The media is in a central position regarding the realisation of human rights. In an ideal situation, the media acts as the eyes and ears, reporting human rights violations and triumphs.

According to the non-profit organisation established in 1985 in the defence and promotion of freedom of information, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a free and aware media is a tool, which prevents the transformation of human rights violations into a part of everyday life.

Despite these ideals, the media not only witnesses and reports violations; it can also promote them.

History books and modern news feeds are filled with examples where the media has been harnessed by the ruling class, a particular political party or one side of an armed conflict, and made to act as a propaganda machine in order to advance an agenda.

Journalism and citizens’ journalism should aim to offer objective, accurate, truthful and balanced information.

The risk of this happening is particularly great in times of armed conflict, so critical media literacy skills are in high demand, especially in conflict areas. It is also the role of the professional journalist internationally to try to recognise the motives behind one-sided or violence-infused communications, and report about them accordingly.

When human rights violations are reported, the ethical code of the media is important. The end must not justify the means. Journalism and citizens’ journalism should aim to offer objective, accurate, truthful and balanced information to the general public and avoid misusing human rights terminology.

The weight of human rights language and the reliability of the journalist will be eroded if the terms are used repeatedly out-of-place.

Not all social injustices are human right violations – not to mention war crimes – and the role of the media is to be a witness to the facts, not a court of law. The weight of human rights language and the reliability of the journalist will be eroded if the terms are used repeatedly out-of-place in order to create a feeling of importance around an everyday topic.