately targeted victims of harassment and sexual violence. Bloggers, be they professional journalists or simply citizens, are also being targeted in an increasingly systematic manner.

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Statement

  • Country

    S. Korea

  • Extracts

    While the majority of victims are male journalists, we note with concern that female journalists are also subject to violations in conflict situations. They face additional risks, such as those of sexual violence or sexual abuse in detention. We believe that a gender-sensitive approach is needed when considering measures to address the issue of violence against journalists.

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Statement

  • Speaker

    Secretary-General of the United Nations

  • Extracts

    Attacks on journalists also take the forms of abduction, hostage-taking, harassment, intimidation and illegal arrest. Women journalists are increasingly becoming victims of sexual harassment and rape.

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Statement

  • Country

    United States of America

  • Extracts

    We also underscore the specific risks faced by women journalists, including sexual and gender-­ based violence. A gender-­sensitive approach is needed when considering measures to address the safety of journalists.

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Statement
UN Security Council Members
Non UN Security Council Members
UN & Civil Society Speakers