Protocol on Preventing Violence Against Journalists
Journalists have a critical role in civil society, even more so in times of upheaval, when they are an integral actor by which vital information is collected, recorded, and disseminated around the world.
In the past two decades, since 9/11—terrorist organizations have kidnapped journalists reporting from the frontlines in Iraq, Syria, and areas of unrest. Their motivations for kidnapping range from procuring ransom payments, demanding concessions from foreign governments, and even as means of generating propaganda for their cause.
The practice of kidnapping and killing journalists is not confined to non-state actors or even particular regions of the world. For instance, the Mexican government has failed to protect journalists reporting on drug cartels, corrupt politicians, and on matters of public safety in its own country.
Whereas the United States, under the Trump administration, abandoned seeking justice, let alone preventing violence when applies to reporters ––domestically and internationally. In 2018 The Washington Post columnist, Jamal Khashoggi, was assassinated for speaking out against Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. After his death, the White House failed to reprehend or urge sanctions against the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia ruler who ordered the attack, as verified by the CIA and the UN.
This brief advises on financial stratagems in blocking kidnapping for ransom (KFR), governmental measures that can promote overall journalist safety, and the recommendations by advocacy groups in protecting reporters.
Terrorist groups use money from KFR to fund recruiting and indoctrination of members, setting up training camps, acquiring weapons and gear, planning deadly attacks, and ensure organizational continuity (U.S. Department of Treasury). While Al-Qaeda experienced a decrease in funding, its counterparts in the Sahel and Yemen are faring better financially largely by raising funds through KFR.
In 2012 David Cohen, the Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence remarked that the size of ransoms is increasing––in a speech to the U.S. Department of Treasury. In 2010 the average ransom amount by Al-Qaeda in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) was $4.5 million per hostage; by 2011 that figure increased to $5.4 million.
Furthermore, Cohen recommended creating anti-laundering and counterterrorist financing institutions, so countries have mechanisms in place to “criminalize the financing of terrorism according to international standards," and "to identify and freeze terrorist transactions and assets" (U.S. Department of Treasury). Depriving terrorists of financial means of planning, developing, and executing attacks is integral to roadblocking their long-term and everyday operations.
“Kidnapping for ransom has become today’s most significant source of terrorist financing because it has proven itself a frighteningly successful tactic. Any payment of ransom provides an incentive for further kidnapping operations; each transaction encourages another transaction ... This is a genuinely vicious cycle. Ransom payments lead to future kidnappings, and future kidnappings lead to additional ransom payments. And it all builds the capacity of terrorist organizations to conduct attacks” (U.S. Department of Treasury).
Additional governmental measures include creating safety boards, enacting and enforcing appropriate laws, and setting up systems that track violations against the press. Also, establishing task forces, in coordination with NGOs, that investigate abuses against reporters and participates in cross-national collaborations in locating missing or dead journalists.
Utilizing research, recommendations, and promotional power of influential press advocacy groups and NGOs allows for the enactment of comprehensive safety measures.
The Geneva Convention and Additional Protocol I offer certain protections for journalists in international armed conflict, but organizations such as the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) push for updated guidelines (Crawford and Davies). International Humanitarian Law classifies journalists as “civilians and thus entitled to all the protections that attach to civilian status. Also, certain kinds of journalists are entitled to classification as war correspondents, and thus are afforded prisoner of war (POW) protections if they are captured” (Jha and Ratnabalch).
The Press Emblem Campaign has advocated for an internationally protected and recognized emblem, similar to the Red Cross emblem, as a means by which journalists can be identified and receive special protection (Crawford and Davies).
Furthermore, issuing a card that journalists have the option of carrying, signifying their occupation provides increased safety, as mentioned in Article 79 of Additional Protocol to Geneva Conventions relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts. This protocol should be reinforced by NGOs and governments alike by encouraging news organizations and freelancers alike to implement it, especially when covering dangerous regions.
Concluding statement: According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, over 861 journalists have been killed since 1992. But more poignantly, in those cases, over 90 percent of the murderers have received complete impunity. So, in order to allow journalists to report on issues of public interest and maintain their watchdog status, there needs to be a triad of enforceable laws, comprehensive policies, and accountability for perpetrators of violence.
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