On 6 September 2021, the UNESCO office in Ramallah, and the Arab World Center for Research and Development (AWRAD), have set in motion, a new study on Journalists' Safety Indicators in Palestine, making it the second country to launch this study.
The presentation and discussion circled around the approach and methodologies of the study, which the two parties aim to publish by the end of 2021.
Ms. Noha Bawazir, Head of Office and UNESCO Representative spoke about the challenges facing Palestinian journalists and media workers. Quoting a 2021 annual report published by the Freedoms Committee of the Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate.
Over 600 violations against the media freedoms, of which 13% against female journalists, took place; they ranged from physical assault to raids on media outlets, confiscation of equipment and arrest, hence focusing on the importance of the safety for journalists.
UNESCO fully acknowledges the extent of these challenges and has therefore made the safety of journalists one of its priority areas of intervention in the past few years, within the framework of the implementation of the UN Plan of Action on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, endorsed by the UN Chief Executives Board in 2012, coordinated by UNESCO at global level.
Dr. Nader Saeed, AWRAD's General Director and research leader, introduced the methodology that would be applied. Through field research, interviews, and questionnaires, AWRAD team will be able to assess and evaluate the journalist safety indicator in Palestine according to UNESCO’s standards.
Carrying out this task is not easy, but it is worth it, as it is not only important at the level of UNESCO, but also on our level as Palestinians; the study would set the ground for creating the change that we want
The discussion that followed allowed for expert researchers and journalists to give their inputs, initial feedback and to share their observations on this topic, all of which ensured the importance of carrying out such a study.
The launch ceremony was conducted via zoom, in compliance with prevention and safety measures.