Journalism under fire: UNESCO raises alarm over surge of attacks on media workers covering protests

In its new report, Safety of Journalists Covering Protests – Preserving Freedom of the Press During Times of Civil Unrest, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural agency (UNESCO) said that between January and June this year, journalists have been increasingly attacked, arrested and even killed.

Launching the report, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay underscored that the freedom to inform citizens on the causes of unrest and the response from State authorities, are of vital importance for democracies to thrive. “Journalists have a critical role in reporting and informing audiences on protest movements”, she said. 

Wide-ranging abuses
UNESCO’s findings reveal a “wider upward trend” in the use of unlawful force by police and security forces over the last five years, with more than 30 protests impeded by police and security forces last year alone – double the 2015 number.

The report finds that during this period, global protests have been rooted in concerns over economic injustice, government corruption, declining political freedoms and growing authoritarianism. 

It details a wide range of abuses journalists face when covering protests, from harassment, intimidation and beatings, to being shot at with lethal or non-lethal ammunition, detention and abduction.

Harassed, injured, arrested and sometimes killed…
The risks for #journalists are many when reporting on protests.

No matter the circumstances, journalists should always be able to cover any event in full security.

OUT NOW - New #WorldMediaTrends report: https://t.co/h3Kl3NsOo8 pic.twitter.com/r3RS6URcEJ

— UNESCO (@UNESCO) September 14, 2020

‘Much greater efforts’ needed
Citing the Committee for the Protection of Journalists, UNESCO said that in some protests, up to 500 separate violations occurred. And during demonstrations linked to the Black Lives Matter movement for greater racial justice, these included the use of rubber bullets and pepper balls, which led to the blinding of several journalists. 

Ms. Azoulay pointed out that “for many years, UNESCO has been raising global awareness” to ensure that journalists can do their jobs, “without fear of persecution” and has continued to train “security forces and the judiciary on international norms in freedom of expression”. However, the UNESCO chief warned the figures in the report “show that much greater efforts are needed”.



Ensuring better protection
The report also contains concrete recommendations for all actors – from media outlets and national authorities to international organizations – to ensure better protections for journalists. 

Strengthening training for police and law enforcement on freedom of expression and appropriate behaviour in dealing with the media, is just one of the proposals outlined in the Safety of Journalists.

Others include providing appropriate training and equipment to journalists, including freelancers, sent to cover demonstrations as well as appointing national ombudsmen to hold police accountable for the use of force against journalists during demonstrations.


Standing shoulder-to-shoulder
UNESCO provides technical assistance to Member States, including training for police and security forces on upholding press freedom and freedom of expression. “We call on the international community and all relevant authorities to ensure that these fundamental rights are upheld”, the UNESCO chief stated.

Belarus Cracks Down On Journalists, Two Moscow-based Associated Press correspondent Deported

Belarus, shaken by three weeks of massive protests against its authoritarian president, on Saturday cracked down hard on the news media, deporting some foreign journalists reporting in the country and revoking the accreditation of many Belarusian journalists.

Two Moscow-based Associated Press journalists who were covering the recent protests in Belarus were deported to Russia on Saturday. In addition, the APs Belarusian staff were told by the government that their press credentials had been revoked.

The Associated Press decries in the strongest terms this blatant attack on press freedom in Belarus. AP calls on the Belarusian government to reinstate the credentials of independent journalists and allow them to continue reporting the facts of what is happening in Belarus to the world, said Lauren Easton, the APs director of media relations.

The Belarusian Association of Journalists said accreditation was also taken away from Belarusians working for several other media. Germanys ARD television said two of its Moscow-based journalists also were deported to Russia, a Belarusian producer faces trial on Monday and their accreditation to work in Belarus was revoked. The BBC said that two of its journalists working for the BBC Russian service in Minsk also had their accreditation revoked.


The program director for ARDs biggest regional affiliate, WDR, which oversees coverage of Belarus, called the treatment of its camera team absolutely unacceptable. This shows once again that independent reporting in Belarus continues to be hindered and is made almost impossible, Joerg Schoeneborn said.

Protests in Belarus began after the Aug. 9 election that officials said gave President Alexander Lukashenko a sixth term in office with 80% support. Protesters say the election results were rigged and are calling for Lukashenko, who has run the country since 1994, to resign.

The protests, some of which drew enormous crowds estimated at 200,000 or more, are the largest and most sustained challenge of Lukashenko’s 26 years in office, during which he consistently repressed opposition and independent news media.

The hard-line leader has cast about for a strategy to end the wave of protests, with little success. In the first days of demonstrations, around 7,000 people were arrested. Some protesters were killed and many of the detainees were beaten by police. The violence didn’t deter the protests and may have galvanized the opposition. Strikes have broken out in several state-owned factories, which are the backbone of Belarus’ economy.

The U.S. Embassy in Belarus on Saturday issued a statement saying we are concerned by the continued targeting of journalists, the blocking of independent media and opposition websites, intermittent internet blackouts and random detentions of peaceful citizens exercising their rights of freedom of assembly and speech.

United States: Police respond with projectiles at protesters outside ICE building in Portland

Portland, US: Clashes continued in Portland, Oregon on Friday, with tear gas fired at protesters. Police said they did not have to use tear gas or crowd control munitions on Thursday night. However, Police were seen answering with tear gas.

The gathering, declared unlawful by the police, followed successive nights of the authorities declaring a riot in parts of the northwestern city, including on Wednesday and Thursday around the same Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building. About 100 people blocked traffic, vandalized an immigration building, set fires to dumpsters and threw rocks and glass bottles at police in the Oregon city on Thursday night, police said, adding they had arrested three people.

Demonstrations against racism and police brutality swept the United States after the police killing in May of George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man. In Portland, protests have erupted occasionally in arson and violence.

U.S. Attorney General William Barr was strongly criticized by Democratic politicians for sending federal officers to Portland to disperse protesters who had lit fires and broken windows at the city's courthouse.On Thursday, Portland police issued a timeline of protests, showcasing they had declared riots 17 times between May 29 and Aug. 19.

United States: More people join protests in Seattle months after George Floyd's death

Seattle, US: Crowds of people are continuing to participate in the protests against police brutality and racial discrimination in Seattle following the death of African American George Floyd in May.

In the past two months, the protests have been held almost every weekend in the city, with frequent clashes and confrontations between protesters and the police. On Sunday afternoon, dozens of protesters called for a reform of the police force in a park. Drew, a zookeeper, was one of the organizers, who spoke for the first time in public. As a Korean American, she said she must stand up to protect her rights.

"I think that personally being a Korean American as well, there was this inherent kind of I have to be silent, you know. What is it, it's the model minority kind of thing that goes on in this country," she said. More ordinary people like Drew are showing up in Seattle to protest police brutality, and she believes that the death of Floyd has awakened people to call for police reform and eliminate racial discrimination.

"And although this event was small, there are still events going around all throughout the city where hundreds of people are constantly showing up. There are still marches happening every single day and we are building connections with those groups as well," said Drew.

The Seattle City Council on Aug 10 voted 7-1 to reduce the police department's budget by 3.5 million U.S. dollars, less than one percent of the original budget, which was 409 million, far short of the 50 percent cuts demanded by the protesters.

In addition, the protesters thought that community voices in Seattle Office of Police Accountability have been decreased while the police officers are taking the place of residents. Though the reports on protests against police brutality and racism have dwindled in the media, the people are still striving for their rights.

"I'm not looking for a destination and I don't think there should be one, because no matter what, people are changing, our environment is changing, and there is always going to be new things that need to be handled. And that's the point of starting this conversation," said Drew.

Thailand: students demand freedom of expression 'We want things to be fixed'

Bangkok, Thailand: Hundreds of high school students rallied in front of the education ministry in Bangkok on Wednesday, tying white ribbons to the gates and demanding more freedom in schools from the government after a string of demonstrations around the country.

High school students have been demonstrating in schools around the country by raising three-finger "Hunger Games" salutes during national anthems and wearing white ribbons as a sign to support student-led anti-government protests that have been taking place almost daily since mid-July, demanding an end to military domination in Thai politics and a fresh election. The high school students are calling for the ousting of the Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan, who came out to greet the protesters and promised them that the government will hear them out.

As demand for more democracy grows around the country, the high school protesters say they are demonstrating against the restrictive nature of Thai education culture which has strict rules on uniform, personal appearances and regimental practices that they say are repressive to their freedom of expression.

"We were barred from expressing ourselves just because the word "youth" which they use to bind us in a box," a 17 year old female student who refused to be named told Reuters. Thai Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan also appeared at the demonstration and sat down to talk with some of the students.

"I want you all (students) to take note of this and it's totally fine to express any kind of symbols, you can express it in any form as long as it remains in the boundaries, not aggressive. You're not poking my eyes with the three fingers," he spoke to the students.

"At the same time, you have to give others who think differently and might not want to show the three-finger salute a chance as well. The three-finger have different meanings to many groups. For me, it means the country, monarchy and king. Therefore, the way we think can differ as well," he added.

Protesters accuse Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha of holding on to power unfairly after elections last year under rules drawn up his junta. He says the elections were fair. Apart from the political demands, some pupils demonstrated against a school system which emphasizes obedience and tradition, from lining up daily for the national anthem to strict rules on uniforms, haircuts and behaviour.

United States: Protests continue in Seattle months after George Floyd death

US: Protests against police brutality and systematic racism sparked by the death of African American man Gorge Floyd are continuing in Seattle of the United States.

Following the death of Floyd in May, the U.S. has been gripped by nationwide demonstrations against racial discrimination. Two months on, the city of Seattle still sees dozens of people protesting on streets. Most protesters gather near the local Cal Anderson Park in Capitol Hill area, which was once occupied by protesters on June 8. These protesters were cleared by police on July 1, with the cleanup continuing in August.

But some protesters return to the area often and stay at the Cal Anderson Park, which has become a shelter for the homeless. There are constant clashes between police and protesters, as demonstrations continue on and off. On Friday, four were arrested after a protest turned violent.

A protester, who preferred not to be shown on camera for safety concerns, said the police have done little to protect people. "Our police force came in, brutalized folks, arrested several and kicked them out of a shelter space, like they're removing people who have nothing from food and community. How does that keep us safe? How does make us safer? It doesn't. It only oppresses," said the protester.

"Do we think this is going to fix everything? No, of course not. We know this is just one step in a very long stairway, but it is a necessary step. The police are murdering people, and they get away with it. That has got to stop," added the protester. Demonstrators hope that through their actions, they can bring about community improvements and social changes.