The head of the HRC outraged that the Duma does not adopt measures for the protection of correspondents
The head of the presidential Council on human rights Mikhail Fedotov outraged that in the State Duma not consider the initiative of human rights defenders on the protection of journalists in conflict zones.
According to him, the MPs approve the proposed human rights defenders measures, but until now no one has submitted a draft law for consideration, pointing to more important things. The Council has no right to introduce bills in Parliament.
The cameraman of the First channel of Russian television Anatoly Clan died at night on Monday, having got under fire near Donetsk Together with colleagues from other channels. First in Ukraine the Journalist of " Vesti " Igor Korneluk And video engineer VGTRK Anton Voloshin lost their lives as a result of a mortar attack near the city of Lugansk in Eastern Ukraine.
" Any people's choice of the state Duma, who thinks about how to protect Russian correspondents can take it (the Bill) with the Internet representative office of the HRC And to make legislative proposals. Unfortunately, this until now no one has done that himself'm just angry, " said the Last news the head of the Council.
According to him, even in 2013 initiative of the Council on strengthening safety correspondents working in hot spots were given number of deputies of the State Duma. Currently prepared by the human rights Council draft law hangs on the Internet representation of the Board.
" My conversations with the people's elected representatives are that they all say, Yes this is a good project, of course, we'll submit it, but we currently have more important things. In my opinion, nothing is more important than human life can not be. And this law aims to legal means to provide security correspondents, to save their lives, " - said Fedotov.
" I am appalled that another death, I think the death toll correspondents was too long, so as not to notice. And the Ukrainian authorities, And international organizations, And all parties in Ukraine are obliged to pay attention to the protection of reporters, " - said the Head of the Council. Condolences to the families of the deceased operator of the First channel is also available on the Internet representative office of the HRC on behalf of the entire Board.
the draft law of the human rights Council suggests amendments to the media law: to oblige the employer to provide a journalist working in hot spots, means of individual protection, special equipment And to give him the opportunity to undergo special training. The journalist also will be required to obtain an identification mark " Press/Press And international Identity journalists engaged in dangerous business trip " (it is provided by the additional Protocol To the Geneva conventions of 1949 on the protection of victims of international armed conflicts). According to the amendments, the employer is also obliged to issue such a journalist additional insurance And give the opportunity to undergo voluntary genomic registration (for identification in case of death).