S/RES/2222 (2015)
Further recognizing that States bear the primary responsibility to respect and
ensure the human rights of their citizens, as well as individuals within their territory
as provided for by relevant international law,
Recalling the right to freedom of expression reflected in Article 19 of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the General Assembly in 1948
(“the Universal Declaration”), and recalling also the right to freedom of expression
in Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights adopted by
the General Assembly in 1966 (“ICCPR”) and that any restrictions thereon shall
only be such as are provided by law and are necessary on the grounds set out in
paragraph 3 of Article 19 of the ICCPR,
Deeply concerned at the frequency of acts of violence in many parts of the
world against journalists, media professionals, and associated personnel in armed
conflict, in particular deliberate attacks in violation of international humanitarian
law,
Emphasizing that there are existing prohibitions under international
humanitarian law against attacks intentionally directed against civilians, as such,
which in situations of armed conflict constitute war crimes, and recalling the need
for States to end impunity for such criminal acts,
Bearing in mind that impunity for crimes committed against journalists, media
professionals and associated personnel in armed conflict remains a significant
challenge to their protection and that ensuring accountability for crimes committed
against them is a key element in preventing future attacks,
Recognizing that journalists, media professionals and associated personnel can
play an important role in protection of civilians and conflict prevention by acting as
an early warning mechanism in identifying and reporting potential situations that
could result in genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity,
Reaffirming its condemnation of all incitements to violence against civilians in
situations of armed conflict, and condemning the use of the media to incite violence,
genocide, crimes against humanity and other serious violations of international
humanitarian law,
Recalling that States Parties to the Geneva Conventions have an obligation to
search for persons alleged to have committed, or to have ordered to be committed a
grave breach of these Conventions, and an obligation to try them before their own
courts, regardless of their nationality, or may hand them over for trial to another
concerned State provided this State has made out prima facie case against the said
persons,
Further recalling the responsibility of all Member States to comply with their
respective obligations to end impunity and to investigate and prosecute those
responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes or other serious
violations of international humanitarian law and noting that the fight against
impunity for the most serious crimes of international concern committed against
civilians has been strengthened through the work on and prosecution of these crimes
by the International Criminal Court, in accordance with the principle of
complementarity to national criminal jurisdictions as set out in the Rome Statute, ad
hoc and mixed tribunals and specialized chambers in national tribunals,
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