Seminar: Protecting Journalists, Protecting Freedoms
Ending impunity for crimes committed against journalists

October 31, 2017,  18.30-19.30
followed by a networking apero

Organised by the Media, Communications and Photography Department, Webster University Geneva in collaboration with Reporters without Borders (Geneva) to commemorate the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Committed Against Journalists

The event will be opened by Alain Modoux, whose career reflects his long-standing commitment to the safety of journalists and the freedom of the press. Modoux has worked in favour of journalists’ safety for both the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), where he created the ‘ICRC Hot Line to assist journalists on dangerous professional missions’ and for UNESCO, where he was Assistant Director-General in charge of the ‘Programme for Freedom of Expression, Democracy and Peace.’

Keynote speaker:

Gaetan Vannay, COO of Securaxis, RSF-CH member of the board,  reporter- has been working for Swiss and International media (Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, Radio Canada, Radio France, Al Jazeera, Le Temps etc.

War journalists have always confronted extreme risks in order to report from conflict zones. However, they increasingly find that they are also the direct targets of violence, kidnapping and murder. According to Reporters without Borders, this year 40 journalists, 4 citizen journalists and 8 media assistants have been killed so far; the true figures are likely higher as these only include cases in which it has been proven that journalists were killed or kidnapped because of their work.

Although legally protected when they enter conflict-zones under International Humanitarian Law, in these complex and dangerous settings, it is impossible to bring those responsible for these crimes to justice.

The impunity surrounding crimes against journalists, as well as being a fundamental issue of human rights, has profound implications for the freedom of expression and the freedom of the press. This is why, following the tragic assassination of two French journalists in Mali on 2 November 2013, the international community united to raise awareness of the need for journalists to be protected by creating the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Committed Against Journalists.

This is a free event. Registration is required.

For full details & to register, please visit the event page on Webster University website.