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THE UNITED NATIONS GROUP OF FRIENDS FOR THE PROTECTION OF JOURNALISTS

6/8/2021

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JOINT STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE CO-CHAIRS AND THE UNDERSIGNED MEMBERS OF THE UNITED NATIONS GROUP OF FRIENDS FOR THE PROTECTION OF JOURNALISTS 
ON THE DETENTION BY THE BELARUSIAN AUTHORITIES OF JOURNALIST RAMAN PRATASEVICH AND SOFIA SAPEGA
                                                           New York, June 8, 2021
  
The co-chairs of the United Nations Group of Friends for the Protection of Journalists – Greece, France and Lithuania - and the undersigned Members of the Group of Friends strongly condemn the forced landing of a Ryanair flight in Minsk, Belarus, on May 23, 2021, prompted by Belarusian authorities in order to arrest and detain independent journalist Raman Pratasevich and his companion, Sofia Sapega.
 
Reiterating the Statements of the UN Secretary-General, we support a full, transparent and independent investigation into the disturbing and unprecedented incident, which constitutes a frontal attack on media freedom and urge all relevant actors to cooperate with such an inquiry. 
 
We call for the immediate and unconditional release of Raman Pratasevich and Sofia Sapega, as well as other journalists and media workers, and that their human rights and fundamental freedoms be respected.
 
We strongly condemn the harassment, intimidation, arbitrary arrests and detentions and the prosecution of journalists and media workers, as well as members of the opposition, human rights defenders, and other members of civil society in Belarus and beyond, for exercising their human rights and fundamental freedoms, particularly the rights to freedom of expression, opinion, including freedom of information, as well as freedom of peaceful assembly and association. We further condemn any use of torture or cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment as a means to force public confessions. We also express our concern over the recently adopted laws on media and mass events that will further facilitate such harassment and prosecution. 
 
Media freedom is an essential part of democratic societies. States should ensure a free, safe and enabling environment for journalists to perform their work independently and without interference. Arbitrary detentions are obstructing the task of journalism in building inclusive societies and democracies, helping shape an informed public debate and fostering intercultural dialogue, peace and good governance. There can be no Press Freedom when there is fear. 
 
We extend our support to the efforts of the international non-governmental and grass roots organizations to promote the protection of journalists and media workers, their human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to all the Member States in promoting an environment in which journalists can carry out their work without fear of reprisal or intimidation.
 
Signed,
 
Co-chairs of the UN Group of Friends for the Protection of Journalists, Ambassadors, Permanent Representatives of Greece, France and Lithuania
 
Annex:
Co-signatories members of the Group of Friends (in alphabetical order): Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Costa Rica, Ghana, Latvia, Republic of Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America, Uruguay
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  • Home
  • About Us
    • History >
      • It All Began … (1918-1967)
      • It Continues … (1967-1993)
      • The Forgotten Hostage
      • On the 75th Anniversay
      • FPA Scholarship Fund Created
      • Our 90th Anniversary
    • Association Elected Board & Executive Committee >
      • Ian Williams Bio
      • Kristen Saloomey Bio
      • Camilla Hellman, MBE Bio
      • Sarab Zavaleta Bio
      • Simon Erskine Locke Bio
      • Anthony Morenzi Bio
      • J. Tuyet Nguyen BIO
      • Emilie Pons Bio
      • Cindy Fields Bio
      • DAVID A. ANDELMAN
      • Ulrike Howe Bio
    • Presidents Emeritus
    • Bylaws
  • FPA MEMBERSHIP
    • CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP
    • Benefits of Membership
    • Code of Ethics and Conduct
  • FOREIGN PRESS Foundation
    • About Us
    • The Award
    • Donate
    • Foundation Board of Governors
    • Corporate Memberships
    • The Fellowship Award >
      • Submission Guidelines
      • Ways to Support
      • Past Scholarships
    • In memory of KIM WALL (1987-2017)
  • News
    • FPA News
    • News from Our Members
    • FPA Events
  • BRIEFINGS
    • Throne of Spies with Craig Unger
    • Diplomacy Can Work By Putting Problems on the Backburner: China, Taiwan and the Rest of the World
    • Lavrov Trumps Rubio with Carne Ross
    • Doomsday for UNRWA and International Order?
    • Georgia's Fight for Independence from Moscow with Tinatin Japaridze
    • ICC Netanyahu's Arrest Warrant - The Beginning or End for International Justice? With Reed Brody
    • Election Interference and Foreign Media
    • Foreign Policy Matters! An FPA Press Briefing with John Bolton
    • Harris Vs Trump: Using Language to Unify and Divide:
    • The Mysteries of the Political Shifts in Europe
    • The Foreign Press & The Trump Trial: Takeaways from the Frontline
    • Can the UN Be Rescued from Irrelevance? Lessons from Kofi Annan
    • The Caucasus Emulates the Balkans?
    • Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
    • Haiti's Kids Face Famine
    • Putin Won: What Does This Mean for Russia's Neighbors?
  • WAYS TO SUPPORT
  • Contact