Welcoming remarks by Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia at the Opening Ceremony of Exhibition of Andrei Stenin Photo Contest’s Winning Works
As we approach the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, it is our pleasure to present an exhibition of winning works of Andrei Stenin International Photo Contest here at the United Nations. It is the second time that we organize such an exhibit jointly with “Rossiya Segodnya” International News Agency. We hope that it will become our good tradition to convene such events.
Safety of journalists is one of the key questions that international community needs to answer. As reported by specialized NGOs, 34 Media workers have been killed since the beginning of 2019. Unfortunately, this sad statistic does not improve year-to-year.
It is our shared task to promote safety of journalists, especially those who work in conflict zones. We also should take action to combat impunity and hold accountable those who are guilty. The contest that gave us material for this exhibit was established to honor the memory of Andrei Stenin – an outstanding Russian journalists who perished under tragic circumstances in 2014. Thanks to his selfless work in hotspots we had an opportunity to see what was going on in Iraq, Libya, in the Donbass in most dramatic moments of history. His dedication, mastery, commitment to highest ethical principles will guide future generations of journalists. Ensuring their safety and security is our shared duty and responsibility.
