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International Protections Available to Journalists -4/9/2005

 
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Maurice
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 6:54 am    Post subject: International Protections Available to Journalists -4/9/2005 Reply with quote

International Protections Available to Journalists


By Maurice Ali, Journalist



There are several International laws that are recognized as useful in the defense of the "Free Press"

The rights of the press were first outlined in the United Nation's: Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10 1948.

Article 19 states "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers."

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights restated the Declaration and was signed or ratified by 130 countries on March 23, 1976.


The right to a free press is also endorsed by:

The European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms

The Interamerican Convention of Human Rights

The African Charter of Human and People's Rights.

In addition to outlining the rights to a free press international humanitarian law also affords journalists working in war zones special protections. They are considered civilians and should be given immunity provided they have not taken a direct part in the hostilities.


However, the organization know as Reporters Without Borders, an international organization that represents journalist internationally and supports freedom of the press, stated that journalists (and the press in general) in 93 countries face 'difficult' or 'very difficult' situations in the performance of their duties.

The United Nations made specific mention about the violations of the freedom of expression around the world. In 1993 the United Nations saw fit to appoint Mr. Abid Hussain as Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of these rights and freedoms.

Having mentioned all of this. It is still painfully obvious that the journalist in the field is mostly unprotected and their safety is at the whim of the police and government that supports it. We at this organization support a free press and the ability of a journalist to perform their duties in an unfettered manner.

This is still an uphill battle as many countries pay "lip service" to the above international agreements and practice something else in reality. When I started this organization, I knew that one of the first things to do was to start an archive of journalists that was free from borders and politics. It was simply to be an archive of any amateur or professional journalist and proof of their status available to all. This database had to be of a nature as to instantly present onto any form of computer imaginable. In addition to that, we needed to be able to bring complaints to an international body that would listen to us and have the power to help effect change; the body is: The United Nations.

This is why we have begun our task of building up our fledgling corporation for the task at hand.

Question: Why a "for profit corporation?"

Answer: Simply because a "not for profit" is controlled too tightly by governments and action is very constrained. Not for profit means relying on hand-outs and such and in the end makes these organizations ineffective - though their goals and intentions may be honorable. Secondly, corporations are revered around the world and have the aura of power and status. The CEO of a corporation is a recognized status and any viable corporation can issue statements by their CEO and have a good chance of getting a listen. Our nationally registered corporation is recognized by the Canadian Government as being able to operate internationally and hold meetings and do business electronically. We are therefore, able to operate on the global level promoting and ensuring that journalists everywhere can get the most protection they can have.

Question: How does our sister corporation"Fortress Of Freedom Inc." help the cause of free speech and freedom of thought?

Answer: Fortress Of Freedom Inc. is not a corporation specifically concerned with journalists like IAIJ Inc. is; this corporation's mandate is to help the general public access the mass media and in doing so, promote the advantages of free speech and freedom of expression. This corporation is also to be the financial workhorse to pay for various activities including IAIJ. By demonstrating in real terms, how anyone, anywhere can access the mass media; we demonstrate to the world that freedom of expression is still there and how to get it. We can not possible fight every specific fight for freedom of expression; but with the mass media, we can be a beacon to the world that it is possible to access the mass media and express what you have to express to the world at large - we empower the ordinary individual by our example!


My personal mandate was to have the two organizations active and effective in ten years, we have just past the one year mark. I am taken back to last September when I gave my speech at Sunnybrook Park in Toronto. There among my friends and family, with the birds chirping and children playing in the background.....I made my declaration of action to support Mankind's right to free speech and freedom of thought. As I look back that was one moving moment for me. In the very near future, technology will make a very interesting attack on our traditional ideas of free speech and freedom of thought. These ideas were being floated when I was in my final years in university, studying philosophy. I have always wondered what my purpose in life was to be, and now I have one I can live with. Being there, as an organization, to remind people the advantages of individual freedoms of speech and thought, being there when an attack on these freedoms is initiated; is the goal I set in front of me. People are too busy with everyday activities to keep an eye on basic freedoms; but when they are infringed, people look to those organizations that defend these absolute freedoms - Fortress Of Freedom and IAIJ will be there if and when that moment happens.

Note: May 3rd is World Press Freedom Day
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