A code of conduct for Yemeni journalists
Related project
YMER+Gathered in Amman (Jordan) to discuss media coverage of the humanitarian situation in Yemen in late November, thirty Yemeni journalists and representatives of humanitarian organisations also took the opportunity to sign a code of conduct together.
This seminar brought together chief editors and journalists from different backgrounds and regions of Yemen to present and compare different opinions, mainly concerning the humanitarian situation in Yemen (issues, challenges and priorities), the situation and role of the media in Yemen, cooperation between the media and civil society organisations in Yemen, or the production of content and strengthening the role of the media in disseminating reliable information on the humanitarian situation in the country.
Each session gave rise to conclusions
This seminar resulted in the creation of a code of conduct, which was adopted and signed by all participants.
“We, Yemeni media professionals, participate in the International Seminar on Media and Humanitarian Information, held in Amman, from 20 to 22 November 2019, with the participation of Yemeni media leaders and chief editors and representatives of local humanitarian organisations, convinced of the importance of the media and their role in different aspects of life and in view of the freedom of opinion and expression granted to us by local and international laws, conventions and standards. We affirm our unwavering commitment to this code of conduct. This code is at the heart of the values of the journalistic profession:
1- Adherence to journalistic and professional values of courage, credibility, transparency, accuracy, independence and the dissemination of the truth without further consideration.
2- Objectivity with regard to the diversity that characterises Yemeni society, its various components and its regions.
3- Defend the freedom of the press and media and freedom of expression in general.
4- Refrain from hate speech, incitement of hatred and the provocation of sectarian and regional struggles among the Yemeni people.
5- Adhere to the rules of publication in the media concerning minors, vulnerable groups and moral crimes and preserve the dignity of victims.
6- Refrain from exploiting the profession for personal gain and fuelling political conflicts.
7- Take humanitarian issues into consideration in our media coverage.
8- Verify the accuracy of information from all sources, avoiding errors and avoiding disseminating information from elsewhere without referencing the source.”
This seminar was organised under the EU-funded YMER + project, which is implemented by CFI jointly with ARIJ and UNESCO.
The journalists also participated in the ARIJ Annual Forum for Investigative Journalism, the largest gathering of journalists in the Arab world and an opportunity for them to strengthen their expertise and consolidate their network.
