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Photo: Lithuanian MFA

“The adoption of this resolution is a success of Lithuania and an important step towards ensuring freedom of expression around the world,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevicius who chaired the UN Security Council meeting. During the meeting, the Foreign Minister stressed that journalists that work in conflict zones become ‘our eyes and ears’ by informing about human rights violations or possible assumptions of mass crimes, carrying out the function of advance prevention. Thanks to them, the international community may seek appropriate solutions and prevent further violations of international law.

Lithuania submitted the resolution to the United Nations Security Council bearing in mind the deterioration of journalists’ safety. 370 journalists have been killed over the past ten years, with nine out of ten cases going unpunished. 61 journalists were killed in 2014, 221 more were imprisoned. Despite the growing threat to journalists, the Security Council has discussed this topic discussed only once and adopted a single resolution condemning attacks against journalists in conflict situations in 2006.

The UN Security Council document drafted by Lithuania urges member-states to ensure accountability for crimes committed against journalists, media professionals and associated personnel working in war zones. The resolution binds member states to conduct independent, efficient investigations of crimes against journalists and to fight against impunity. Moreover, the United Nations peacekeeping operations and political missions are bound to not only to actively gather information related to cases of violence against journalists, but also to help countries curb this evil, providing legal and other assistance.

For the first time, freedom of expression and the role of independent media are linked in the resolution in order to ensure the protection of journalists and civilians in armed conflict. This UN Security Council document also condemns the use of media in order to inflict violence or provide a pretext for aggression, thus violating international humanitarian law.  “This provision of the resolution means that the Security Council condemns the incitement to violence and launching any kind of propaganda war, which is very important in the face of current tragic events in our region,” stressed Minister Linkevicius. He also singled out the provisions laid down in the new resolution relating to female journalists and internet freedom. The Security Council decision requires member states to ensure unimpeded conditions for female journalists and to bear in mind the specifics of their activities.  The Security Council calls on the countries to ingrain the freedom to seek and receive, and disseminate information by all means, including internet.

48 UN member states co-sponsored this UN Security Council resolution drafted by Lithuania. This is the second UN Security Council resolution drafted by Lithuania, which is holding the Presidency of the UN Security Council in May. On 22 May, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution on small arms and light weapons.

On the same day, Lithuania held a UN Security Council debate on the protection of journalists in conflict situations. Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Jan Eliasson, Secretary-General of the non-governmental organization Reporters Without Borders Christophe Deloire, and Mariane Pearl, the widow of reported Daniel Pearl who was kidnapped and murdered by terrorists in Pakistan twelve years ago were the keynote speakers.