The Arab Council Foundation expresses deep concern over the escalating violations faced by journalists across the Arab world, whether at the hands of ruling regimes or by Israeli occupation forces targeting Palestinian journalists. On this day, which embodies the right to free expression through media, we reaffirm the importance of protecting journalists’ rights and ensuring their safety while performing their duties.
Figures from human rights organizations indicate a continued rise in cases of aggression against journalists in the Arab world, where they face threats, arbitrary arrests, and physical assault. Harsh statistics also show an increase in the number of journalists who have lost their lives while carrying out their work.
We refer to international charters and treaties that stress the protection of journalists’ rights, whether in times of war or peace, including:
- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Article 19 affirms the right of every individual to “seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”
- The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: This covenant stresses the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
- Human Rights Council Resolutions: These highlight the importance of protecting journalists and ensuring their safety.
- International Humanitarian Law: This emphasizes the protection of media personnel during armed conflicts and guarantees their ability to carry out their duties without facing threats or violence.
We call on governments to fully comply with these obligations. We strongly condemn the policies of silencing voices, which aim to suppress free speech and restrict the media space.
Protecting journalists is not merely an ethical duty but a humanitarian responsibility that the international community must fulfill. We urge increased efforts to guarantee press freedom and the safety of journalists worldwide.
The Arab Council Foundation affirms that it will never waver in its defense of press freedom, freedom of speech, and the right to free expression.
The Arab Council Foundation
#WorldPressFreedomDay
