Journalists Unions and Associations in South East Asia, affiliated with
the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), have formed a new network
aimed at tackling issues affecting journalists' safety, rights and freedoms in
the region.
The ‘Southeast Asian Journalists' Unions Network,' formed during a
meeting of the affiliates in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, aims to build strength
between the unions and stand in solidarity on issues such as press freedom,
labour rights and gender equality.
"This newly formed network of affiliates represents a very positive step
forward for the region," said Jacqui Park, Director of the IFJ Asia-Pacific
Office. "The network will mean the affiliates can form a united front and work
shoulder to shoulder to tackle common issues affecting journalists and media
workers across South East Asia."
The network has agreed the following declaration of intent which
states:
*Recognizing* that we
face common problems of poor welfare and working conditions as evidenced in low wages, violations or outright suppression
of our right to organise, and violations of our labor rights;
*Knowing* how many
of our colleagues have been killed, threatened and harassed as they performed their work as journalists, and how many
others continue to face daily threats to their lives and safety because of the failure to punish those responsible for these attacks;
*Seeing* how
impunity and state policies erode press freedom and freedom of expression, and also deprive people of the right to access to
information;
*Aware* of the
need to promote gender equity and awareness within journalists' unions and media organizations, broaden and improve gender-sensitive reporting within the media, and to implement programs
that promote gender awareness and equity;
*Realising* the
importance of closer and more active coordination a cooperation among ourselves and other groups that advocate and promote
the same issues;
All Agree:to
organise into the ‘Southeast Asian Journalists' Unions Network' with the mission of strengthening solidarity between our unions and all journalists within the region and work together to:
-Improve the welfare and working conditions of journalists in the Region
-Build an informed public by advancing press freedom, freedom of expression, access to information and independent media
-Fight for the protection and safety of journalists and to end impunity
-Promote gender equity within journalists' unions and media organisations, and implement programs that will advance and protect
gender rights
-Build the organisational capacity of our unions
For further information contact
IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0950
The IFJ represents more than 600,000
journalists in 131 countries
Find the IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific
Find the IFJ on Facebook: www.facebook.com/IFJAsiaPacific
