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UNESCO's Priority: Protection of journalists during conflict
Mr. Awad expressed his sadness at the deadly events that claimed the lives of a number of journalists, including, most recently, the journalist, Issam Abdullah. He also extended his sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Abdullah, who died on Friday, 13 October 2023, and wished a speedy recovery to all injured and wounded peers.
Mr. Awad then spoke about UNESCO’s commitment to ensuring the protection of journalists. He referred to UNESCO’s press release dated 16 October 2023.
Mr. Awad proceeded to shed light on the responsibilities of journalists, media institutions, international organizations, and civil society to raise awareness and provide guidance and special training to equip journalists with the most relevant guidelines for media coverage during war.
He also underlined the role of UNESCO in promoting the safety of journalists according to the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity and to implement it with the maximum impact.
In the same line of thought, Mr. Awad stressed the importance of freely disseminating accurate and reliable information to the public through various media outlets, warning against the risk of haste versus speed, as it can have severe repercussions.
On another note, Mr. Awad touched on a critical aspect of media during conflicts: combating disinformation and fake news and maintaining an ethical use of media is very important.
This falls within the framework of UNESCO Media and Information Literacy Initiative in Lebanon, which is implemented in partnership with governmental authorities, regulatory bodies, media institutions, academia, civil society. It aims to develop critical thinking and analytical skills while consuming media content in line with the principles of honesty, transparency, and objectivity.
Mr. Awad concluded by saying that UNESCO is committed to play its strategic role in combating disinformation, especially on social media platforms.
Mr. Awad called for collective action, especially in conflicts, to ensure access to accurate information and to counter any attempts to spread misinformation.
