Ref: 30/2011

On Thursday, 12 May 2011, the Democratic Development Unit of the
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) organized a panel discussion on “Mechanisms
of Protection Provided to Media Professionals in Time of War.” The panel
discussion took place at PCHR’s Khan Yunis office in the southern Gaza Strip,
and 35 members of different media institutions were in attendance.

Mr. Mahmoud al-Efranji, a researcher in PCHR Democratic and
Development Unit, opened the discussion. He welcomed the wide participation of media professionals, explaining
that the panel discussion is part of activities organized by PCHR for World
Press Freedom Day. These activities
included a panel discussion in Gaza City on 02 May 2011, and a wall painting on
the same occasion, to which many Palestinian artists contributed.

Mr. Hamdi Shaqqura, Deputy Director of PCHR for Program Affairs and
Director of the Democratic Development Unit, presented a paper on “Mechanisms
of Protection Provided to Media Professionals in Time of War.” He talked about the importance of exchanging
expertise with media professionals covering human rights violations and war
crimes committed by the Israeli forces in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory. Shaqqura pointed out that
international humanitarian law and international human rights law are the main
weapon in the struggle against human rights violations perpetrated against
Palestinian civilians in general, and media professionals in particular. He added that media professionals do not
enjoy special protection compared to that offered to civilians under the
international law, which is not enough and requires offering special protection
to them, especially in time of war, when they are exposed to direct risks
threatening their lives and personal safety.

Shaqqura explained the definition of a media professional under the
international law and the protection media are entitled to under international
human rights law (the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights) and international humanitarian law (the
four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the two Additional Protocols). He stressed
that attacking media professionals and their equipment during armed conflicts
is illegal and may be a war crime. 

There was also a discussion regarding the importance of raising
awareness of media professionals working in the field, especially, as a number
of professionals have been exposed to the Israeli attacks while on duty. The participants underscored the necessity of
applying international humanitarian law and international human rights law to the
Palestinian situation and to document the crimes committed by Israeli forces,
paving the way for prosecuting Israel at the international level.