Broadcasters attending an international conference in Mexico City want governments to be held responsible for the safety of both domestic and foreign journalists working in their countries.

The fourth World Electronic Media Forum (WEMF4) called for sustained and concrete international action to deal with the murder of journalists, whether in peace or war.

The two-day meeting unanimously passed a declaration, spearheaded by the International News Safety Institute, to be sent to the UN Secretary General, the President of the UN Security Council, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and UNESCO.

“Governments are primarily responsible for the safety of all their citizens, including those in the news media,” the declaration said.  “Most journalists are killed not in war zones but in their own countries as they try to shine the light of the truth into the darkest recesses of their societies.”