National Safety Mechanisms - State of Palestine
National Safety Context
According to the Observatory of Killed Journalists there have been over 40 recorded killings in Palestine since 1993. None of these crimes have been judicially resolved according to the latest Director-General's Report on the Safety of Journalists and the Danger of Impunity. Palestine has responded 7 times to the Director-General's requests for information on the judicial status of the cases of these killed journalists since 2009.
There is 1 national safety mechanism being implemented in Palestine to prevent crimes committed against journalists. More information on this initiative is summarised below including relevant links.
National Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity
The National Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity has been active since 2019.
What activities are carried out?
The Mechanism implements measures to prevent attacks on journalists. It provides training for human rights professionals on documenting and reporting human rights violations against journalists. The Mechanism produces reports in response to the UNESCO Director-General request for information. The Mechanism provides training for journalists on identifying risks, preparing for emergencies, finding escape routes, and learning from colleagues' experiences.
How is it implemented?
The Mechanism was instigated by the UNESCO Ramallah office and consists of a National Team, operating at a national level, with representatives from 9 different state agencies and civil society organisations. The Mechanism draws on each member organisation's experience and field of work to implement the activities.
Who are the stakeholders?
The National Team is composed of two groups: the first is a civil society group made up of media and human rights organisations coordinated by the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate that works on documenting violations against journalists; and the second is a Palestinian government group that shares information, procedures, and regulations concerning journalists' safety. The members include the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Information, the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, but also civil society organisations, Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate and the Independent Commission of Human Rights.
For more specific information on the national safety mechanism in Palestine and those in other countries please follow the links.
