CPJ gets UN accreditation

By Kemo Cham

After a lengthy waiting, the media rights group the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has been granted a consultative status at the United Nations.

The move announced last week followed a tedious process that ended up in voting by the United Nations Economic Social Council (ECOSOC).

With this status CPJ, which is headquartered in New York, will be allowed to access UN bodies and processes, such as the Human Rights Council in Geneva, where accredited NGOs can deliver a counter-narrative to states.

CPJ, an independent nonprofit organization, is dedicated to promoting press freedom worldwide by defending the rights of journalists to report without fear. In existence for over 30 years, it also documents attacks and abuses against journalists everywhere in the world.

“The council’s vote today [Monday July 25] recognizes the important role that CPJ has played and continues to play at the UN by providing expert knowledge and analysis on press freedom related issues,” Joel Simon, Executive Director of CPJ, was quoted in a statement released by the press freedom body.

CPJ comprises about 40 experts from around the world. The celebrated CNN journalist, Christiane Amanpour, is one of its many renowned members.

The process to grant CPJ the accreditation lasted for four years. It was deferred seven times, on the basis of “arcane UN procedure”, said the CPJ statement.

On the last voted on May 26, CPJ’s application was denied after the UN’s NGO Committee, which decides on such matters, voted against it.

Back then six members voted in favour, 10 voted against, and three abstained. Among those who voted against were China, Russia, Burundi, Pakistan and Venezuela.

But ECOSOC, which comprises 54 member countries, has the authority to overrule the 19-member NGO Committee’s decision, according to UN procedures.

During the July 25 vote, 40 countries voted in favor of the application, five voted against, six members abstained, and three were not present.

All five members which voted against – China, Russia, Vietnam, Rwanda and Zimbabwe – are among countries with the poorest records of press freedom.

“While we are grateful that the vote finally grants CPJ accreditation, we remain disheartened at the politicized process for gaining accreditation and hope that the fact that our application took so long and was so contentious is a wakeup call for the bodies that ensure NGOs are able to access the United Nations,” said Mr Simon.

Below is how the member countries voted:
Afghanistan – yes

Algeria – abstain

Antigua and Barbuda – yes

Argentina – yes

Australia – yes

Bangladesh – abstain

Belgium – yes

Botswana – not present

Brazil – yes

Burkina Faso – abstain

Chile – yes

China – no

Congo – yes

Czech Republic – yes

Democratic Republic of the Congo – not present

Estonia – yes

Finland – yes

France – yes

Georgia – yes

Germany – yes

Ghana- yes

Greece – yes

Guatemala – yes

Guyana – yes

Honduras – yes

India – abstain

Iraq – yes

Ireland – yes

Italy – yes

Japan – yes

Kazakhstan – yes

Lebanon – yes

Mauritania – yes

Moldova – yes

Nigeria – yes

Pakistan – abstain

Panama – yes

Peru – yes

Portugal – yes

Russia – no

Rwanda – no

Serbia – yes

Somalia – not present

South Africa – yes

South Korea – yes

Sweden – yes

Switzerland – yes

Togo – yes

Trinidad and Tobago – yes

Uganda – abstain

UK – yes

USA – yes

Vietnam – no

Zimbabwe – no

© Politico 02/08/16