Journalism is a dangerous occupation. Statistics collected by media freedom organizations show that each year dozens of media professionals are killed or injured in the course of their work. Elections can be dangerous for journalists, and tense and sometimes violent campaigns or announcement of results can expose those trying to report honestly and accurately.
The responsibility for protecting the physical security of everyone within its territory rests with the government, which has a particular obligation in relation to the media. It was in recognition of this that the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights resolved:
The World Conference encourages the increased involvement of the media, for whom freedom and protection should be guaranteed within the framework of national law.[i]
There are a few basic steps that governments can take to ensure this protection:
International Humanitarian Law (Geneva Conventions) makes specific reference to the protection of journalists, stating “[j]ournalists engaged in dangerous professional missions in areas of armed conflict shall be considered as civilians”[ii] and provided with the same protection as civilians. Additional protection is provided to war correspondents who are accompanying, or affiliated with, armed forces. In such cases correspondents are afforded prisoner of war status if captured, and other rights equivalent to civilian members of armed forces.[iii] The International Committee for the Red Cross has a dedicated hotline for journalists (and their employers and families) in trouble in conflict situations. Thus journalists covering elections in conflict-affected areas are protected under international law, although implementation of these protections by national governments often remains inadequate.[iv]
In addition, an electoral management body (EMB) can promote a code of conduct that stresses the importance of both political parties and security forces allowing journalists to go about their work unimpeded.
See section Media Safety for more information[i] “World Conference on Human Rights, Vienna Declaration”, para. 26.
[ii] “Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I), 8 June 1977”, (Diplomatic Conference of Geneva of 1974-1977), Article 79, http://www.icrc.org/ihl.nsf/FULL/470?OpenDocument
[iii] “Convention (III) relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War. Geneva, 12 August 1949”, (Diplomatic Conference of Geneva of 1949), Article 4 A (4), http://www.icrc.org/ihl.nsf/FULL/375
[iv] “How does international humanitarian law protect journalists in armed-conflict situations?” (Interview), International Committee for the Red Cross, July 27, 2010 http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/interview/protection-journalists-interview-270710.htm
