IFJ and EFJ call on media to protect reporters sent to Ukraine

The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ) are calling on media employers to ensure the protection of reporters they send to war zones.

Credit AFP : Philippe Desmazes.

The IFJ, EFJ and their affiliates in Ukraine, NUJU and IMTUU, note that many correspondents in Ukraine do not have bulletproof vests, ballistic helmets or medical kits. Newsrooms continue to send reporters to Ukraine without specific insurance and protection, while bulletproof vests are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain in Europe.

Most European journalists travel to Ukraine via Krakow (Poland), where they thought they would be able to buy protective equipment. But it is impossible to buy a bulletproof vest in Poland without a special permit.

Cases of young journalists being under-equipped, under-protected and under-paid are on the increase,” said the IFJ and EFJ. “We call on the employers of these journalists to take responsibility by providing them with the necessary equipment and by paying them according to the risk they take. We also ask them to consider Ukrainian fixers as full members of their teams.”

The IFJ offers an insurance policy that covers journalists even in war situations.

In addition, EFJ and IFJ affiliates in Ukraine have set up schemes to assist foreign journalists in difficulty. Our affiliates can be reached via these contact email addresses:

National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU)

Independent Media Trade Union of Ukraine (IMTUU)

Donate to the IFJ-EFJ safety fund for journalists in Ukraine

For more information, please contact IFJ on +32 2 235 22 16

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 146 countries

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