Lebanese Ministry of Information
The Ministry of Information and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) concluded the virtual training course for field journalists at the Ministry of Information, Lebanon TV and private media outlets, which was held between April 6 & 9, 2021.
Lecturers during the training sessions touched on the humane treatment that should be available to all detained journalists that preserves their dignity in all circumstances, in addition to the places of detention that should be far from combat zones, and their protection from all acts of violence, intimidation, insults and public curiosity.
The above measures should also include war correspondents, as per the lecturers, who explained that “the war correspondent is protected by virtue of Chapter Four of the Third Geneva Convention, as they travel under the protection of the armed forces and with their authorization, and they are covered by the protection of international humanitarian law as civilians; but if they are detained, they enjoy the status of a prisoner of war.”
Talks during the sessions also referred to members of the military press, in being considered as members of the armed forces and military objectives during armed conflicts, indicating that they enjoy the protection of international humanitarian law granted to combatants, and that military press members should be released after the end of hostilities.
The training sessions included an interaction and exchange of views between various participants and lecturers, where the participants’ different questions were answered.
The training course was divided into 4 sessions, each session lasting two hours, addressing the following topics:
– International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
– International Humanitarian Law
– Rules governing the use of force
– Safety of journalists and the laws that protect them
It is to note that the participants will soon obtain a certificate of participation signed by the Ministry of Information and the International Committee of the Red Cross, provided that they have attended all the sessions.
NNA
