The Media Accountability Project  

Feedback on segment about Louise Arbour on CHEX this morning

"My quick search yielded coverage by UN News, based on the proceedings of the Human Rights Council morning session on 16 June 2008, in reference to a report focused on the closure of Gaza and its impact on the enjoyment of human rights, where Arbour (who was United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights at the time) said 'Actions taken by Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Hamas during the reporting period continued to violate international human rights and humanitarian law.'"

To the Global Durham team and Global News Morning editorial team,

I’m writing to you on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME, https://www.cjpme.org) to express concern regarding a segment on Louise Arbour aired today at 7:45 on Global Durham - Global News Morning (CHEX).  

At 7:48:05 the segment states “She’s accused of being too harsh on Israel and not harsh enough on Hamas and Hezbollah.” 

Can the producers of this program kindly share upon what evidence this accusation about “not being harsh enough on Hamas” is based, and who made the accusation? 

I am unaware of any public comments that Louise Arbour has made that would give this accusation validity. My quick search yielded coverage by UN News, based on the proceedings of the Human Rights Council morning session on 16 June 2008, in reference to a report focused on the closure of Gaza and its impact on the enjoyment of human rights, where Arbour (who was United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights at the time) said “Actions taken by Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Hamas during the reporting period continued to violate international human rights and humanitarian law.”

I am requesting either that your newsroom provide attribution and evidence that could support the accusation that Louise Arbour was “not being harsh enough on Hamas”, or issue an on-air correction of the statement. Also, I am urging the newsroom in future to provide accurate coverage, in accordance with the Canadian Association of Journalists’ ethics guidelines.

Sincerely, 

Alison Jenkins

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