GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY Model United Nations Conference 2017
UNESCO Committee Background Guide
Director General: Xan-Rhea Bilal Deputy Director General: Ian Fowler Committee Director: Kendrick King Assistant Director: TBD
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Delegates of the UN Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), We would like to start off by welcoming you to the Georgia State University Model United Nations Conference 2017! We realize that preparation for a Model United Nations conference can be a stressful time, and it is our goal to make this process as easy as possible for you. We are confident that you will be pleased with your decision to participate in our conference. As you begin your preparation, there are multiple resources available to you to ensure you are well prepared for our conference. On our website, you will find a Delegate Resource Guide that will outline everything you need to know about the Rules of Procedure, Position Papers and Working Papers/Draft Resolutions. Your next resource is this Committee Background Guide that was carefully put together by your dais staff that will offer you information about the topics that will be discussed in this committee. In addition to the Delegate Resource Guide and the Committee Background Guide, you will also find a short form to the Rules of Procedure on our website, that will enable you to break down the rules of procedure into an easy-to-understand format. If you still have questions for your dais staff, you are able to directly email them from your Committee Information page on our website. The topics for the UNESCO are as follows: I.
Utilizing Information and Communication Technologies to promote inclusion
II. Protecting Indigenous People from Genocide III. Bolstering Support for Freedom of Press
We cannot stress enough the importance of reliable research. Detailed sources within the background guide help as a way for each of you to fully understand each topic. While experience is helpful, we will personally judge on the effort and solutions put forth by each delegation. We wish you the very best of luck in you research, and if you have any questions or need any assistance, please feel free to contact us.
Sincerely, Xan-Rhea Bilal Director-General
Ian Fowler Deputy Director-General
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Committee Overview Introduction The mission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is to provide meaningful mediation and advocacy for development. These aspects are followed suit for educating the public, promoting scientific research, and sustaining cultural heritage. Due to this stance, UNESCO is obligated by its mandate and the UN Charter to contribute to the UN’s efforts of sustaining peace and stability by co-operating with Member States, nonprofit organisations, the private sector, and citizens from across the world. Keeping in mind collaboration, UNESCO strives to find comprehensive and sustainable solutions with external validity in order to more effectively the mediate transfer of information between Member States to sustain peace and promote
History The United Nations has dedicated its existence to promoting peace and security after the carnage of the Second World War. Since then, the United Nations has spent 70 years engaging with the world by providing mediation and innovative support to help provide solutions for pressing global issues. In doing so, the United Nations has developed multiple committees designed to focus their resources on certain issues that are prevalent throughout the world. During the creation of the United Nations’ Charter and institution, the parties involved culminated six committees designed to oversee main areas deemed crucial to maintaining global peace and stability. After an analysis of the causes of WWII, the six committees were the General Assembly (GA) 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th committee, Economic and Social Council, Trusteeship Council, International Court of Justice, and the Security Council. These committees were conceived with emphasis on security, economic stability, decolonization, international law, and cultural preservation, partially as a response to the genocidal values set by the holocaust. One of these committees in particular is the United Nations’ ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council) committee to which UNESCO reports also. UNESCO is one of the most notable agencies under the jurisdiction of ECOSOC. UNESCO has served at the forefront of the UN’s major operations centered on the proliferation of education, science, and cultural preservation. As intended, UNESCO and its constitution were assembled in November of 1945 by the London Conference, and later commissioned for activity in November of 1946. As an extension of ECOSOC, UNESCO reports information to them, and is assigned tasks and objectives by the Council. They are also recipients of directives given to them by ECOSOC.
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With this system in place, UNESCO’s mandate attempts to follow five major principles: 1. Advancing information sharing with focus on research and training, 2. Prospective studies focusing on education, science, culture and communication, 3. Setting international standards through adoption of international instruments and statutory recommendations, 4. Expertise provided to Member States for development projects in the form of “technical cooperation”. 5. Exchange of specialized information.1 These five principles in place have served as the blueprint of UNESCO’s operations and implementation. By following these tenets, UNESCO has created numerous sub-organisations and programs that specialize in scientific innovation, education, and cultural preservation. With these initiatives, UNESCO has invested in the private sector and civil societies to bringing about crucial development initiatives to help build up infrastructure, and technological improvement for regions affected low development. The principles set in place have also inspired UNESCO led humanitarian mission that were aimed at promoting cultural diversity and the preservation of cultural heritage sites, and practices that are essential to numerous ethnic groups from around the world. UNESCO views these forms of cultural preservation as a hallmark to keeping humanity’s roots intact so that others from different backgrounds can learn, and cherish diversity in order to promote peace.
Conclusion UNESCO strives to encourage cooperation between Member States of the UN, civil society organisations and citizens of the world through promoting education, scientific research, cultural diversity and peace. The organisation does so by attempting to place heavy emphasis on the five major principles and tenets that direct its projects and policy recommendations.2
Save The Date: The 2017/8 GEM Report Is Due out 24 October, 2017.” Save The Date: The 2017/8 GEM Report Is Due out 24 October, 2017 | Global Education Monitoring Report, en.unesco.org/gem-report/save-date-20178-gem-report-due-out-24october-2017. 1
2
“Introducing UNESCO.” UNESCO, United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation, 3 Feb. 2017, en.unesco.org/about-us/introducing-unesco.
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I. Utilizing ICT to promote inclusion
Introduction The digital age has allowed mankind to advance in ways never seen before. With constant technological innovation, the world is now in an era in which technology is globalizing financial markets, cultures, and borders. As these feats progressed, UNESCO has utilized Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to promote the goals of improving education, scientific innovation, and increasing cultural awareness. By following the guidelines of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030, UNESCO has initiated many programs and institutions that focus on the inclusion of ICTs for the purpose of starting up sustainable development across the globe so that peace and stability are kept.3 By investing in the UNESCO Institute for Statistic (UIS), and the UNESCO Institute of Lifelong Learning (UIL), the agency has created the necessary data bases to help give an estimated projection of educational and development stats. 4These measurements also correlate with the availability of ICTs and the development of secured States. Due to these findings, UNESCO has found that populations that do not have access to ICTs are fundamentally disadvantaged. These disadvantages stem from linguistic, geographical, and social marginalization. UNESCO and other non-governmental organisations have worked together to utilize ICTs to bring about the social, economic, and political inclusion of all people. With this mindset, UNESCO has extensively relied on the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights to justify the need of Member States to take part in the effort to facilitate the proliferation of ICTs for their citizen to improve their society.5 By prioritizing the need to develop more policies to make ICTs available, Member States, along with the assistance of the international community, will be able to progress in development. Thus achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, and stability.6 In all, if Member States do not cooperate to address the issue at hand, they will face problems that will greatly affect their chances of progress which in the long will put some States at perpetual odds with their citizens. Without the means of increasing access of ICTs, innovative policies will cease to expand the international community in global trade and diplomacy.7 More importantly, without the availability of proper ICT access, both secured and vulnerable
3
UNESCO UIS.” UNESCO UIS, uis.unesco.org/.
4
Ibid.
5
UNESCO ICT Competency Framework for Teachers | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, United Nations, www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/themes/icts/teacher-education/unesco-ict-competency-framework-for-teachers/. 6
Ibid.
7
Rudd, Kevin, et al. “Independent Commission on Multilateralism | Programs.” International Peace Institute, www.ipinst.org/ program/independent-commission-on-multilateralism/page/2.
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populations alike will endure difficulties that may result to economic and political hardships. Which are the perfect breeding grounds for instability.
ICTs for those Affected by Linguistic and Geographical Barriers The social dynamics of ICT inclusion stems from the overwhelming obstacles that many populations around the world face today. As a result of globalization, the barriers that affect social progress have increased. 8 And this increase revolves around dimensions of linguistic, and geographical disadvantages. The realities of this aspect are prevalent in low income Member States that do not have the proper infrastructure to accommodate those groups separated in terms of language or geography. In 2016, the UIS had estimated that that regions affected the most by these obstacles are Sub-Sahara Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.9 The figures available also suggests that because of the linguistic and geographical barriers, the necessary access to education are not met.10 With the prevalence of these specific problems, many Member States have taken steps to address the importance of providing the adequate resources possible to deliver inclusion for the disconnected groups affected by the challenges that instigates conflict. International efforts to expand the electronic/digital infrastructure of all areas of the world have been productive yet difficult. 11 The main focus for the initiative has been intertwined with previous notions of the inability for vulnerable populations to operate the technological devices essential for social inclusion. In one perspective, many who had been given the ability to access ICTs have reported that the instructions and programs in the devices are written either in English, or in other major languages.12 Because of this, computer programs designed to make apps available in multiple indigenous languages have been developed for use, but these computer programs have little funding and advertising to qualify for mass production.13 For populations that are geographically isolated have an inefficient level of education and exposure to the outside world to gain access to ICTs.14 The environments in which States are landlocked or unstable, suffer from ICT deprivation for a significant portion of their population. 8 Akpan,
Patience Idaraesit. “Basic-Needs to Globalization: Are ICTs the Missing Link?” Information Technology for Development, IOS Press, 24 Mar. 2005, onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/itdj.1590100405/abstract. 9
“UNESCO UIS.” UNESCO UIS, uis.unesco.org/
10
Ibid.
11
Ibid.
12
“Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States.” ITU, ITU, www.itu.int/ en/ITU-D/LDCs/Pages/default.aspx. 13
Ibid.
14
“UNESCO UIS.” UNESCO UIS, uis.unesco.org/
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Without transportation or roads, the areas that are a long distances from metropolitan areas are cut off from adequate resources. By establishing centers of ICT labs in those regions, the rate education and economic growth increases.16 These are the current plans that UNESCO and other UN agencies have in order to meet development goals for 2030. This plan also coincides with the need for security for areas isolated due to conflict or natural disaster. While performing these initiatives, UNESCO continued to work alongside ICT organisations to arrange for the proper technological infrastructures that provides dialogue and education in society.17
Utilizing ICTs for Economic Inclusion and Infrastructural Development Using ICTs for economic and infrastructure development have been a goal for most Member States.18 UNESCO is committed to fulfilling its duties from its mandate to promote education and scientific innovation that contributes to the economy and the development of States.19 When these factors are focused on, the result would lead to an improvement of infrastructure and will lead to economic growth, which is essential for maintaining stability. With tangible potential, the international community has engaged in the proper economic steps to further enhance the development of their economic sectors.20 With much consideration, UNESCO has conducted research and analysis in conjunction with statistical figures from the World Bank and other UN agencies, and found that there are still many States that suffer from poverty and destabilizing factors that put their economic integrity at risk.21 The underlying causes of this stems from the low level of education and income for the citizens. With citizens facing low income, many communities are greatly limited to the number of ICTs that can be available. Low income schools also suffer from low funding to purchase these technologies.22 If citizens of low income are net accommodated for these disadvantages, then the prospects of tension can arise. By applying ICTs to the infrastructure components of socioeconomic gaps, the advantages of having a highly informed and economically backed citizenry will improve the 15
Ibid.
16
Ibid.
17
Ibid.
18
Ibid.
19 Allen,
Susan Hannah, et al. “Independent Commission on Multilateralism | Programs.”International Peace Institute, www.ipinst.org/program/independent-commission-on-multilateralism 20 Akpan,
Patience Idaraesit. “Basic-Needs to Globalization: Are ICTs the Missing Link?”Information Technology for Development, IOS Press, 24 Mar. 2005, onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/itdj.1590100405/abstract 21
“Home.” Home | Logistics Performance Index, World Bank, lpi.worldbank.org/
22
Ibid.
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State.23 Economic inclusion is a crucial foundations for building up a stable society and infrastructure improvement. In doing so certain States would be able to improve their global standings in aspects such as human rights, economics, and development.
Conclusion The importance of ICT proliferation is a prominent priority for States and UNESCO. While producing further programs and projects, UNESCO has made great progress in establishing international standards that permits in the access of ICTs for vulnerable groups and the general public to gain education and innovative missions. In the spirit of the constitution of UNESCO, the access of ICTs is an important human right that should protected and invested in. By enabling ICTs to bridge the gap between inclusion and isolation, Member States and the UN can successfully access the needs to preserve international security and peace.
Committee Directive Delegations are required to invest in researching the correlations between ICT development and stability. Another important aspect for consideration would be the issue of vulnerable or isolated groups that do not have access to ICTs. It is imperative that delegates work together diplomatically to provide potential solutions to the challenges at hand. The context of this topic also stems from economics and technology, which are the most crucial elements of a solution being negotiated. Delegates are advised to pay close attention to logistics and geography because the majority of populations that do not have access to ICTs are geographically and linguistically isolated.
II. Protecting Indigenous People from Genocide Introduction The rights of Indigenous populations are among the most prominent and consistent issues for many Member States. According to international law, Indigenous Communities are given three distinctive rights; the right to self-determination, the right to individual human rights, and the right to existence.24 Recognition of these three rights are what gives the indigenous community the leverage for recognition and security, but these rights are often ignored by some States due to
23
Ibid.
24
Michael Goodhart, et al. “Human Rights: Politics and Practice”, Second Edition, 2013. Oxford University Press 2013. Pg.236
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the different issues indigenous groups pose for them.25 The most common problem generated by this topic is identity. Modern law and policy of a majority of States constantly categorize and classify people to determine what type of rights or services are allowed to them.26 As a result, categorizations of peoples as a minority, native, or indigenous people are greatly divisive, and have determined their social status in society.27 Due to the emphasis on identity, indigenous populations are often seen as culturally and/or ethnically distinct from the dominant population. The UN Permanent Forum for Indigenous Issues (PFII) and UNESCO has estimated that there are over 370 to 500 million indigenous people spread across all regions of the world.28 Also, these estimates show that there over 12,000 to 14,000 indigenous communities and minority groups all over the world. If all the individuals in these communities were combined, the total would be 1.5 billion people, which is 25% of the global population.29 Given the statistics presented, it is clear that indigenous populations roughly exist on every continent except for Antarctica. Though their numbers are significant, indigenous groups are very much spread apart from one another, and they are often geographically and linguistically disadvantaged by the majority population and the advancement of development. Because of this, the chances of confrontation are high. Given the low status of indigenous communities, some States are quick to ignore their respective native communities. States have also recognized that there are not any clear or definitive definitions of what accurately describes what an indigenous person is. Therefore, some States do not acknowledge indigenous people as citizens or distinctive persons of value.30 With this approach, many indigenous groups are subjected to systemic poverty, discrimination, and political isolation. Further human rights abuses are evident in indigenous areas in form of the distribution and the annexation of land, and resources. These situations are even more problematic when the State actively expels an indigenous population from their lands.31 These confrontations greatly parallel ethnic cleansing campaigns based on racial discrimination in addition to, other abuses that violate the UN Declaration of Human Rights, and the UN Declaration of the Rights of
25
“Indigenous Rights.” Council on Foreign Relations, Council on Foreign Relations, www.cfr.org/search? keyword=Indigenous%2BRights. 26
Michael Goodhart, et al. “Human Rights: Politics and Practice”, Second Edition, 2013. Oxford University Press 2013. Pg. 237
27
Ibid.
28
Indigenous Peoples |, United Nations, www.unesco.org/new/en/indigenous-peoples/
29
Michael Goodhart, et al. “Human Rights: Politics and Practice”, Second Edition, 2013. Oxford University Press 2013
30
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, Indigenous Peoples. United Nations 2016
31Ibid.
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Indigenous People.32 The violation of these agreements have been prominent for years due to certain States not recognizing them because of armed conflicts, breakdown of governmental institutions, or simply viewing these charters as non-binding due to State sovereignty. When those obstacles arise, excessive ethnic tensions between indigenous and dominant groups can spiral into armed insurgencies that may lead to genocide.33 The term genocide was created during the final years of WWII by Polish International Lawyer, Raphael Lemkin.34 Lemkin coined this term and described genocide as an act of not only killing members of a certain group, but also systemically dismantling the social, economic, religious, and cultural standings of a group of people, therefore making their rights non-existent to any capacity. These measures can be carried out by forced sterilization, racist propaganda, extrajudicial killings, separating families, exclusion from political participation or representation, artificial infection, forced cultural assimilation, state sponsored terror, and forced land evictions.35 Given how Lemkin explains genocide, it is evident that in practice, it is designed to systemically strip away all aspects of a group of people in phases which would later conclude with the outright extermination of that targeted group.
Controversy of Determining Genocide The international community has debated about the proper definition of genocide and what counts as genocide for over seventy years. The Genocide Convention of 1948 listed guidelines that explain the conditions for the act. For instance, article 2 of the Genocide Convention explains these certain criteria; 1.) Killing members of the group. 2.) Causing serious physical or mental harm to members of the group. 3.) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part. 4.) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group. These criteria actively map out the qualifying characteristics of genocide, but there are a couple of issues with this and the convention itself. The first issue was that the convention’s list of what qualifies as an attempt of genocide exposed States that participated in discriminatory practices against indigenous or other group populations. The second problem consist of vague language that was left up to interpretation by the State. Though the Genocide Convention is globally accepted, critics of the convention also believe that the interpretation of the convention were tailored to the agendas and policies of the States that
32“Voices
of Indigenous Peoples Must Be Heard on Issues Affecting Them, UN Rights Body Told.” UN News Center, United Nations, 17 Sept. 2014, www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=48735#.WXv36NTyvIU 33
Ibid.
34
Ibid.
35
“Raphael Lemkin, Culture, and the Concept of Genocide.” Raphael Lemkin, Culture, and the Concept of Genocide : The Oxford Handbook of Genocide Studies - Oi, oxfordindex.oup.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199232116.013.0002
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negotiated the convention. The third issue is that the convention outlines more mechanisms for the methods of punishment, but greatly lacks the mechanisms for preventing genocide.36 The final problem involves contested concepts around the types of groups protected, the extent and means of violence that would constitute genocide, and the difficulty in demonstrating intent (if 50,000 people of a group are killed within a span of five years, it counts as genocide). 37Therefore these assertions give States the ability to either deny that a genocide is happening, use the façade of national security, or simply not use the term genocide.
Historical Accounts With the Holocaust being the most notable case of genocide, the 20th century endured more genocide campaigns up until the 21st century. One genocide in particular deals with the atrocities committed against the Indigenous Mayans in the Guatemalan Civil War. During 1960 to 1983, the Guatemalan government engaged in horrendous human rights abuses against the indigenous Mayan population.38 Faced with the challenges of State sponsored oppression and neglect, the Mayans were subjugated to harsh living conditions and mistreatment which left them in severe poverty and socially marginalized. 39 Another problem that occurred was the role of the State actively performing land grabs that evicted the Mayans from their ancestral territories.40 Due to these transgressions, the Mayans were particularly vulnerable to all forms of State aggression, and they were more susceptible to situational conditions that threatened their existence. In 1960, the Guatemalan government was undergoing inner turmoil within its ranks, and the threat of Communist guerilla groups were taking precedent in the jungles of Guatemala. The growing tensions later exploded into civil war. The Mayans were further endangered because of the war spreading to their communities at which the guerilla armies were stationed. The Guatemalan government believed that the Mayans were allied with the guerilla armies (though some Mayans supported the communist ideology of the guerilla groups) and were automatically associated as another enemy of the State.41 The Mayan Indians then endured slander campaigns that dehumanized them and revoked their status as actual people with rights to protect.42 As a direct result of these actions, the 1970s saw, disappearances, executions, and massacres
36
Ibid.
37
Ibid.
38
“Mayan Social Status in Guatemala.” Minority Rights Group, minorityrights.org/minorities/maya-2/.
39
Ibid.
40
Ibid.
41
Ibid.
42
Ibid.
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beginning to be extremely common throughout Guatemala, particularly in the Mayan Ixil region of El Quiche.43 In 1982, General Jose Efrain Rios Montt, seized power after a military coup and escalated the Mayan genocide through a scorched-earth policy that consisted of a brutal counter-insurgency resulting in an estimated 70,000 Mayan deaths within a span of one year. An additional 500,000 to 1.5 million Mayans became refugees in Guatemala or abroad.44 After the ousting of Montt in 1984, a new constitution was created so that democratic elections would resume, but the constitution failed to make any references to the Mayan people, and their basic of civil rights was not met. By the end of the war in 1996, the indigenous Mayan population still suffer from injustice and discrimination on all fronts. 45 Though the genocide of the Mayans occurred, the State of Guatemala still has not recognized the events that occurred between 1960 to 1983 due to political reasons, and the instilled stigma against the Mayans that still persist today (despite a total of 200,000 Mayans murdered between 1960 to 1983).46 Today the survivors of the genocide still perform civil protests and annual memorial services for the friends and family members that were lost in the proclaimed, Silent Holocaust.
Conclusion The UN deems genocide as one of the highest violations of international law, and is seen as the greatest of all crimes against humanity. In the current international system, the topic of genocide is controversial and divisive. All current standings on the topic have been met with reluctance and willful neglect. These attitudes have contributed countless risk to international peace and stability. By ignoring the rights of indigenous people they are left without any form of institutional support or protection from state aggression. If indigenous rights are left unchecked, genocidal violence and insurgency will occur, thus causing destabilizing situations that could put regions in turmoil due to refugee influxes and cross-border conflicts. UNESCO has dedicated its resources to genocide prevention due to the mandate and agreements that reinforces UNESCO’s duties to the preservation of indigenous cultures and people.47 The Genocide Convention of 1948, and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People exclusively state the importance of maintaining the rights that groups such as Indigenous people have. As stated in article 1 of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, 43
Ibid.
44
“United Kingdom.” PBI United Kingdom, Centre for Justice and Accountability, 2002, peacebrigades.org.uk/
45
Miller, Talea. “Timeline: Guatemala's Brutal Civil War.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/ latin_america-jan-june11-timeline_03-07/ 46 47
Ibid.
Symonides, J., & Volodin, V. (2001). A Guide to Human Right: Institution, Standards, Procedures. Retrieved from Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation
United
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“Indigenous peoples have the right to the full enjoyment, as a collective or as individuals, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms as recognized in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international human rights law.”48 Member States are obligated by international law to respond to any acts of genocide if it is deemed a genocide. Another aspect of this issue is that the UN only has a handful of mechanism to prevent or halt genocidal campaigns. The most significant pieces of language that were produced by the UN was the Genocide Convention and the UN Declaration on Human Rights and Indigenous People’s Rights. Which both explicitly state that indigenous populations have the right to not suffer genocide.49 Recently in April of 2017, UNESCO along with the endorsement of human rights organisations, has taken initiatives of introducing the first concrete plans of addressing how to prevent genocide. The publication of the UNESCO Policy Guide on Holocaust Education and the Prevention of Genocide serves as the first concrete piece of language on the subject. 50 This document has been written to discuss recommendations and innovative policy measures to help promote genocide awareness and prevention while educating the world’s youth about the legacy of the Holocaust.51
Committee Directive For this committee delegates are advised to approach this topic with critical thinking. Delegations must recognize and plan solutions for new developments regarding indigenous rights and genocide. Since the subject of genocide is one of the most difficult topics that international institutions such as the UN, address. It is also advised that any solution must be pragmatic and reasonable. It would also be important to be aware of the treaties, declarations, and current initiatives regarding the status of indigenous rights. As for further research on genocide, I advise delegates to review the works of Raphael Lemkin, and UN agencies such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Permanent Forum for Indigenous Issues (PFII), International Court of Justice (ICJ), UNESCO, and human rights and genocide watch groups.
“United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples For Indigenous Peoples.”United Nations, United Nations, 2007, www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/declaration-on-the-rights-of-indigenous-peoples.html. 48
49
Ibid.
50
Ibid.
51
Ibid.
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III. Bolstering support for Freedom of Press Introduction Freedom of the Press is regarded as one of the most crucial foundations for a democracy. The overall purpose of the press is to provide vital information. The media is tasked with acting, transparently as possible, as a bridge for information between the government and the citizenry. Without it, the government would operate unchecked. The media can also provide the public with education, opinion, and introduction of ideas. 52 With the free flow of innovative ideas and information, the press on all platforms are fundamentally significant on the basis of freedom of expression as a human right. As a one of the major pillars of the UNESCO Constitution, freedom of expression is the safe guard for the public to freely express their opinions and concerns about the government or the state of their local affairs.53 Due to the independent press engaging in constructive and investigative reporting, journalist and public dissenters alike have often been the targets of murder, censorship, and false imprisonment by repressive regimes. This stems from States suppressing independent news organisations in favor of State-run media that actively spreads disinformation to the public. State-run media outlets are designed to discredit independent news sources that contradict or question the policies of the government so that power can be maintained. In light of recent data from UNESCO and NGOs (non-profit organisations) specialization in press freedom, the level of press suppression and public censorship has been steadily rising for the past few years due to trending populist rhetoric as well as global instability.54 Given the current state of international affairs, the independent media has come face to face with increasing restrictions on information, due to authoritative shifts in global politics. On December 9th 2016, former French President, Francois Hollande, commented on the current state of press freedom at the Committee of Protecting Journalists (CPJ) Conference saying that press freedom and democracy are ‘so fragile and precious [in this day and age]’.55 Based on his statements, Hollande recognized that the level of media censorship is rising in the world and that States already practicing media censorship were becoming more repressive and violent towards opposition.
52
“Freedom of Information and the Press.” Freedom of Information and the Press | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, United Nations, www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/events/prizes-and-celebrations/celebrations/internationaldays/world-press-freedom-day/previous-celebrations/worldpressfreedomday20090000/freedom-of-information-and-the-press/ 53
54 55
Ibid. “Freedom in the World 2017.” Freedom House, freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/freedom-world-2017. Ibid.
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UNESCO and press freedom watch groups such as Article 19, CPJ, Inter American Press Association (IAPA), and the International News Safety Institute (INSI), etc. all have conducted reports and taken testimonies relating to the murders and imprisonments of journalists worldwide.56 With these highlighted abuses often occurring in the non-conflict areas, the situation for journalist in war zones are also worth taking notice of. The Director General of the agency ordered an assessment of all aspects of press suppression and intimidation in both stable and conflict zones around the world. Thus the UNESCO Report on Journalist Safety Assessment was conducted, and from 2006 to 2015, UNESCO has found that at least 827 journalists were killed in the line of duty.57 The data shared in this report also reflected the current political conditions surrounding the different regions of the globe. The report’s findings gave a rough estimate of which regions are the most dangerous for all platforms of media to work. The numbers concluded that the Middle East, Sub-Sahara Africa, and Latin America/Caribbean are the most dangerous places for news reporters to operate.58 Though these areas are hazardous for journalists, the report has also factored in the varying levels of press freedom for each State’s population. The Reporters Without Borders (RSF) organisation had produced a Global Press Freedom Index for 2017. The index projection shows that the majority of States that violate the human right of expression, are offenders hailing from the three regions as listed in the UNESCO report. 59 These areas are well known for suppressing local journalism and public information, and these States are very selective with which journalists are allowed to enter. This also applies to whatever information they choose to release publicly (and globally).
Public Censorship and Disinformation The right of the public to have access to information is a fundamental aspect of the UNESCO Constitution, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.60 It is seen as the crucial foundations for dialogue and transparency between the people and the government. 61 Yet certain States have not embraced this idea in any way. The level of public access to information is limited by the State to ensure that it can not fuel any form of opposition. Despite those measures, 56
“UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.” UN Plan of Action | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, United Nations, www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/freedom-ofexpression/safety-of-journalists/un-plan-of-action/ “UNESCO Report on Journalist Safety.” UNESCO, International Programme for the Development of Communication, 24 July 2017, en.unesco.org/programme/ipdc. 57
58
Ibid.
59
Ibid.
“Fostering Freedom of Expression.” UNESCO, United Nations, 2 Aug. 2017, en.unesco.org/themes/fostering-freedomexpression 60
61
Ibid.
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citizens still continue to practice their right to protest and speech, but are often times met with violent crackdowns, intimidation, and assassination.62 The most notable example of this type of behavior occurred in February 2015 in Moscow, Russia. During this month, political opposition leader and former Deputy Prime Minister, Boris Nemstov, was gunned down on a bridge near the Kremlin.63 Reports suggested that Nemstov was becoming too critical of the Russian government’s involvement in Ukraine, and further accusations of corruption within Putin’s circle was becoming too intrusive for the Kremlin.64 After Nemtstov’s death, many of his supporters blamed President Vladimir Putin for Nemstov’s untimely passing, but Putin quickly denied the allegations, and openly ordered an investigation into Nemtsov’s death.65 During this ordeal many press freedom organisations automatically concluded that Nemstov was yet another victim silenced by the Russian government for being too outspoken. The assassination of Boris Nemstov triggered small scale protest that were responded to by heavily armed riot police and Kremlin loyalists.66 Though no violence occurred in the protests, it was clear that the Russian government was not afraid to use deadly force to curtail protests. The death of Boris Nemstov also sent ripples around the world due to the nature and cause of his death. Former US President, Barack Obama, condemned the murder and called for the Russian government to conduct a transparent investigation.67 As investigations continued, the Russian media controlled the story, and upheld any information that might have incriminated Putin. By deflecting opposition claims, the Russian media implemented a campaign of misinformation to confuse or distract the public.68 As a result, the public became divided and support the investigation wavered. 69 Another startling incident that occurred during the Nemstov case was that his daughter, Zhanna Nemstova, became the target of death threats.70 Being an outspoken critic of the Kremlin herself, she publicly expressed her anger at the government on Russian national television. In doing so, 62
Ibid.
63 Amos,
Howard. “Russia.” The Telegraph, Telegraph Media Group, 30 Mar. 2016, www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/ europe/Russia. 64
Ibid.
65
Ibid.
66
Ibid.
Rainsford, Sarah. “Russia Opposition Politician Boris Nemtsov Shot Dead.” BBC News, BBC, 28 Feb. 2015, www.bbc.com/ news/world-europe-31669061. 67
68
Borshchekskaya, Anna. “Russian Media Reports Suggest Variety of Responses to Murder of Boris Nemtsov.” Washington Free Beacon, 1 Mar. 2015, freebeacon.com/national-security/russian-media-reports-suggest-variety-of-responses-to-murder-of-borisnemtsov/. 69
Ibid.
70
Ibid.
16
Nemstova took it upon herself to utilize her resources as a journalist and social activist to find her father’s killers. Yet her efforts on television were muddled by pro-Kremlin media outlets that spread more disinformation to the public. Fearing for her safety, Nemstova sought asylum in Germany where she continues her work as a journalist and activist.71 This type of public censorship is all too common in many Member States including Russia. During Putin’s time in office, the number of outspoken critics that have been assassinated or jailed had increased, and State-run media has been too effective at discrediting opposition news.72
Harassment and Imprisonment of Journalists In the efforts to bolster support of press freedom, the UN has focused on formulating resolutions and initiatives that strive to protect journalists in war zones.73 By following the data produced by the UNESCO report on journalist’s safety, the indicators for the Middle East and Latin America/ Caribbean are the regions that rank the highest in journalist fatalities, and false imprisonments.74 In recent months, States in those regions have been enduring governmental shifts and conflicts that are currently destabilizing these respective regions. One instance of these situations involves the State of Venezuela. Ever since the economic crisis struck in 2012, the State of Venezuela has become a hostile environment with angry civilians that engage in violent protest.75 Since the crisis emerged, Venezuela has shown an acute hostility towards journalists that report current developments on the ground. Because of this, the information about what was happening garnered worldwide attention that made, Nicolas Maduro, and his government, the main subject of international news.76 With the extensive press coverage, the global community openly criticized president Maduro and his government for failing the Venezuelan people.77 With the amount of local and foreign journalists, and local activists, the circulation of information threatened the stability of Maduro’s government.
71
Ibid.
72
Ibid.
73
Ibid.
74
Ibid.
75
“Venezuela Is in the Midst of an Unprecedented Crisis.” Council on Foreign Relations, Council on Foreign Relations, www.cfr.org/backgrounder/venezuela-crisis. 76
Ibid.
77
Ibid.
17
As a counter action for the transgressions, Maduro’s military and militiamen began to purge any news coverage that further damaged his image.78 The crack-down on critical media began to violate the fundamental right to information for citizens and journalists alike. Reports of journalist being beaten, imprisoned, and harassed began to take precedent for human rights watch groups. The aggression that began with the media also began to take harsher stances on civilian protesters. Since the crisis began, protesting became normal, but the violence that would ensue between the people and government agents often ended with imprisonment, injuries and fatalities.79 Maduro simply denied allegations of poor mistreatment of the media despite the overwhelming evidence of repressive actions. On July 27, 2017, Venezuela constitutional reform became public.80 This new constituent inauguration was an assembly of Maduro’s administration that voted on re-writing the Venezuelan Constitution in favor of handing more executive powers to Maduro, and canceling the 2018 national elections.81 Many civilians took to the streets of Caracas to protest, but Maduro barred the protests before and during the constituent vote; this was covered by international journalists. By silencing the people’s right to express their discontent, the international community responded with disappointment. The United States took notice of the nature of the vote and censorship and, implementing personal sanctions on Maduro.82 After voting concluded, Venezuela spiraled into chaos, when journalists and protesters became victims of harassment, beatings, and other forms of lethal force by government authorities. As protesting continued the government further initiated measures that led to further crack-downs on the press and activist. The situation for Venezuelan press freedom proves dangerous and uncertain.
Issue of Impunity UNESCO has taken important steps to counter the recent challenges to press freedom. One of the greatest issues that faces the international community is the lack of resolute punishments for violators of press freedom. In accordance with the UN Plan of Action for the Safety of Journalists. The UN has made consequential moves to protect the press in war-torn locations on the globe. With the adoption of Security Council resolution S/RES/1738, under which journalists were guaranteed protection and safe havens in conflict zones.83 UNESCO and other pro-media 78
Schipani, Andres. “Venezuelans Take to the Streets in ‘Mother of All Marches.’” Financial Times, 19 Apr. 2017, www.ft.com/ content/cab2fbd2-2537-11e7-8691-d5f7e0cd0a16 79
Ibid.
80
Ibid.
81
McCoy, Jennifer. “Venezuela's Controversial New Constituent Assembly, Explained.” The Washington Post, The Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2017, www.lmtonline.com/news/article/Venezuela-s-controversial-new-Constituent-11722618.php 82
Ibid.
83
Ibid.
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organisations applauded the resolution as being the next step forward in bolstering support of the free press. Yet this victory is overshadowed by the continuous violations of journalists and activists in nonconflict situations. Based on the UNESCO report on journalists’ safety, the rate at which opposition media are being suppressed is rising and becoming more prevalent in 2017, and is likely to continue.84 The issue of impunity still provides a tremendous challenge to overcome due to some States deliberately silencing and abusing protesters, activists, and journalists, and then receiving no repercussions for it. From what the reports have discovered, this level of impunity is slowly becoming the normal for certain areas of the world such as the Middle East, Latin America, and Sub-Sahara Africa.85 If the issue of impunity is not addressed then the international system’s policies on free press protection will be greatly diminished, and media suppression may become the norm.
Conclusion Freedom of the press is a fundamental component of building transparency and accountability within a society. Without the participation of the press, State governments will operate unchecked, and the public would be unable to be properly informed and educated. UNESCO has committed its resources and partnerships to combating the issues of impunity and suppression of the media. With recent developments of journalist protection initiatives and data production for the levels of safety for press organisations to operate. The achievement of these goals has highlighted the potential solutions to enable the bolstering support of press freedom to be valued.
Committee Directive Delegations are tasked with working innovative measures that will propel the institutional support of press freedom. In doing so, delegates must strategically work with diligence to come to a compromise with the issues at hand. Delegate are compelled to use the information provided and further researched, to create resolutions that will expand upon the initiatives already in place for this topic. It is important to research the concept of freedom of speech, and the importance it has as part of the foundation of democratic principles. Remember to also keep in mind the available data that give a rough estimate or projection of the level of press freedom that exist in within different States. The last objective involves reviewing any UN documents and resolutions that have supported innovations in the way the international community approaches protecting press freedom.
84
Ibid.
85
Ibid.
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