With safety and protection key areas of focus for press freedom advocacy work, WAN-Ifra has joined with Reporters Without Borders to push for the creation of a UN Special Representative for the Safety of Journalists.
Last year's Golden Pen of Freedom at the World News Media Congress was dedicated to 'Journalists killed in the line of duty', it having been felt that the situation for the safety of journalists had deteriorated to such a low point that this was necessary to highlight the urgent need for all stakeholders to step up and end attacks against journalists.
The recent collaboration with Reporters Without Borders is to actively push for the creation of the role of Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for the Safety of Journalists.
A public campaign was launched yesterday, World Press Freedom Day, to highlight the active support from within the media industry for the creation of a Special Representative.
WAN-Ifra is asking individuals in the news media to "take one minute to endorse the recommendation and to allow us to use your name, the name of your media company and its logo to add to an already impressive wave of support".
For details, visit the dedicated website www.ProtectOurJournalists.org, register your support, and give as much coverage to the issue of safety for journalists as you can.