Media in Conflict and Post-Conflict Situations

UNESCO supports independent media in conflict and post-conflict situations to enable them to gather and disseminate non-partisan information.

In this respect, the assistance provided to independent media in South East Europe, Angola, the Great Lakes Region in Africa, the Middle East, East Timor, and Afghanistan has contributed to peace building and reconciliation processes.

Promotion of dialogue 
UNESCO’s action in this area includes the promotion of dialogue among media professionals in zones of conflict and the outside world and provision of advice to the authorities of countries in postconflict situations in drafting new media legislation, which enhances the development of freedom of expression.

This action in promoting independent media in conflict situations has been recognized by the international community. The humanitarian nature of this work was recognized by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Department of Humanitarian Affairs in the June 1994 United Nations Inter-Agency Appeal. In 1996 the Appeal designated UNESCO as lead agency for assistance to independent media for the reconstruction period in the former Yugoslavia. Since then the Organization has received considerable financial support from a number of donor countries.

Security and Safety of Media Professionals
With each conflict, the price paid by local journalists and foreign correspondents is becoming heavier. After respect has been paid to the victims for their courage, people are asking increasingly urgent questions.
Have the countries, the international organizations, and media institutions put in place all possible means to limit the risks incurred by war correspondents? Can reporters be efficiently prepared, and by whom, to face the dangers? In the past 10 years, nearly 350 journalists have been killed in conflict zones, with the majority of journalists dying not in crossfire, but rather by being hunted down and murdered, often in direct reprisal for their reporting.

Particular attention should be given to safety of local journalists. A specific goals of any security strategy should be to provide safety training for local journalists, as international journalists are often heavily equipped and protected. It is the local journalist who is the most vulnerable. Promotion of international standards for safety training and equipment, and the expansion of access to risk-awareness training for journalists and media staff is another way to address this issue.

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