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Ensuring Safety for Journalists

21 March, 2021 Admin

Jakarta, March 24th 2021 – Indonesia is experiencing a democratic setback due to restrictions on civil liberties. This condition is worsened by the increasing threats to residents who are defending their rights from the exploitation of natural resources and the environment in the name of development. 

On the other hand, journalists as one of the pillars of democracy and tasked with covering and reporting events that occur in the environmental sector to the public are also not free from threats. They are often victims of violence, criminalization, and even murders that are allegedly carried out by powerful individuals. 

The Press Legal Aid Institute (Lembaga Bantuan Hukum/LBH) recorded that there were 413 cases of violence against journalists in the last five years. Of that number, 117 cases occurred in 2020 – the most as long as LBH Pers was monitoring. 

There are various forms of attacks received by the journalists. Some experienced beatings, destruction of covering equipment, psychological intimidation, and digital attacks. 

Female journalists are also vulnerable to sexual violence at work. The results of the Jakarta Alliance of Independent Journalists (Aliansi Jurnalis Independen/AJI) survey in August 2020 of 34 journalists from various cities stated that 25 respondents admitted they experienced sexual violence. According to the survey, each respondent experienced more than one sexual assault. AJI Jakarta revealed that 63.3 percent of respondents chose not to report. 

Although there were several respondents who had ventured to complain about the case, unfortunately, they did not receive any positive response from media companies. Some were not responded to, responded to but not followed up, even some are intimidated by the perpetrators and the office. 

The portraits of violence against journalists are indeed more worrying, but not surprising. The reason is because until now, journalists in Indonesia work with minimal protection from the state, and without security protocols from the media companies where they belong. 

This situation has also pushed LBH Pers and KEMITRAAN, with the support of the Dutch Embassy, ​​to prepare the Security Protocol for Journalists in Covering Environmental Crime Issues which will be released on March 24, 2021. 

This book describes in detail the things that journalists need to prepare before reporting, and the steps that must be taken when facing an attack. In the first part, this book discusses planning and preparation. Reviews on safety at the time of coverage are the subject of the second part. Next, part three talks about digital security, as well as an explanation of news and journalistic code of ethics in the next section. The last part discusses the issue of publication. 

At the book launch event, LBH Pers invited a number of resource persons with experience in journalism. Dozens of people from various elements such as journalists, activists from civil society organizations, academics, and students also participated in the online event. 

Secretary General of the Indonesian Cyber ​​Media Union (Serikat Media Siber Indonesia/SMSI) M. Nasir, one of the speakers at the launch of the Security Protocol, revealed that the protocol for protecting and security for journalists in covering war and disasters already exists, but it is not complete yet and has become a standard operating procedure for the media in Indonesia. Nasir said, the publication of “Security Protocols for Journalists in Covering” answers the basic needs of journalists in reporting, especially the issue of environmental crimes. 

A similar statement was conveyed by the Chairperson of the Indonesian Cyber ​​Media Association (AMSI), Irna Gustiawati. “Finally, we have a journalist security protocol. This security protocol is very complete. This is what we’ve been waiting for,” he said. Another resource person, Joris Ramm from the Dutch Embassy, ​​also gave his praise to LBH Pers and KEMITRAAN for responding to the need to protect journalists’ safety through this security protocol. 

KEMITRAAN understands that the efforts to realize security protection for journalists in the midst of the declining quality of democracy is not an easy matter. However, KEMITRAAN considers that the publication of the “Security Protocol for Journalists in Covering Environmental Crime Issues” can be an entry point for conducting advocacy and establishing stronger cooperation with journalist groups, so that respect for, protection of human rights and human rights defenders can be fulfilled. 

The hard work to achieve that goal indeed should not stop here. More efforts are needed so that media companies are willing to commit to adopting and implementing it in the work environment. In addition, as stated by another speaker at the event, Peter ter Velde, Project Manager of Pressvlig, a press organization in the Netherlands that focuses on journalists’ security issues. He said the government, even the police and political parties must also carry out their role in guaranteeing press freedom so that the protection of journalistic work in Indonesia can be fully achieved. 

Security Protocol Book for Journalists in Covering Environmental Crime Issues 

Check out the book launch event “Security Protocols for Journalists in Covering Environmental Crime Issues” below. 

2016

Pada bulan Maret 2016, KEMITRAAN menerima akreditasi internasional dari Adaptation Fund. Dewan Adaptation Fund, dalam pertemuannya yang ke-27, memutuskan untuk mengakreditasi KEMITRAAN sebagai National Implementing Entity (NIE) dari Adaptation Fund. KEMITRAAN menjadi lembaga pertama dan satu-satunya lembaga Indonesia yang terakreditasi sebagai NIE Adaptation Fund di Indonesia.
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2020

Perjanjian ini ditandatangani antara Green Climate Fund (GCF) dan KEMITRAAN. Perjanjian ini meresmikan akuntabilitas KEMITRAAN dalam melaksanakan proyek-proyek yang disetujui oleh GCF.

 

Untuk diketahui, GCF adalah dana khusus terbesar di dunia yang membantu negara-negara berkembang untuk mengurangi emisi gas rumah kaca dan meningkatkan kemampuan mereka dalam merespons perubahan iklim.

 

Dana ini dihimpun oleh Konvensi Kerangka Kerja PBB tentang Perubahan Iklim (UNFCCC) pada tahun 2010. GCF memiliki peran penting dalam mewujudkan Perjanjian Paris, yakni mendukung tujuan untuk menjaga kenaikan suhu global rata-rata di bawah 2 derajat celsius.

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2000-2003

KEMITRAAN memainkan peran krusial dalam mendukung pengembangan undang-undang untuk membentuk KPK. Hal ini diikuti dengan langkah mendukung Pemerintah dan DPR dalam memilih calon komisioner yang kompeten dan juga mendukung kelompok masyarakat sipil untuk mengawasi secara kritis proses seleksinya. Setelah komisioner ditunjuk, mereka meminta KEMITRAAN untuk membantu mendesain kelembagaan dan rekrutmen awal KPK, serta memainkan peran sebagai koordinator donor. Sangat jelas bahwa KEMITRAAN memainkan peran kunci dalam mendukung KPK untuk mengembangkan kapasitas dan strategi yang diperlukan agar dapat bekerja seefektif mungkin.
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2003

Pada tahun 2003, KEMITRAAN menjadi badan hukum yang independen yang terdaftar sebagai Persekutuan Perdata Nirlaba. Pada saat itu, KEMITRAAN masih menjadi program yang dikelola oleh UNDP hingga akhir tahun 2009. Sejak awal tahun 2010, KEMITRAAN mengambil alih tanggung jawab dan akuntabilitas penuh atas program-program dan perkembangannya.
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1999-2000

Kemitraan bagi Pembaruan Tata Kelola Pemerintahan, atau KEMITRAAN, didirikan pada tahun 2000 setelah berlangsungnya pemilihan umum pertama di Indonesia yang bebas dan adil pada tahun 1999. Pemilu bersejarah ini merupakan langkah penting dalam upaya Indonesia keluar dari masa lalu yang otoriter menuju masa depan yang demokratis. KEMITRAAN didirikan dari dana perwalian multi-donor dan dikelola oleh United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) dengan mandat untuk memajukan reformasi tata kelola pemerintahan di Indonesia.
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2020

This agreement was signed between Green Climate Fund (GCF) and PARTNERSHIP. This agreement formalizes KEMITRAAN’s accountability in implementing projects approved by the GCF.

For your information, the GCF is the world’s largest special fund that helps developing countries reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase their ability to respond to climate change.

These funds were collected by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2010. The GCF has an important role in realizing the Paris Agreement, namely supporting the goal of keeping the average global temperature increase below 2 degrees Celsius.

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2020

This agreement was signed between Green Climate Fund (GCF) and PARTNERSHIP. This agreement formalizes KEMITRAAN’s accountability in implementing projects approved by the GCF.

For your information, the GCF is the world’s largest special fund that helps developing countries reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase their ability to respond to climate change.

These funds were collected by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2010. The GCF has an important role in realizing the Paris Agreement, namely supporting the goal of keeping the average global temperature increase below 2 degrees Celsius.

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2016

In March 2016, KEMITRAAN received international accreditation from the Adaptation Fund. The Adaptation Fund Board, in its 27th meeting, decided to accredit KEMITRAAN as National Implementing Entity (NIE) from the Adaptation Fund. KEMITRAAN is the first and only Indonesian institution to be accredited as a NIE Adaptation Fund in Indonesia.
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2003

In 2003, KEMITRAAN became an independent legal entity registered as a Non-Profit Civil Partnership. At that time, KEMITRAAN was still a program managed by UNDP until the end of 2009. Since the beginning of 2010, KEMITRAAN took over full responsibility and accountability for the programs and their development.
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2000-2003

KEMITRAAN played a crucial role in supporting the development of legislation to establish the KPK. This was followed by steps to support the Government and DPR in selecting competent commissioner candidates and also supporting civil society groups to critically monitor the selection process. After the commissioners were appointed, they asked KEMITRAAN to help with the institutional design and initial recruitment of the KPK, as well as play the role of donor coordinator. It is clear that KEMITRAAN plays a key role in supporting the Corruption Eradication Commission to develop the capacity and strategies needed to work as effectively as possible.
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1999-2000

The Partnership for Governance Reform, or KEMITRAAN, was founded in 2000 following Indonesia’s first free and fair general election in 1999. This historic election is an important step in Indonesia’s efforts to move away from an authoritarian past towards a democratic future. PARTNERSHIP was established from a multi-donor trust fund and is managed by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with a mandate to advance governance reform in Indonesia
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1999-2000

Kemitraan bagi Pembaruan Tata Kelola Pemerintahan, atau KEMITRAAN, didirikan pada tahun 2000 setelah berlangsungnya pemilihan umum pertama di Indonesia yang bebas dan adil pada tahun 1999. Pemilu bersejarah ini merupakan langkah penting dalam upaya Indonesia keluar dari masa lalu yang otoriter menuju masa depan yang demokratis. KEMITRAAN didirikan dari dana perwalian multi-donor dan dikelola oleh United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) dengan mandat untuk memajukan reformasi tata kelola pemerintahan di Indonesia.
Berikutnya
Kembali