EMAIL to unesco on media independence and assange
Here is an extract of my email to UNESCO sent on Wednesday, 6 May 2020 with acknowledgment of receipt. I have received no response.
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NB: Please feel free to publish this content or to use it as a template for your own communications.
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This email was sent to:
r.pollack@unesco.org
g.papagiannis@unesco.org
Dear Ms Pollack and Mr Papagiannis,
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On 5 May 2020, I joined the UNESCO webinar "Media Independence in Times of Crises" but only caught the last part of it, thus I am not aware of any discussion raised around Julian Assange. The webinar was advertised as featuring a discussion of the forthcoming UNESCO study "Reporting Facts: Free from Fear or Favor".
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After the webinar I searched the UNESCO website for information on Julian Assange, particularly after his arrest in April 2019. I had hoped to find his name on UNESCO's "In Focus Series - World Trends Report 2019" (particularly in documents entitled "Intensified attacks, new defences: developments in the fight to protect journalists and end impunity"). I found nothing of any significance prior to 2019 and no mention of his name after his arrest.
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Thus, regarding multi-awarded journalist and multi-nominated Nobel peace prize nominee Julian Assange and the grave dangers of his continued arbitrary detention (to his life), I am writing to you to request urgent action in connection with your mandate ("to foster free, independent and pluralistic media" [...] that "enhances freedom of expression, and contributes to peace, sustainability, poverty eradication and human rights"). Julian Assange is not currently serving any sentence (his unjust sentence for skipping bail whilst under the protection a political asylum, ended on 22 September 2019). He is a political prisoner who is on remand for an extradition hearing, which has been rescheduled for September.
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Deaf to pleas from various human rights organisations, including "The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute" (IBAHRI), Westminster Magistrates Court ruled that he will not be bailed and must stay in high-security Belmarsh, where there has already been one confirmed Covid-19 death. It is worthwhile noting that Belmarsh is governed by a governor with a high death rate under his watch.
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Scathing criticisms have also been expressed by civil society (including several journalists' unions), and by organisations such as the Council of Europe (Julian Assange is now on the CoE Protection of Journalism / Safety of Journalists list). In a statement issued on 20 February 2020 and entitled "Julian Assange should not be extradited due to potential impact on press freedom and concerns about ill-treatment" the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, said:
"Julian Assange’s potential extradition has human rights implications that reach far beyond his individual case. The indictment raises important questions about the protection of those that publish classified information in the public interest, including those that expose human rights violations. (...) Consequently, allowing Julian Assange’s extradition on this basis would have a chilling effect on media freedom, and could ultimately hamper the press in performing its task as purveyor of information and public watchdog in democratic societies."
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The latest Media Alert on the Council of Europe website, dated 20 March 2020, and entitled "Continued Detention of WikiLeaks Founder and Publisher Julian Assange", states the following:
"Several lawyers, politicians, journalists and academics consider Assange’s arrest in the United Kingdom and prosecution in the United States for publishing leaked documents of public interest an attack on press freedom and international law. After examining Assange in prison on 9 May 2019, UN special rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Nils Melzer concluded: "In addition to physical ailments, Mr Assange showed all symptoms typical for prolonged exposure to psychological torture, including extreme stress, chronic anxiety and intense psychological trauma." In a letter sent on 29 October 2019 to the UK Government, Melzer wrote: "I found that the UK had contributed decisively to producing the observed medical symptoms, most notably through its participation, over the course of almost a decade, in Mr. Assange's arbitrary confinement, his judicial persecution, as well as his sustained and unrestrained public mobbing, intimidation and defamation. (...) British officials have contributed to Mr. Assange's psychological torture or ill-treatment, whether through perpetration, or through attempt, complicity or other forms of participation. (...) Recurring and serious violations of Mr. Assange's due process rights by UK authorities have rendered both his criminal conviction and sentencing for bail violation and the US extradition proceedings inherently arbitrary. (...) The detention regime currently imposed on Mr. Assange appears to be unnecessary, disproportionate, and discriminatory and to perpetuate his exposure to psychological torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.""
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Recently, the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) published a statement of principles relating to the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty in the context of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic (https://rm.coe.int/16809cfa4b). Those principles are not being adhered to in the case of Julian Assange. For example, the following principles are not respected:
5) ...concerted efforts should be made by all relevant authorities to resort to alternatives to deprivation of liberty. Such an approach is imperative, in particular, in situations of overcrowding. Further, authorities should make greater use of alternatives to pre-trial detention...
6) ...special attention will be required to the specific needs of detained persons with particular regard to vulnerable groups and/or at-risk groups, such as older persons and persons with pre-existing medical conditions...
9) Fundamental safeguards against the ill-treatment of persons in the custody of law enforcement officials (access to a lawyer, access to a doctor, notification of custody) must be fully respected in all circumstances and at all times...
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Julian Assange's case is of immense historical importance and, in my opinion, should be the cornerstone and centrepiece of UNESCO's actions in line with its mandate.
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I am hoping that you will join the Council of Europe in stating that the detention and criminal prosecution of Mr Julian Assange sets a dangerous precedent for journalists, and that you will back the recommendation of the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment who declared, on 1 November 2019, that Mr Assange's extradition to the United States must be barred and that he must be promptly released.
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