Sakharov Prize 2025: the nominees – European Parliament

Report on Nominations Highlighting Threats to Sustainable Development Goals in Conflict Zones

1. Overview of Nominations

European parliamentary groups have nominated journalists and humanitarian aid workers operating in conflict zones, underscoring the critical nature of their work in upholding international principles.

• The Socialists and Democrats group nominated representatives from:
  1. The Palestinian Press Association
  2. The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS)
  3. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)
• The Left group nominated journalists in Palestine, specifically mentioning:
  1. Hamza and Wael Al-Dahdouh
  2. Plestia Alaqad
  3. Shireen Abu Akleh
  4. Ain Media (in honour of Yasser Murtaja & Roshdi Sarraj)

2. Impact on SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The conditions faced by the nominees represent a severe challenge to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 16. The conflict in Gaza, identified as the world’s deadliest region for journalism, directly undermines key targets within this goal.

• Target 16.10 (Public Access to Information and Fundamental Freedoms): The work of journalists is essential for ensuring international awareness and providing public access to information about the human rights situation. The high number of Palestinian journalists killed constitutes a direct attack on this fundamental freedom.
• Target 16.1 (Reduce Violence and Death Rates): The significant losses endured by both journalists and humanitarian workers are a stark violation of the goal to reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

3. Implications for Humanitarian and Social Development Goals

Attacks on humanitarian personnel and infrastructure critically impede progress on several core SDGs related to human well-being and survival.

1. SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): Deadly attacks affecting organizations such as the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and UNRWA cripple the delivery of life-saving medical care and health services to a vulnerable population.
2. SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): The targeting of aid workers from organizations like World Central Kitchen directly obstructs the distribution of food aid, exacerbating food insecurity and undermining efforts to achieve zero hunger.
3. SDG 1 (No Poverty): The efforts of relief agencies like UNRWA are fundamental to providing basic necessities and mitigating extreme poverty. The conflict and losses sustained by these organizations threaten the most basic support systems for civilians.

Analysis of SDGs in the Provided Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   • SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

     This is the most prominent SDG addressed in the article. The text focuses on the dangers and deaths faced by journalists and humanitarian aid workers in a conflict zone. The core issues of violence, lack of safety, attacks on civilians, and the violation of human rights directly relate to the goal of promoting peaceful and inclusive societies.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

     The article directly relates to this target by describing Gaza as the “world’s deadliest region for journalism” and highlighting the “high number of Palestinian journalists killed” and the “significant losses” and “deadly attacks” affecting humanitarian workers. This points to a failure to reduce violence and death rates in the conflict zone.

   • Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.

     This target is relevant because the article emphasizes the role of journalists in ensuring “international awareness of the critical human rights situation in Gaza.” The killing of journalists, as detailed in the article with specific names like Shireen Abu Akleh, is a direct attack on the fundamental freedom of the press and obstructs the public’s access to information from conflict zones.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   • Implied Indicator for Target 16.1: Number of conflict-related deaths.

     The article provides qualitative data that serves as an indicator of violence. Phrases like “high number of Palestinian journalists killed” and “significant losses” among humanitarian workers are direct measures of conflict-related deaths, which aligns with the official indicator 16.1.2 (Conflict-related deaths per 100,000 population).

   • Implied Indicator for Target 16.10: Number of verified cases of killing of journalists.

     The article implicitly points to this indicator by nominating specific journalists who have been killed, such as “Shireen Abu Akleh, Ain Media (in honour of Yasser Murtaja & Roshdi Sarraj)”. This act of naming victims serves as a record of verified cases of attacks on journalists, which is the basis for the official indicator 16.10.1 (Number of verified cases of killing, kidnapping, enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention and torture of journalists…).

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators
   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.	The number of journalists and humanitarian aid workers killed in the conflict, as referenced by the article’s statements: “high number of Palestinian journalists killed” and “significant losses” from “deadly attacks.”
   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms.	Verified cases of the killing of journalists, as implied by the specific mention of names such as “Hamza and Wael Al-Dahdouh, Plestia Alaqad, Shireen Abu Akleh, Yasser Murtaja & Roshdi Sarraj.”

Source: europarl.europa.eu