We, the women journalists attending the seminar on Women Journalists in the European-Integration Process- Gender, Quality and Union Rights in European Media, held in Nicosia Cyprus from the 27 to the 29th May 2005 regretfully observe that since the IFJ 24th World Congress of 2001 in Korea,, and despite the work of the Gender Council, very few of the aims set out in said Congress have been accomplished;
Also noting the potentially drastic negative impact of globalisation upon women journalists we therefore demand:
1. That all IFJ, EFJ member unions and associations pledge to have proportional representation of women on all decision-making bodies by the next World Congress in 2007;
2. That proportional representation at the executive committees of the IFJ and the EFJ as recommended at the World Congress become reality without further delay;
3. That the IFJ and the EFJ ensure that participation by unions and associations at any of its meetings and seminars are gender-balanced;
4. That issues specifically related to gender be incorporated in the agenda within every topic covered by the IFJ, EFJ, and member unions and associations
5. That globalisation in media threatens freedom of information and worsens working conditions for journalists and freelance writers, and it has a particular impact on the struggle to obtain equality between men and women journalists. The European Union and the national governments should consider the right to information as a social issue and not subject it to the dictates of the market.
6. That the IFJ commits funding to eliminate all forms of violence, harassment, and intimidation against women journalists;
7. That the IFJ pledges to commit funding for the Gender Council, training and seminars as laid out in the plan of 2001 and that this be done without further delay;
8. That the funds allocated to the Gender Council be increased so that funding can be assigned through the Gender Council for the training and seminars;
9. That the IFJ prioritises the issue of equal pay by supporting all member unions and association to legally enforce collective bargaining agreements as vowed in the World Congress of 2001;
10. That research be conducted on the impact of globalisation upon the right to information, the role of the unions and the working conditions and living conditions of journalists particularly women journalists.
Tamara Skroza, Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia
Anabela Fino, Sindicato dos Jornalistas – Portugal
Renate Gensch, German Journalists Union dju/Verdi
Nevenka Dobljekar, Slovene Association of Jurnalists
Martine Simonis, Association Generale des Journalistes Professionnels de Belgique
Arna Schram, The Union of Icelandic Journalists,
Carmen Rivas, Agrupacion Periodistas FCT=CC.OO.. Spain.
Anna Mallia, Maltese Institute of Journalists, Malta
Giedre Maksimaityte, Lithuanian Journalists Union
Liene Kilbloka, Latvian Union of Journalists
Athena Moss-Sypsa Panhellenic Federation of Journalists’ Unions, Greece
Mindy Ran – National Union of Journalists, UK
Naqdezhda Azhgikina,Russia
Brigitte Handlos, Independent Media Women Network Austria
Marina Cosi, FNSI, Italy
Anna Famellos, Journalists' Union of Macedonia and Thrace Daily Newspapers
