Slain Radio Host Latest in Journalist Murders

By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BRASÍLIA, Brazil — Two gunmen entered the studio of Radio Liberdade FM in Camocin, Brazil where Gleydson Carvhalo was hosting his radio show live on the air and shot him 3-5 times. He was shot during a musical interlude. They had subdued the receptionist and ordered another in the room under the table. Carvhalo died on the way to the hospital.

Slain Radio Journalist Gleydson Carvhalo. [Photo courtesy of the Latin Times]
The gunman and an accomplice fled the station on motorcycle. Police say that they have identified the gunman and are searching for him in the surrounding area. Two other people have been arrested in connection with the murder.
Carvhalo was known for criticizing the government on his show and on social media. He gained fame for exposing corruption in the local government.
He is the fourth journalist to have been killed in Brazil this year, and the 16th killed since 2011. Friends say that Carvhalo had received death threats on air for his opinions in the past.
These killings of journalists are often marked by extreme brutality – a Brazilian journalist killed in May was found decapitated. Another was found shortly after with an eye gouged out.
Most of the killings have taken place in smaller towns and villages in Brazil – away from the bigger cities and away from the mainstream media.
Multiple organizations have spoken out against the attacks. Maria Laura Canineu, Human Rights Watch Director for Brazil said that “Attacks against journalists for their work threaten freedom of expression and the very fabric of democracy. It is crucial for authorities to ensure full accountability for the killing of journalists to guarantee that reporters in Brazil can work without fearing for their lives.”
The National Association of Newspapers has called Brazil a “climate of impunity”. The senior Americas program coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists has called on the Brazilian government to take measures to prevent this kind of violence. Particularly, the Committee has proposed legislation that would make such crimes fall under federal jurisdiction.
Brazil is ranked as number 11 on the Committee’s 2014 Global Impunity Index. According to the Committee, 65% of journalists murdered in Brazil since 2011 were reporting on corruption. Government officials are suspected in 52% of cases.

For more information, please see:

CTV – Brazilian gunmen kill radio host while on air – 07 August 2015

Human Rights Watch – Brazil: Radio Host Slain – 07 August 2015

Journalism in the Americas blog – Brazilian radio host shot while on air is the fourth journalist killed in the country this year – 07 August 2015

Latin American Herald Tribune – Muckraking Brazilian host slain on the air – 07 August 2015

Latin Times – Gleydson Carvahlo dies after being shot five times in radio booth – 07 August 2015

Mirror – Radio presenter shot dead by two gunmen during live show – 07 August 2015

New York Times – Murder of Brazilian Journalist Furthers Alarming Trend – 07 August 2015

VDC: Job Vacancy

Violations Documentation Center in Syria – VDC

Dear all, VDC is looking for an Executive Director, please see the Terms of Reference:

The Executive Director (ED) is fully responsible for running the VDC on the basis of an annual plan approved by the Board of Directors. The ED responsible in front of the Board of Directors of the VDC and presents them with an annual report on the performance, achievements and challenges that the VDC faces. He/she is responsible for the daily management of the VDC, and for representing it externally with various stakeholders and the media.

 Responsibilities of the ED:

Design, implement and report on the progress of the VDC’s annual work plan;
Manage VDC staff, ensure smooth inter-department coordination.
More specifically, working under direct guidance from the Board on issues related to overall strategy and mandate, the ED will:
Set weekly, monthly and quarterly objectives that will ensure the implementation of the annual plan in close consultation with relevant sections chiefs;
Hold weekly meetings with Section Chiefs, to plan weekly operations of the VDC and ensure progress on set objectives;
Be responsible for the delivery of objectives as planned. Alternatively, and in consultation with the Board and with Section Chiefs, the ED might deviate from the plan in order to respond to outstanding developments that need immediate reaction/reporting from the VDC;
Represent the VDC at various forums and as requested by the Board, be able to defend the VDC’s mandate and budget, be able to account for changes in the plans that may have repercussions on the established budget;
Help Section Chiefs solve internal disagreements related to the running of the VDC operations:
Gradually take on the responsibility of meeting and briefing donors and potential donors on the VDC activities and budget proposals:
Liaise with the Board, on behalf of the VDC, on all issues related to the implementation of objectives and changes in plans.

 Profile:

Syrian national;
Established experience (10 years minimum) in the field of rights and advocacy;
Established experience (minimum7 years) of progressive responsibility of managing a team;
Ability to clearly and eloquently articulate in writing and verbally communication (public and internal) related to the VDC, human rights, formal positions that the VDC’s takes on specific developments;
Excellent command of Arabic and English, French is a plus;
Excellent communication and inter-personal skills to allow for external representation and internal management;
While he/she might not be a jurist by profession or training, the ED is well versed generally in the human rights and IHL discourse, closely follows developments in these two fields, is comfortable referring to their principles/invoking them when looking at developments in and around Syria.

To apply: please email your CV and motivation letter to:

Syria Justice and Accountability Centre: UNSC Passes Historic Resolution but Overlooks Justice

UNSC

United Nations Security Council

August 7, 2015

Earlier today, the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed Resolution 2235 establishing a Joint Investigative Mechanism to look into the use of chemical weapons, including chlorine gas, during the Syrian conflict. Following months of negotiations between the United States and Russia, this Resolution is the first UN Security Council mandate to assign blame for the violation of international law in Syria. According to a statement issuedby the United Nations, “Holding the perpetrators of the toxic chemical attacks accountable may hopefully alleviate the prolonged suffering of the Syrian people.”

Today’s Resolution is the second regarding chemical weapon use in Syria. The first was Resolution 2118 passed last summer, in which the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) was mandated with the safe destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons. Since then, however, reports of the indiscriminate use of chlorine gas against civilians has remained widespread. Resolution 2235 calls on Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon to work with the Director-General of the OPCW to establish a Joint Investigative Mechanism, which will then regularly report to the UN Security Council and determine the individuals and groups responsible.

The Syria Justice and Accountability Centre (SJAC) welcomes this long overdue Resolution, but expresses concern that the Resolution’s language does not call for accountability in strong enough terms. A commitment to refer the case to the International Criminal Court or to establish a tribunal to prosecute the perpetrators would have sent a much stronger signal that the international community stands firmly on the side of the victims.

For more information and to provide feedback, please email SJAC at info@syriaaccountability.org.