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November 8, 2024 – Palestine/Israel/Qatar –
Qatar delivered a powerful appeal before the UN General Assembly’s Fourth Committee, urging the international community to reinforce protections for journalists operating in conflict zones. Second Secretary Sheikh Jassim bin Abdulaziz Al‑Thani emphasized that safeguarding press freedom requires a multi-pronged approach—physical safety, legal assistance, cutting-edge tools, and robust cooperation among states and institutions.
Qatar’s proposal builds on its longstanding track record: hosting the landmark 2012 International Conference on the Protection of Journalists and producing the 2016 Doha Declaration. These efforts underlined the country’s dedication to embedding journalist safety into the global policy framework. Additionally, Qatar has allocated US$7.5 million to support UN digitization efforts, enhancing the accessibility and transparency of archival records—a nod to the intrinsic link between information access and media freedom.
Sheikh Jassim also underscored the urgency of protecting female journalists and reiterated Qatar’s condemnation of attacks on media workers in Gaza and Lebanon, citing that at least 137 journalists had been killed since the outset of hostilities.. Doha News further reported that Qatar urged an immediate halt to arms transfers to Israel, highlighting how weapons fuel press casualties in conflict zones.
This statement builds on prior Qatari initiatives—such as evacuating journalists from Kabul in 2021 and championing the first UN Security Council resolution to protect journalists in 2006—demonstrating a consistent and evolving strategy. Doha frames journalist safety not just as a matter of individual well-being, but as a vital component of democracy, transparency, and international humanitarian law.
By advancing legal frameworks, financial backing, technical support, and international cooperation, Qatar is advocating for a systemic shift: from reactive protection to proactive prevention. Its call at the UN goes beyond altruism—it is a strategic effort to cement journalist security as a non-negotiable global standard and to ensure that truth is never a casualty of war.
Reference –
https://dohanews.co/qatar-calls-for-stronger-mechanisms-to-protect-journalists-in-conflict-zones/
