Liberation of Florence Aubenas and Hussein Hanoun, the PEC calls upon the media community not to forget the others

 Geneva, June 12 – The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) Board congratulates Francois Aubenas and Hussein Hanoun for their release after 161 days of captivity in Iraq.

 In a press statement issued today, the PEC noted that their thoughts and heart are today with Florence’s family which must be delighted to see her soon in Paris, and with the family of Hussein who must be elated after his release.

 Mr. and Mrs. Aubenas (father and mother of Florence), are to be personally congratulated, for their dedication in carrying out the campaign for her release in France and Geneva and elsewhere.

 A task which must have taken a lot of courage and put them both under extreme duress.

 But today, his efforts have succeeded and he and his wife and family will enjoy their daughter’s return. 

 The case of Aubenas and Hanoun highlighted the pressing issue of the legal protection of media in zones of conflict and elsewhere.

 We congratulate Liberation and Reporters without Borders for their efforts and campaign that ended successfully with the release of Florence and Hussein.

 The PEC, supported by 37,000 journalists in 30 countries, reminds the media community not to forget other media hostages who are less fortunate in bringing their case to the public.

 It is time for all media associations, human rights groups and governments to join hands to work on a new convention that would provide the legal protection for journalists and their assistants as well as ending the rule of impunity in conflict zones.