New York, July 21, 2016–The U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Committee will vote on July 25 on whether to grant the Committee to Protect Journalists consultative status at the United Nations.
CPJ’s application for U.N. accreditation has been pending since 2012. On May 26, the application was denied by a vote of the NGO Committee. The full 54-member ECOSOC Committee has the authority to override that decision.
In the four years that CPJ’s application has been pending, 304 journalists have been killed in direct relation to their work. U.N. agencies regularly consult with CPJ as they take greater efforts to recognize the risks to journalists around the world. For this reason, CPJ strongly believes it has earned the right to be a formally accredited NGO to the United Nations.
WHAT: Full ECOSOC Committee to vote on granting CPJ consultative status
WHEN: Monday July 25, 2016, estimated time 3 p.m. EDT
WHERE: United Nations, New York
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CPJ is an independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide
Media contact:
Mehdi Rahmati
Communications Associate
212-300-9032