Focus on media at UN rapporteur meeting
Francesca Paola Albanese, UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territories, is visiting Dublin this week.
On International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, Albanese began her visit by meeting the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission before meeting senior members of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
Executive council members Séamus Dooley, NUJ assistant general secretary, and former ICTU president Justin McCamphill are pictured with Albanese following a briefing on the response of Congress and affiliated unions’ work, including plans for a day of action in solidarity with Palestine on 26 November.
Workplace Day of Action in solidarity with the people of Palestine | ICTU
Séamus Dooley, NUJ assistant general secretary, Francesca Albanese, special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territories and former ICTU president Justin McCamphill.
Dooley outlined the work of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the NUJ support of the IFJ safety fund, which has assisted Palestinian journalists. He also explained the close relationships of the NUJ and the Palestinian Syndicate of Journalists.
Albanese recently presented a report to the UN General Assembly "Truth under the rubble: media in the time of genocide" and on Monday, expressed a wish to engage with the IFJ on her report.
Dooley welcomed the focus on Israel’s attack on journalists in Gaza, and the failure to recognise the rights of journalists within the occupied territories under the Geneva convention to be treated as civilians.
Albanese has been highly critical of some global media organisations who she accuses of being partisan towards Israel.
Dooley outlined the challenges facing journalists and public service broadcasters in particular.