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of Human Rights Defenders

GENEVA, February 21 (PEC) — The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) condemned strongly Wednesday the storming by US forces of the Baghdad offices of the Iraq Syndicate of Journalists (ISJ), a PEC founding member.

According to information received by the PEC from the ISJ, the US forces, when attacking Monday evening the ISJ headquarters, destroyed furniture and arrested state-employed security guards, and confiscated 10 computers and other material.

Recalling the unanimous adoption of security-council resolution number 1738 condemning attacks on journalists, the PEC reminds all parties to the conflict in Iraq and US forces that the US government has endorsed this important resolution.

The PEC, which is shocked at this attack which passed uncovered by satellite major TV stations, reminds the US, that the resolution states that media equipment and installations constitute civilian objects, and in this respect shall not be the object of attack or of reprisals, unless they are military objectives.

This unwarranted attack on the headquarters of the Iraqi syndicate of journalists urges member states and the media community to unite towards taking serious steps for a new convention to protect media and their installations in war zones and other dangerous situations.

The Iraqi syndicate of journalists has requested from the Iraqi government a quick inquiry into the attack of Monday, and the PEC supports their call.

There is an urgency today that after successive attacks world wide against journalists and their installations that the Human Rights Council adopts a stronger resolution on the Freedom of Opinion and Expression.

This strong resolution would include the creation of an open ended working group to start as soon as possible governments’ deliberations on a new convention to consolidate UN Security Council resolution. In the absence of a new convention for the protection of journalists and their installations the UN Security Council resolution stands idle.

Impunity with regards to those crimes has become the common practice. This allows perpetrators of such crimes to escape justice and judgment.

According to ISJ figures some 190 Iraqi journalists and their assistants have been killed as the world approaches the fourth anniversary of the war in Iraq on March 20, 2007.

Last year was the deadliest since World War II. From the beginning of this year at least 10 journalists have been killed in several parts of the world (for more details see the Media ticking clock on our website: www.pressemblem.ch ).