International humanitarian law and the international legal status of journalists

Abstract

This article analyses international instruments in the sphere of international humanitarian law, in particular, devoted to ensuring the protection of journalists during an armed conflict. The absence of clear legal criteria of non-international conflict, incomplete guarantees of rights of mass media employees may give grounds for manipulation or ignoring their legal protection. The author gives the concept of the system of protection of rights and freedoms of journalists covering military conflicts, legal status during an armed conflict, conclusions and proposals to fill the gaps in international humanitarian law.