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The State of Qatar calls for strengthening mechanisms to protect journalists in conflict zones.

Doha - November 8, 2024:

The State of Qatar called for strengthening mechanisms to protect journalists in conflict zones, including providing physical protection, legal support, and safety tools, as well as enhancing cooperation between countries and international bodies to ensure a globally effective response against attacks on journalists.

This was stated by Sheikh Jassim bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, Second Secretary of Qatar's Permanent Mission to the United Nations, before the UN General Assembly’s Fourth Committee in its 79th session on agenda item 53: "Questions relating to Information" at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

He emphasized that protecting and ensuring the safety of journalists is a priority for Qatar, and highlighted Qatar’s tangible efforts in this regard on both international and local levels. He referenced the International Conference on the Protection of Journalists hosted in 2012, the launch of the International Conference on the Protection of Journalists, and the Doha Declaration on the Protection of Journalists in 2016.

He expressed Qatar’s pride in sponsoring and supporting the project to digitize the United Nations' historical documents and records in its previous two phases with a contribution of $7.5 million, facilitating the analysis of documents issued since 1945. He confirmed Qatar's ongoing support for this vital project in the future.

He noted that access to accurate and reliable information is critically important for countries, organizations, and individuals, adding that the United Nations Department of Global Communications and the UN Information Centres play a key role in awareness, education, and engagement with partners across various sectors, thereby contributing to the success of the UN’s efforts and promoting its credibility and reputation.

He highlighted that the effectiveness of this role requires the Department and centres to work with transparency, objectivity, accuracy, and neutrality. He also drew attention to the special information program on the Question of Palestine by the Department of Global Communications, which brings attention to one of the UN's longest-standing issues, especially as the Palestinian cause currently faces a critical juncture.

He pointed out that the number of Palestinian casualties resulting from Israel's war on Gaza has exceeded 43,000, including 322 humanitarian workers killed to date, as well as at least 137 journalists and media personnel since the beginning of the aggression, according to statistics from the Committee to Protect Journalists. In this context, he renewed Qatar’s condemnation of the killing of journalists amid the Israeli aggression on Gaza and Lebanon, stressing the need to protect them in accordance with international humanitarian law.

He continued: "I take this opportunity on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, on November 2, 2024, to commend them, especially those covering conflicts and crises in the most challenging conditions," also emphasizing the importance of ensuring the protection and safety of female journalists.

Source: Qatar News Agency