Basic Texts Related to the Safety of Journalists
A list of texts, declarations, decisions, resolutions and conventions related to human rights and the safety of journalists
1. International Human Rights Laws
- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
- OHCHR 1976 -The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
- General comment 34 on the article 19 of the above ICCPR (2011)
- UNHCR 2005 -Human Rights Resolution 2005/81: Impunity
- UN Security Council 2006 -Resolution S/RES/1738
- UN Security Council 2012 -Report of the Secretary-General on the protection of civilians in armed conflict
- Human Rights Council Resolution (A/HRC/RES/21/12) on the Safety of Journalists
- UN General Assembly Resolution (A/RES/68/163) on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity
- Human Rights Council Resolution (A/HRC/RES/27/5) on the Safety of Journalists
- UN General Assembly Resolution (A/RES/69/185) on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity
- UN Security Council Resolution S/RES/2222 (27 May 2015)
2. UNESCO Resolutions, Decisions, and Declarations on Safety of Journalists
- UNESCO Resolution 29 on the Condemnation of Violence against Journalists (1997)
- UNESCO 196th Executive Board Decision (196 EX/31) on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (adopted on 20 April 2015)
- UNESCO's Belgrade Declaration on Media in Conflicts Areas in Countries in Transition (2004)
- UNESCO's Medellin Declaration Securing the Safety of Journalists and Combatting Impunity (2007)
- UNESCO's Carthago Declaration on press freedom and the Safety of Journalists (2012)
- IPDC Decision on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2008)
- IPDC Decision on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2010)
- IPDC Decision on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2012)
- IPDC Decision on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (2014)
3. Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Process (including UNESCO's Contribution)
13th Session| 14th Session |15th Session|16th Session|17th Session
18th Session | 19th Session | 20th Session | 21st Session| 22nd Session
4. Regional Instruments of Human Rights Laws
- African Charter on Human and People's Rights for Africa (1981, in force since 1986)
- American Convention on Human Rights for the America (1969, in force since 1978)
- European Convention on Human Rights for Europe (1950, in force since 1953)
- Arab Charter on Human Rights (2004, in force since 2008)
5. Humanitarian Laws
- The Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their additional protocols
6. Other Measures Specific to the Safety of Journalists
- ICRC 31st International Conference's Resolution 2 on 4-Year Action Plan (2011)
- WSIS+10 Final Statement (2013) and the WSIS+10 High Level Outcome Documents (2014)
- Declaration of the Committee of Ministers on the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists and Other Media Actors (adopted by the Committee of Ministers 30 April 2014)
- EU Human Rights Guidelines on Freedom of Expression Online and Offline (adopted 12 May 2014)
- Open Debate on Safety of Journalists at the UN Security Council on 27 May 2015 (Concept Note; Transcript)
7. Statements by Non-Governmental Organizations and Civil Society
- The London Statement by members of the global media community on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, October 2012
- Recommendations of the Warsaw International Conference on the Safety of Journalists, 23-24 April 2013
- Global Safety Principles and Practices, a set of international safety standards for freelance reporters on dangerous assignments, signed by a coalition of major news companies and journalism organizations, 12 February 2015
- International Declaration on the Protection of Journalists, by the International Press Institute, International News Safety Institute, Africa Media Iniative, and the Al Jazeera Media Network, 25 September 2015
8. National Statements and Declarations resulted of National Consultations on the UN Plan of Action