The Red Cross and the UK Foreign Office launched a campaign this week looking at the Geneva Conventions some 60 years on. Of particular interest to Frontline Club members and blog readers is the question of how to protect of journalists,
It is important that the media are able to report the true picture of a conflict situation. But this often involves journalists putting themselves in dangerous situations.
The Geneva Conventions already clearly define the protection journalists are entitled to in their capacity as civilians within the conflict. This was re-emphasised in the First Additional Protocol of 1977.
But how can we ensure that journalists are protected? link
Photo: Protest against abduction and assault of journalist Keith Noyahr taken by Free Media Movement.
A quick look at the foreign policy map of failed states gives you a good idea of how fragile the situation is in many countries. I think it's getting worse, not better. So who is going to enforce Geneva or udhr? A good example is the release of Amanda Lindhout and Nigel Brennan from Somalia. There's no government, so there's nothing to be done. I'm not being defeatist, just saying that in the situation we find ourselves in it may not be doable to provide either a safe environment or to bring a goverment to book.
nick black