Resolutions Adopted Concerning IFJ Working Programme

1.     IFJ Working Programme

    Proposer: Deutscher Journalisten Verband, Deutsche Journalisten Union in     ver.di, Germany  

The World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists, meeting in Moscow from May 28th-June 1st 2007,

    Calls upon the Executive Committee of the IFJ to develop a working
programme in line with the decisions taken at this Congress for the period 2007 -2010 with the following objectives:

To strengthen trade unions of journalists worldwide in their efforts to safeguard independent professional journalism with highest ethical and professional standards and sustainable social security and working conditions both for staff and freelance journalists,

To continue the programme set up by the IFJ Congress 2001 in Seoul to mainstream gender equality in journalism,

To include professional training to the core activities and to defend and improve quality in journalism,

To continue and expand the work for author’s rights and to develop, establish, support and defend the intellectual property rights of journalists,

To strengthen the trade union rights of journalists and their professional or trade union organisations and the freedom to join such organisations,

To further bilateral cooperation of IFJ member organisations and to strengthen and to develop regional structures within the IFJ

To build international works councils in multinational media companies,

To further the aims and objectives of the IFJ as they are fixed in the IFJ Constitution.
 
The working programme shall explicitly address the needs of the IFJ member unions. Therefore, the Executive Committee shall invite and encourage the member unions to express their needs and wishes for action in the first six months after the Congress.

The Executive Committee shall take into consideration also wishes for regional cooperation and support by IFJ member unions.

The Executive Committee should develop a method for an annual evaluation of the realisation of the IFJ working programme.

2.     Safety of Journalists

    Proposer: Federazione Nazionale Della Stampa Italiana, Italy

The World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists, meeting in Moscow from May 28th-June 1st 2007,

    Considering the seriousness of attacks on journalists’ safety around the     world,     the autonomy of the profession, the right of citizens to be correctly     informed;

    Stressing the importance of an effective action by worldwide journalism     faced with the problems of globalisation and multimedia publishing;

    Confirming the need to support the efforts of individual unions and     regional offices to ensure democracy and freedom of information;
 
    Invites the new Executive Committee of the IFJ, in collaboration with the     International News Safety Institute, to strengthen regional projects for the     safety of journalists and the defence of their freedom, against all     attempts to shackle and subvert journalism for political, economic and     military purposes, and further

    Urges    the new Executive Committee to find the necessary resources for     this work through a major financing campaign outside the IFJ, beginning     with national and international institutions, both public and private.




3.     Journalists’ industrial rights
    Proposer: Federazione Nazionale Della Stampa Italiana, Italy

The World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists, meeting in Moscow from May 28th-June 1st 2007,

noting the attempt by employers and their national and international organisations to deny the right of collective negotiation and bargaining, especially regarding the work of temporary employees and freelancers;

considering the seriousness of social conflicts taking place in many countries regarding journalists’ rights;
 
Calls on

the new Executive Committee of the IFJ to promote concrete actions, seminars at union regional level, and to organise general mobilisation at regional level, wherever possible.





4.     Trade Union Development in Africa
    Proposer: Syndicat National de Professionnels de l’information, et de la     Communication du Sénégal

The World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists, meeting in Moscow from May 28th-June 1st 2007,

welcomes the final recommendations made by African affiliates at their meeting in Rabat, September 2006, and, in particular, the programme on trade union building which includes:

·    Setting up and organising of branches and sectors (print, radio and television etc) as the basic building blocs of unions to deal with issues relevant to members.
·    Ensuring that all personnel working in the news gathering and production process in all media sectors are organised into journalists and media workers unions.
·    Setting up a schedule of meetings and activities from branches and sectors leading up to regular specialised committees, national executive meetings, and representative annual congresses
·    Establishing an effective check off or contributions system to ensure that the core finances of the union ensure independence of the unions from non-union interests.
·    Ensuring that collective agreements, other pay and working condition issues and press freedom are at the core of union business at all levels.
·    That every Africa affiliate work towards establishing a harmonised annual biannual schedule of meetings and activities leading towards an annual Africa congress, regional meetings and the IFJ congress.

Congress further,

    endorses

the decision of the participants at the conference to establish a Conference     of African Journalists Unions as the first step towards setting up a Federation of African Journalists Unions.

Congress believes that the building of strong and self-sustained journalists’ trade unions in Africa should be one of the main priorities of the IFJ. Congress notes that the regional meeting could only take place thanks to the generosity and determination of the SNPM and urges the Executive Committee to ensure that the newly-established Conference of African Journalists is able to meet at least once a year and function normally.

    Congress instructs the General Secretary and the incoming Executive     Committee to give maximum support and help resource these initiatives.

5.    Protection of Journalists’ Rights in Somalia

Proposer: National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ)

The World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists, meeting in Moscow from May 28th-June 1st 2007,

Deeply concerned at the dangers facing Somali journalists and growing unpunished crimes against media practitioners;

Noting the complicated situation of press freedom in Somalia, and deterioration of labour rights of journalists;

Condemning the premeditated attacks on the Somali media in the course of journalistic activities, and meticulous offences against the leadership of the National Union of Somali Journalists;  

Reaffirming the IFJ’s main function of taking international action to defend press freedom and social justice through strong, free and independent trade unions of journalists;

Acknowledging the determined efforts from the National Union of Somali Journalists to protect and promote the rights and independence of Journalists;

Welcoming the IFJ’s supportive and solidarity actions for Somali journalists that helped the creation of first independent trade union of journalists since the eruption of the civil war in 1991;

Deploring the direct and indirect political influences in the news media that weaken free and fair reporting of the media;  

Agrees

to urge the IFJ Executive Committee to:

1.    Strongly and publicly advocate for the protection of rights of Somali journalists by persuading directly the authorities to guarantee fully media freedom and respect international standards of free expression,

2.    Take concrete action in support of social and professional rights of Somali journalists,

3.    Raise awareness among Somali journalists of actions to protect themselves while in conflict zones,

4.    Further support development of a systematic strategy to builds up professional standards of journalism in the transitional period.

6.    Impunity and Media Law Reform Campaign in Africa
Proposer: Uganda Journalists’ Union

The World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists, meeting in Moscow from May 28th-June 1st 2007,

congratulating African affiliates for their contribution to setting up the campaign against impunity on the media and for media law reform in Africa,

noting that, at the regional meeting in Morocco affiliates discussed and adopted a series of principles and campaigning targets to create a legal and institutional framework that would guarantee press freedom in Africa,

further noting and endorsing the recommendations made in May 2005 during World Press Freedom Day in Dakar regarding the adoption by the African Union of a treaty based on the principles of press freedom and freedom of expression and other measures that promote a favourable environment and better working conditions for journalists and media workers in Africa,

appalled that journalists continue to be harassed, persecuted, jailed and murdered,

endorsing the launch of the “Africa Out of Jail Campaign” agreed last year by the IFJ Executive Committee and supported by the regional meeting of African affiliates,

            instructs the General Secretary and the Executive Committee to give

1.    maximum support to efforts by African affiliates to create an Africa-wide standard for media law and practice including an African Treaty for the protection of media freedom and freedom of expression and to specifically resource the campaign to (i) lobby African law makers, (ii) set up efficient legal challenges and (iii) involve other trade unions and relevant professional organisations, and to

2.    further assist the campaign by African affiliates against impunity and injustice in media with the immediate focus on the release of the journalists currently imprisoned in Eritrea and Ethiopia.

Such a campaign should be linked to the IFJ’s global campaign on impunity and should include among other things, submitting, when necessary, complaints to the UN Human Rights Council and the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights, and building coalitions with other international workers’ organisations such as teachers.



7.     Solidarity Fund for Africa
    Proposer: National Trade Union of the Moroccan Press

The World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists, meeting in Moscow from May 28th-June 1st 2007,

thanking both the Moroccan affiliate SNPM for organising a regional African meeting in Rabat and all the affiliates who participated as well as staff from the Dakar office,

recognising that this meeting was a historic opportunity for IFJ affiliates to debate the state of their organisations and of media and journalism in the continent and to set out urgent recommendations for the IFJ work in Africa.

Believing that the challenges facing Africa are basic freedoms, education, health, development and bad governance,  and that media remain a cornerstone of the campaign to achieve democracy and development,

Recognising press freedom and journalists’ rights can hardly be defended without international professional solidarity,

notes with concern

·    that journalists unions and associations in Africa are still poorly organised and resourced to speak for themselves leaving the floor to freedom of expression NGOs to speak for journalists;

·    that in many countries IFJ unions still struggle for the most basic rights such as the right to associate and to organise. Governments continue to put obstacles for journalists to organise themselves in trade unions making it difficult, if not impossible to register,

·    that in some instances union  leaders of journalists, in particular from State-owned media, are often summarily dismissed;

·    that the working conditions of journalists in Africa are a major impediment to their ability to work professionally and that poor working conditions, low level of activities of unions and low membership rolls weaken unions and are primary fields of concern.

Agrees

To urge the General Secretary and Executive Committee in line with the conclusion of the Conference

1.    To implement a specific capacity-building plan to empower and strengthen journalists organisations striving to be the voice of media workers before governments and businesses.

2.    To establish, as a matter of urgency, an Africa Solidarity Fund whose main aim is to

·    support Trade Union Development in Africa: by focusing on the building, organising and capacity-building of journalists unions as its core activities,

·    raise resources for the Campaign Against Impunity on the Media and the release of journalists imprisoned and

·    give support to the work of the campaign for Media Law Reform in Africa.




8.      Trade Union Development in Africa
     Proposer: Syndicat National des Journalistes du Cameroun (SNJC)

The World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), meeting in Moscow from 28 May to 2 June 2007,

Considering: the enthusiasm of media trade unions from the ECCAS (Economic Community of Central African States) and CEMAC (Central African Economic and Monetary Community) areas, resulting from their, admittedly very recent, admission as IFJ affiliates (June 2002);

Noting the creation of the Central Africa Journalists' Union (USAJAC) in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo) in December 2004, as the result of action by professional organisations in Central Africa and the negotiation/adoption at Libreville, Gabon, in March 2006 of a framework collective agreement for journalists covering the ECCAS area, under the aegis of the IFJ Africa Office, the International Organisation of French-speaking Communities (OIF), GRET, and others;

Considering further the failure to achieve exemplary and successful negotiations for national collective agreements for journalists in all countries of the ECCAS area, where trade unions are weak, poorly structured and without resources or permanent structures (press centres, etc.), which means that they cannot offer proper social protection and unionisation to media employees;

Concluding:

 a) that the main problem of unions in the ECCAS sub-region is their weakness owing to the lack of a large-scale capacity-building and infrastructure development programme like the Media For Democracy programme in Western and Southern Africa, which was unknown in Central Africa, despite officially being a continent-wide programme;

b) that the lack of representatives from this sub-region on the IFJ's managing bodies (i.e. the Executive Committee) is damaging, since it makes it harder to properly address the difficulties faced by this area;

Welcoming the IFJ mission launched in Cameroon in February 2005 to gain an understanding of the situation on the ground, which was approved by a pertinent report by Ulrich Remmel, an Executive Committee member and Vice-President of the Deutsche Journalisten-Verband (DJV);

Recommends the Executive Committee:

1.    that an official position be taken on this question and that a multinational capacity building programme comparable in scale to the Media For Democracy programme be implemented in the ECCAS sub-region, with a view to establishing strong trade union infrastructures capable of addressing the problems of media employees in this sub-region;

2.    that there is established an active national focal point for the INSI mechanism on press freedom, for reasons of efficiency;

Congress further calls on the Executive Committee

1.    to recommend, as standard practice, national IFJ affiliates to the sub-regional offices of UNESCO, the ILO, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, etc., to enable these affiliates to undertake annual capacity-building activities, at local level, in addition to those of the IFJ;

2.    to recommend direct implementation by the affiliate concerned of any local capacity-building activities: as a result, they would quickly develop the capacity to set up and manage such activities, a welcome development given that systematic involvement by Regional Office may be impractical;

3.    to recommend an action to foster systematic solidarity between affiliated trade unions in Northern and sub-Saharan Africa.



9.     Relationship with Arab Journalists’ Unions
    Proposer: National Trade Union of the Moroccan Press

The World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists, meeting in Moscow from May 28th-June 1st 2007,

Recalling resolution 6 on IFJ-Arab cooperation adopted at the XXV IFJ World Congress,

Welcoming the strengthening of the relationship with the Federation of Arab Journalists, despite the difficulties arising out of the situation in the Middle East,

Noting that, as a result of this process, more Arab journalists’ trade unions have joined the IFJ,

Recognising that the trade union development programme rolled out in five countries, the regional meetings and the seminars bringing together Iraqi journalists have played a crucial role in strengthening Arab affiliates under the umbrella of the IFJ,

Instructs the Executive Committee to:

1.    continue to resource and develop this work,

2.    endeavour to bring into membership the remainder of Arab journalists’ trade unions and associations,

3.    negotiate with the Federation of Arab Journalists a more participatory status within the IFJ regional structure,




10.  IFJ Relations with China

Proposer: National Union of Journalists, UK and Ireland, Danish Union of Journalists. Supported by: Executive Committee

The World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists, meeting in Moscow from May 28th-June 1st 2007,

Noting the continued lack of freedom of the press in China and the need for urgent action on the part of the Chinese government to encourage a culture of media freedom beginning with the granting of an amnesty to all imprisoned journalists;

Welcoming the decision by the Executive Committee to introduce new policy on relations with China in order to encourage the Chinese government to address  human rights abuse, to take steps to guarantee press freedom, to open up its doors to the international media and to release jailed journalists;

Condemning the active compliance of new media companies such as Yahoo, MSN and Google in providing the Chinese government with information it uses to censor the internet and jail journalists;

Noting that, as well as the setting up of a China Press Freedom Network to campaign for press freedom and respect for human rights in China, the new policy gives authority to the secretariat to:

·    coordinate among affiliates their contact with Chinese organisations in particular the All-China Journalists’ Association,

·    participate in the actions of the global trade union movement seeking new links with Chinese labour organisations, and champion trade union rights for Chinese journalists whenever possible on the programmes of co-operation between China and the international community, through the ILO, UNESCO, ITUC and other relevant international organisations,

·    seek support of all IFJ affiliates to support this work through days of action, a dedicated webpage, publishing advertisements, articles and open letters in Chinese language publications and the targeting of global media companies investing in China, and

Insisting that the IFJ will work to support internal and external efforts by journalists, media, trades unionists and human rights’ groups campaigning for reform and respect for human rights in  media and at work,  

Instructs the Executive Committee to:

·    participate in meetings set up by affiliates with Yahoo, MSN, Google  and other companies to impress on them the need to protect from authorities the data that passes through their servers;

·    ensure that the China Press Freedom Network includes the fight against internet censorship campaign in all its activities and publications;

·    develop in consultation with appropriate affiliates international standards that acknowledge and protect independent journalism and the right to know and communicate and resist global mechanism of surveillance, command and social control;

·    work with affiliates to organise a global campaign to negotiate the adoption of these standards by new media companies working in China and in their worldwide operations;

·    Calls on all governments to raise freedom of the press, freedom of expression and human rights as part of trade and other links with China;

·    Urge the Chinese government to permit foreign journalists to work without restriction in China and to implement freedom of the press in Chinese society before the Olympic Games in 2008;

·    Organise an independent fact-finding mission to China in the period 2007-2010 with a view to strengthening actions aimed at achieving freedom of media and free expression in China and establishing the conditions for free and independent Chinese organisation of journalists.





11.     Newsrooms
      Proposer: Syndicat nationale des journalistes, France

The World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists, meeting in Moscow from May 28th-June 1st 2007,
 
Considering that media independence and pluralism are key prerequisites     for successful democracy, that changes in media ownership have been accelerating for a number of years and that these changes often result in:
·    increasingly uncertain employment conditions for journalists working with these media;
·    uncertainty as to the long-term future of the editorial line;
·    political or commercial pressure on editorial content, an increasingly frequent phenomenon which all too often has a bearing on content;
·    the integrity of journalists being called into doubt, or even discredited, when the media institutions for which they work are owned by large industrial groups who are themselves players in the news;

Judging that it is necessary to protect the newsrooms, both collectively and individually, from these detrimental effects and that it is not only in the interest of the journalists concerned but, first and foremost, in the interest of the public, which is entitled to accurate, pluralistic, comprehensive and impartial information;

Resolves to
·    launch a global campaign promoting independence and legal recognition for the newsrooms;
·    use the experience of its member unions in places where such measures have been implemented.




12.     Web News Teams
Proposer: Syndicat nationale des journalistes, France

The World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists, meeting in Moscow from May 28th-June 1st 2007,

Considering

That the development of new immaterial information channels often results in:

·    the status and skill of journalists being called into question;
·    a deterioration in journalists' working conditions;
·    accelerated concentration of information channels within large
      multimedia groups, which further undermines pluralism;
·    more flouting of professional ethics and potential for uncontrolled dissemination of information from non-professional sources;
·    commercial strategies taking priority over the mission to inform;

    Resolves to

conduct a global campaign encouraging new virtual media to make quality of information and compliance with the fundamental rules of journalism their priority concern;

support any action promoting respect for the rights of journalists working in new media and the principles of the journalistic profession, whatever the medium of information dissemination;

launch an appeal to the effect that no virtual media should be developed inside an existing editorial team without prior consultation of the journalists and the trade unions representing them.



13.    Protection of sources
Proposer: Syndicat nationale des journalistes, France

The World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists, meeting in Moscow from May 28th-June 1st 2007,

Considering

·    that the protection of journalistic sources is the cornerstone of freedom of expression in a democratic society;
·    that many countries do not have legislation protecting journalistic sources;
·    that even in countries where such legislation exists, political, administrative and even judicial authorities frequently transgress these statutory provisions in order to make journalists reveal their sources;
·    that in some cases journalists pay for their refusal to reveal their sources with their freedom;

    Resolves to

1.    Actively support all journalists facing prosecution or administrative harassment simply for protecting their sources;
2.    Seek funding to centralise legislation and/or case law protecting journalistic sources, where these exist;
3.    Conduct a global campaign promoting the protection of journalistic sources in order to upwardly harmonise legislation with a view to providing effective protection for journalists carrying out their mission to inform.

 

14.     Violence against Journalists in Latin America
Proposers: FATPREN-SNTP (Dominican Republic, Federación de Periodistas de America Latina y el Caribe (International Federation of Journalists of Latin America and the Caribbean (FEPALC)

The World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists, meeting in Moscow from May 28th-June 1st 2007,

Considering

·    That violence against journalists in Latin America is dangerously increasing,
·    That this violence translates into killings, attempts, threats, aggressions, threats, intimidations, subjecting to justice and mistreat to journalists, photographers, cameramen and supporting personnel working in social communication media,
·    That during 2006 40 journalists were murdered, which number surpasses twice the crimes committed during the previous year,
·    That attempts are the result of a systematic persecution against independent journalists, which mainly proven from groups linked to Government, drug traffic, organized delinquency and other power sectors,
·    That these actions not only violate the fundamental right as is the right to life, but also ignore the freedom of expression and the right to be informed, fundamental basis of a society’s  democratic life,
·    That many journalists have to abandon their families and countries, and some times even their profession in order to save their lives,
·    That the increasing inequality and inequitable distribution of richness, in favor of those who have the most so damaging the populations most in need, are culture broth for impunity and the companies' interests in discrediting research and denounce,
·    That it is imperative to make the International Federation of Journalists’ voice heard in order to denounce the violent, claiming for a delayed justice which gives them the proper context for their misdeeds and to emphasize on the task carried out by independent journalism in defense of the republican and democratic values.
Agrees to
Urge the IFJ Executive Committee to launch among its priorities for 2007, a campaign against violence in journalism, denouncing the killings committed in Latin America during year 2006, as well as the numerous attempts, threats, and intimidations faced by media staff.
Instruct the Executive Committee to work on obtaining resources, which will allow the campaign financing.
Involve the American States Organisation (ASO), the United Nations and other global and regional organisations, as well as the governments of the region, in order to stop the criminal actions against journalists and media workers in this area of the Continent.
Request the cooperation of international and regional organizations having offices and/or specific programs in defense of Freedom of Information and Professional Security for Journalists,
Make posters and build awareness programs expressing the direct relationship existing between violence against journalist and the corruption and delinquency denounces in the frame of an increasing poverty in Latin America,
Pay special attention to the serious situation in Mexico, monitoring for determining the possibilities of installing a permanent IFJ office, and or carry out other actions which will put our organization in front of a complex and difficult fight, but definitively necessary.\
Arrange for the General Secretary, with the knowledge of the IFJ Steering Committee, to assume the said campaign in order to achieve the goals in favor of journalists and democratic life of the people in Latin America.

15.     Decriminalising Press Offences
Proposers: Asociación Nacional de Periodistas Del Peru (National Association of Peruvian Journalists), Federación de Periodistas de America Latina y el Caribe (International Federation of Journalists of Latin America and the Caribbean (FEPALC)

The World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists, meeting in Moscow from May 28th-June 1st 2007,

Considering
That freedom of expression and the right to be informed are human rights which constitute the fundamental basis for the existence of democratic, plural, tolerant, and harmonious, society, that dignify the individual,
That freedom of expression and, therefore, of information are the lifeblood of democracy, that cannot exist without free debate or without the opposition having a full right of expression,
That freedom of expression and information is one of the main mechanisms that society has for exerting democratic control over people, who exercise political or private power,
That jurisprudence in Europe and the United States share the principle of distinguishing between the level of protection granted to public figures and private individuals, acknowledging that limits of criticism must be greater for political figures compared with private persons given the need for public scrutiny of people in authority,
That in Latin America, as in some other regions, journalists are accused and penalised with judicial authority as a means of harassment and intimidation, due to lack of a legal protection that guarantees freedom of expression,
That in the face of this realty, the Inter American Commission of Human Rights, as well as the Special Rapporteur of the United Nations for Freedom of Expression, and the representation of the European Union, have called for countries to adapt their laws to meet international standards,
That the Inter American Commission of Human Rights, in October 2000, approved the Statement of Principles on Freedom of Expression, a tool which deepens Article 13 of the American Convention of Human Rights, expressing in Article 10 “the protection to the reputation shall be guaranteed only by use of civil sanctions, in those cases in which the individual offended is a public officer or public individual who is voluntarily involved in matters of public interest”,
 Agrees
1.    To start a global campaign to insist governments recognise that so called press offences, typically dealing with offences of defamation and insult should be adapted to reflect constitutional principles international standards of human rights.
2.    To ask the General Secretary, with Executive Committee support, to seek support for the decriminalisation of so-called press offenses, from international organisations involved in the defence and protection of press freedom and human rights in general.

16.      Defamation and Sentence of a Journalist
Proposers: Asociación de Prensa Uruguaya (Uruguayan Press association) Federación de Periodistas de America Latina y el Caribe (International Federation of Journalists of Latin America and the Caribbean
The World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists, meeting in Moscow from May 28th-June 1st 2007,
Considering:
That on September 18, 2006 the Uruguayan journalist Carlos Dogliani was sentenced to five month imprisonment for the alleged crime of defamation, by the Supreme Court of Justice of Uruguay,
That the sentence infringes the freedom of expression acknowledged in Article 29 of the Uruguayan Constitution and Article 13 of the American Convention of Human Rights (CADH), which Uruguay agreed in 1985,
That the verdict of the Supreme Court of Justice is intimidating for Uruguayan journalists, in as much as represents a deep jurisprudential change, as freedom of expression is understood in a democratic and republican state,
That the verdict is based on obsolete doctrines of restricting free expression, ignoring at the same time every national and international standard that establishes that press offences are injurious to freedom of expression and must be applied restrictedly,
That the Supreme Court verdict reveals a restrictive conception of freedom of expression, which is a cornerstone of democratic and republican life,
That the verdict sets a serious precedent, as it can generate self censorship among journalists and communicators and will further encourage the escalation of trials being registered because of criticism to rulers.
 Agrees
·    To condemn the judicial measure which led to Carlos Dogliani being jailed for five months
·    To express solidarity with the condemned colleague
·    To deliver a message arising from this resolution to the Supreme Court of Uruguay, as well as to the high authorities of the country, calling attention on this precedent which aggrieves and violates the rule of law in Uruguay

17.     Freelance Journalists
    Proposer: National Union of Journalists, UK and Ireland

The World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists, meeting in Moscow from May 28th-June 1st 2007,

noting that with globalisation of the media gathering pace more journalists – in particular freelances – are working for international employers that operates from more than one country,

further noting that when freelance journalists are faced with legal and professional problems ranging from late payments to libel threats, their unions cannot always follow up these cases in courts and tribunals outside their countries of origin,

believing that it is imperative in such cases that IFJ affiliates are able to offer mutual assistance to each other, and

Urges the Executive Committee

to examine the possibility of establishing a model comprehensive mutual assistance agreement between unions setting out what level of support members of an IFJ member union can expect from an IFJ member in another country where they have a legal or professional problem.




18.      Campaign Against Impunity
Proposer: National Union of Journalists, UK and Ireland

The World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists, meeting in Moscow from May 28th-June 1st 2007,

noting with anger that 2006 was the worst year ever for the killing of media staff with some 164 media deaths being recorded,

deploring that each year since the last Congress more and more journalists and media employees have been  have been targeted, brutalised and done to death in every corner of the globe,

believing that because of the scale and gravity of the rising death toll, the IFJ is facing one of its hardest challenges ever – over 160 journalists killed in Iraq since the beginning of the invasion, 19 of them at the hands of US forces, 211 journalists killed in Russia since 1992, and scores of journalists killed in the Philippines, Mexico and Colombia in targeted assassinations. Congress sends condolences to all the families of killed journalists.

Congratulating the IFJ Secretariat for

(i)    the relentless effort they make day in day out in exposing and protesting these murders, including the publication and promotion of the annual report of killed journalists,

(ii)    organising global days of protest over impunity such as the April 8th  over the killing of journalists in Baghdad and June 15th in solidarity with Iraqi journalists,

(iii)    the success in getting a detailed resolution on impunity discussed by the UN security council in  New York calling on governments to protect media staff and punish the killers of journalists.

Further believing that

l    although the IFJ should protest every single killing there is a danger of campaign fatigue and that killed journalists become mere statistics,

l    it should not be left to regional offices to face up to these deadly challenges on their own and with limited resources,

l    the IFJ should harness the potential of half a million journalists in membership and find ways of shaping them into a global protest movement, and

Instructs the Executive Committee to

·    develop a global strategy setting out in detail how the Secretariat should organise the reaction of affiliates to the killing of journalists and prioritising where the global campaigning effort should take place,

·    develop new protest tools for affiliates and their activists by setting up crisis response networks, global e-mail activists databases, special e-newsletters and other publications,

·    strengthen the IFJ media campaign by involving affiliates’ publications and websites, developing resources to reach major media organisations  and strengthening the IFJ’s capacity to deliver information packages including picture banks and streaming media,

·    review the work of INSI and its capacity to complement the IFJ strategy, recognising that although the opening of INSI offices in IFJ regions is to be welcomed much more must be done for this work to dovetail the priorities of the IFJ,

·    agree strategies to develop its campaign against impunity following the adoption of the IFJ resolution by the UN Security Council, in particular involving the families of killed journalists, and setting out a legal framework that will give them support, advice and help to take cases to court.





19.     Future of Journalism
    Proposer: National Union of Journalists, UK and Ireland

The World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists, meeting in Moscow from May 28th-June 1st 2007,

condemning the actions of  media and publishing companies who are axing frontline newsgathering and specialist reporters, closing editions, reducing news pages, marginalising public service programmes and cutting editorial budgets whilst posting record profits and increased shareholder dividends;

believing the result of such cuts is to reduce local and specialist media coverage, leading to a detrimental effect on local communities, public knowledge and democratic participation;

welcoming the launch by its two affiliates in the UK and the US of the NUJ's Journalism Matters, and the TNG’s Save Journalism campaigns aiming to highlight the important role journalism can play in promoting democratic participation in local communities and focusing public attention on the harm that job cuts in the news industry cause to workers, communities, quality journalism and democracy itself;

noting that, as well creating insecure and difficult working conditions, media convergence and increased competition has had huge impact on media quality, in particular a reduction in the status of journalism and in the scope of editorial coverage, pressure to integrate advertising and commercial objectives into editorial work, fall in circulation and less investment in professional training;

further noting that, faced with digital TV, mobile news, internet and free newspapers newspaper companies see new media as the next area of expansion and are preparing to sweep aside “old values”;

believing that it is imperative that journalists are organised in free, independent, strong and well-resourced trade unions in order to be able to confront changes in journalism,

Instructs the Executive Committee to

·    give assistance to its affiliates in their campaigns and help coordinate a global campaign involving the international labour movement,  including the Global Union Federations

·    continue to give priority to help with campaigns for editorial independence for journalists and ethics as a vital guarantor of quality and campaigns for more training opportunities for staff journalists and freelances including journalists working on online editions and websites

·    help build a common front across sections of the industry, including editors, trainers and teachers of journalism in support of quality journalism as well as politicians in support of investigations into monopoly control and profiteering at the expense of local democracy and plurality

·    promote new research into the impact of globalisation, and media concentration on the editorial process and journalism and into alternative business models for local media.




20.         Global Agreements
Proposer: National Union of Journalists, UK and Ireland

The World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists, meeting in Moscow from May 28th-June 1st 2007,

welcoming the founding in Vienna on October 31st last year of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) following the merger of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) and the World Confederation of Labour (WCL);

further welcoming the pledges made by the ITUC in its founding resolution to “work for the effective national and international regulation of business including full compliance with the provision of OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinationals and Social Policy” and its commitment to help achieve global framework agreements;

endorsing the draft Global Agreement agreed by the IFJ Executive setting out a framework for social dialogue;

    instructs the Executive Committee

to consult affiliates on establishing a short list of multinational enterprises that the IFJ should seek to negotiate with global agreements, and

    urges affiliates to incorporate such agreements in their industrial strategy.


 

21.    Cartoonists Rights
Proposer: Danish Union of Journalists

The  Congress of the International Federation of Journalists, meeting in Moscow from May 28th-June 1st 2007,

calls on the Executive Committee to conduct a survey of the working conditions of cartoonists and the way in which cartoonists are organised in the individual member unions.  Based on these findings, the Executive Committee should put forward an action plan no later than 2008, drawing attention to the special terms of cartoonists and creating the opportunity for a cartoonists’ network.

The Congress further calls for a special cartoonists’ conference to be convened in the period 2007-2010.



22.       Ethical Funding Policy
    Proposer Executive Committee

The World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists, meeting in Moscow from May 28th-June 1st 2007,

Noting that the IFJ, by its constitution, is first and foremost a confederation of trade unions of journalists and, as such, should be guided by the overall universal values of trade unionism such as social responsibility, social justice and civil liberty and principles of journalism such as ethics and independence,

Insisting that financial institutions, funding bodies and governmental agencies with whom the IFJ is associated are not engaged in actions that compromise the principles and values of the Federation,

Instructs the Executive Committee to

Ensure that individuals, organisations, companies, foundations and governments which are providing funds for IFJ activities or are providing financial services are committed to:

·    Core labour standards including recognition of trade unions,

·    Principles of freedom of the press, broadcasting, speech and information,

·    Human rights, the welfare of workers and respect for democratic values and good governance,

·    Equal opportunity and the elimination of all forms of  discrimination,

·    Genuine no-string attached aid to develop the human resources of local economies, organisations of workers and consumers and improve the environment.
    



23.    Future of Journalism
Proposer: Executive Committee

The World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists, meeting in Moscow from May 28th-June 1st 2007,

noting the economic and social development of the media and, in particular, the impact of converging technologies and commercialisation of media which threatens diversity of information, quality of journalism and working conditions;

recognising that convergence of media has led to dramatic changes in the nature of the editorial work and the skills required to carry out journalistic work,

believing that while many of these changes offer opportunities for improved media products, the reality is that there is often more exploitation, more insecurity and less quality in the new media landscape,

deploring the actions of media employers in creating precarious working conditions for an increasing number within the media workforce,

condemning the failure of governments to provide adequate employment protection to all workers, including freelance, casual and atypical media workers,

believing that it is essential to put in place laws, policies and standards designed to assist in the development of a free and pluralistic media and to create secure working conditions;

calls on the Executive Committee to give priority to encouraging co-operation among IFJ affiliates to address the organising and recruitment crisis facing journalists’ unions, in particular by

Organising a major international conference in the coming period among journalists’ unions to share information and to develop joint strategies in confronting the challenges of union organisation and recruitment of new members,

Developing new strategies for social dialogue, including global framework agreements between the IFJ and its regional groups and transnational media employers,

Working with other Global Union Federation to develop joint approaches to the challenge of dealing with agency and contract labour recruitment,

Seeking legal recognition of mechanisms for the defence of information and independent journalism such as editorial statutes,

Demanding an end to the exploitation of freelance and casual labour through the implementation of a charter of freelance rights,

Mobilising support among member unions for new initiatives designed to improve services provided to the media workforce, including

·    access to insurance and social welfare benefits
·    provision of recognised systems of professional training which reflect the need for high quality journalism, and, finally,

instructs the Executive Committee to prepare a detailed report on actions taken and proposals for longer term strategies to be presented at the next Congress.




24.    Gender Rights
Proposer: Executive Committee

The World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists, meeting in Moscow from May 28th-June 1st 2007,

noting the report of the Gender Council and the Executive Committee,

welcoming the continuing efforts that have been made to implement the Action Plan adopted by the Seoul Congress,

reiterating our commitment equal representation of women in all areas of the work of the IFJ and its member unions,

believing that unions can do more to put into effect the aims and objectives of the action plan particularly by supporting the regional co-ordination of gender rights work

instructs the Executive Committee to continue to support the work of the Gender Council and to ensure that the aims and objectives of the Action Plan are properly reflected in the pursuit of IFJ activities and, in particular, in the development of project and regional work.



Urgent Motions Adopted


1.        Support of  Guy-André Kieffer, who disappeared in Côte d’Ivoire.
    Proposed by SNJ-CGT (France)

The World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists, meeting in Moscow from May 28th- June 1st 2007,

Noting that on 16 April 2004, French journalist Guy-André Kieffer, an SNJ-CGT activist, disappeared in Abidjan and that his family, colleagues and friends have not received any news.

Noting the silence from the government of Côte d'Ivoire President Laurent Gbagbo on this matter,

Hereby mandates the IFJ Executive Committee to demand that the French authorities put pressure on the government of Côte d’Ivoire to obtain answers regarding the disappearance of our fellow journalist.


2.      Legislation that destroys press freedom in France.
    Proposed by SNJ-CGT (France)

The World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists meeting in Moscow from May 28- June 2nd 2007,

Notes that the French government is preparing, in utmost secrecy, a decree on data retention.

Notes that this decree obliges publishers of sites, service providers, hosters and telephone service operators (fixed and mobile) to keep all data related to Internet connections, passwords, e-mail addresses, telephone calls, etc.

Notes that these data are to be kept for one year and to be accessible to all police forces (administrative police and the criminal investigation department).

Considers that this is a serious threat to freedom of communication and especially to freedom of the press, and is a serious challenge to the need for journalists to protect their sources of information.

Reiterates that the European Commission also tried to pass a directive in 2006. SNJ-CGT, in liaison with the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), took part in the consultations of professionals. The directive was repelled.

Mandates the IFJ Executive Committee to demand that this draft legislation be abandoned by supporting SNJ-CGT's condemnation of this measure, which threatens basic freedoms, and to ensure that this freedom-destroying decree fails.




3.      Solidarity with black American journalist Abu-Jamal
    Proposed by SNJ-CGT (France)

The World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists, meeting in Moscow from May 28th - June 2nd 2007,

Notes that black American journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal, the world's oldest prisoner, has been held inhumanely for 25 years on death row in a Pennsylvania prison, accused of murdering a policeman,

Notes that the journalist has always proclaimed his innocence and denied the accusations established at the end of legal proceedings tainted by numerous irregularities,

Notes that a federal court of appeals has responded positively to appeals by Mumia's defence to rule on his case,

Hereby mandates the IFJ Executive Committee to contact the Supreme Court of the United States, US President George Bush, the US House of Representatives and the US Senate with a view to giving Mumia - the "voice of the voiceless" - justice and freedom, and supports the idea of a moratorium on the death penalty in the United States.


4.     Solidarity with Workers at Ente Publico Radio Television Madrid
    Proposer: CC.OO, Spain

The World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists, meeting in Moscow from May 28th-June 1st 2007,

agrees to give its support to the workers at Ente Público Radio Televisión Madrid and their related companies (Ente, Onda Madrid y Telemadrid) and to the mobilisation leaders who, for more than two years, have been effectively defending freedom of expression against news manipulation and kept these public companies viable despite the repeated failure to fulfill Collective Agreement IX.

expresses its solidarity with the workers who have lost their jobs as a consequence of these mobilisations and the two other workers disciplined in the process.


5.     Right of Taiwanese Journalists to Attend World Health Assembly
    Proposer: Association of Taiwan Journalists

The World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists, meeting in Moscow from May 28th-June 1st 2007,

Noting that each May, the World Health Assembly (WHA) holds its annual conference in Geneva, since 2004, and that the WHA and the United Nations Office in Geneva refuse to issue press credentials to Taiwan journalists on the grounds that Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations,

Believing that this action infringes the fundamental right of news coverage of Taiwan journalists and constitutes a grave act of discrimination against news workers from Taiwan,

Requests the General Secretary and the Executive Committee to

a)    express the concerns of the IFJ to the United Nations over this issue and

b)    render assistance to Taiwan journalists bearing International Press Cards issued by the IFJ to substitute for the sole criterion of United Nations membership and by so doing restore the rights of Taiwan journalists bearing International Press Cards to cover the WHA.

Congress believes that this action will uphold values of independent journalism and the right of Taiwan journalists to report freely on United Nations affairs.


6.     Kidnapped British Journalist in Gaza
    Proposer: Press Workers’ Union (Basin-Sen) Cyprus (N) and NUJ UK and     Ireland.

The World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists, meeting in Moscow from May 28th-June 1st 2007,

deeply disturbed by not hearing about BBC correspondent Alan Johnston who was kidnapped in Gaza on March 12 when on duty and is still not released, finds this situation unacceptable, and believes that no political problem can be solved by methods as harming, kidnapping, obstructing them from doing their jobs, censorship and pressure,

Condemns the kidnapping of Alan in Gaza, now in its ninth week.

Notes the outpouring of support from journalists and ordinary Palestinians demanding Alan’s release.

Thanks all Palestinian journalists who have demanded the safe return of Alan.  “Free Alan” has become the slogan uniting many Palestinian factions and rival organisations.

Applauds the action taken by the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, in organising journalists in demonstrations, sit-ins, strikes and boycotts in support of Alan.

Abhors attempts by armed factions to harass journalists and limit our colleagues’ freedom to report.  

Expresses concern that, despite these actions and the robust campaign by the NUJ, the PJS, the BBC, the Government and Palestinian security forces have so far failed to carry out their promises to free Alan.

Thanks the IFJ Secretariat, in particular the General Secretary, and sister unions for the tremendous effort in support of the campaign to force Alan’s release, and welcomes the support shown by Basin-Sen. It urges the Secretariat to involve them in the campaign and

Instructs the incoming Executive Committee to continue its support for the campaign to free Alan.



7.     Closure of Radio Caracas Television (RCTV).
    Proposer: Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Prensa, Venezuela.

The World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) met in Moscow on May 28th-June 1st, 2007,

Considering that on May 27, 2007, the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela executed the closure -by refusing to renew the license - of Radio Caracas Television (RCTV), the oldest major television channel in the country, with fifty three years of existence.

Concerned because freedom of expression and diversity of political views present in any democratic society, and the right to criticism and denunciation are seriously violated in as much as penalties are applied to broadcast media for maintaining independent editorial lines.

Observing that although the States have the authority for administrating the frequency licenses for broadcast media, this function must be exerted through clear and transparent regulations, independent of presidential decrees.

Realizing that RCTV’s closure happens in the context of a long series of attacks on media and journalists in Venezuela, which amounts to over eight hundred (800) cases in the last eight (8) years.

Consternated that the non-renewal of this license will end RCTV’s operations, resulting in the loss of jobs over three thousand (3.000) direct employees including journalists, reporters, technicians and other communication and entertainment workers.

Alarmed by the Supreme Court of Justice’s rejection of an appeal by employees for the protection of their rights. The Court has ordered the confiscation of property and the military occupation of the RCTV building, reserved for the use of the Venezuela State.

Agrees to:
 
Condemn vigorously the systematic attacks by the current Venezuelan government on freedom of expression and the elimination of RCTV as a free and independent television channel.

Declare full solidarity with all of RCTV’s workers, and, in general, with all journalists and press workers in Venezuela, who are facing today one of their most difficult and dark times.

Call on all human rights organizations and institutions defending the universal rights of freedom of expression and work, to condemn the actions taken against and use of force against RCTV and raise the alarm about the Venezuelan government’s attempt to impose a hegemonic communication system across the country.

Demand the Venezuelan government to reverse its actions against RCTV and to respect and faithfully comply with the regulation of the system guaranteed by the Constitution.



8.     Statute of journalists and Decriminalisation of press offences in Algeria.
    Proposer: Syndicat National des Journalistes, Algeria.

The World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists, meeting in Moscow from May 28th-June 1st 2007,

Considering

The historical dimension of the work of the Algerian Syndicate of Journalists by preparing the grounds of the adoption of the first Statute of Journalists since the democratic opening in Algeria in 1989,
 
The tremendous eff