Doha, Qatar: A major international conference, opened in Doha yesterday, called for stronger global action to ensure accountability and end impunity for crimes committed against journalists, particularly in conflict zones.

The two-day International Conference on the Protection of Journalists in Armed Conflict Zones is jointly organised by the National Human Rights Committee, Al Jazeera Center for Public Liberties and Human Rights at the Al Jazeera Media Network, in collaboration with Unesco and the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.

The conference brings together international officials, legal experts, journalists, and human rights defenders to explore ways to strengthen protections for journalists covering wars and conflicts and to tackle the persistent problem of impunity for those who attack or kill them.

In her opening address, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) H E Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah, emphasised that mere condemnation of attacks on journalists is no longer enough.

“It is unacceptable to simply denounce these crimes,” she said.“The alarming scale of grave violations committed against journalists shows the urgent need for broad action involving governments, national human rights institutions, stakeholders, and UN bodies. We must strengthen legal frameworks and reform protection mechanisms to ensure accountability and end impunity.”

She noted that this conference is part of a long-term effort to monitor the situation of journalists in conflict zones and to build on the outcomes of previous gatherings - particularly the 2012 Doha Declaration on the Protection of Journalists in Dangerous Situations.

Al Attiyah praised journalists for their critical role in exposing human rights violations and drawing attention to humanitarian crises - including civilians' struggle for basic needs such as food, water, and health care.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al Jazeera Media Network H E Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani; NHRC Chairperson H E Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah; and other officials attending the conference in Doha yesterday.

She also expressed deep concern over the“horrifying” statistics: Since October 2023, 254 journalists have been killed in the Gaza Strip alone during Israeli military operations, along with dozens more in other conflict areas worldwide.

Director General of Al Jazeera Media Network Sheikh Nasser bin Faisal Al Thani, delivered a powerful speech highlighting the personal and institutional toll of violence against journalists.

“Even as we meet today, the blood of our journalists in Gaza has not yet dried,” he said.“Journalism is facing existential challenges that threaten its very role as a voice for truth and humanity.”

He stressed that journalist safety is not just a professional issue but a matter of global justice. Al Jazeera has made the protection of its reporters a core priority, implementing advanced training programs and safety measures for teams working in conflict zones. Yet, despite these efforts, the network has lost 22 journalists over the years - 10 of them during the ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza.

“Journalists have never been parties to conflicts,” Sheikh Nasser said.“They are the eyes that document the truth, the voice of victims, and a tool to expose the suffering of civilians. Respecting this role and guaranteeing journalists' freedom to work is essential to achieving justice. Without them, war crimes will remain unseen and humanity will lose its memory.” In a recorded message, Dr. Tawfik Jelassi, Unesco's Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, underscored that free and independent media are the backbone of democracy.

He explained that Unesco, as the UN agency leading the Action Plan on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, works to strengthen international cooperation and national protection mechanisms to create safe environments for media professionals.

Also addressing the conference in a recorded statement, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information at the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) Ourveena Geereesha Topsy-Sonoo, highlighted the African human rights system's commitment to protecting journalists.

She cited the 2019 Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, which requires states to ensure journalist safety and to investigate and prosecute attacks against them. The opening session ended with a minute of silence to honour journalists killed in conflict zones around the world.

Participants then visited a powerful photographic exhibition showcasing the equipment, belongings, and images of journalists killed in Gaza and Iraq - a solemn reminder of the human cost behind the struggle to report the truth.

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