As
part of its World Press Freedom Day actions, the International Federation of
Journalists (IFJ) has announced a new agreement with the Brussels-based Vintu
Foundation to provide humanitarian assistance to families of journalists and
media personnel who are killed on duty.
The
first agreement between the IFJ and the Vintu Foundation for Excellency in
Education and Journalism, founded by Romanian media owner Sorin Ovidiu Vintu, was
signed in 2007 when a special Fund was created to specifically assist families
who lose a breadwinner as a result of their work in the media. The agreement
was first renewed in 2008.
"The
assistance provided under the Fund has proved over the last two years a genuine
lifeline to families of colleagues from all over the world," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. "We welcome the
Vintu Foundation's continuous commitment to the Fund and its generous support
to our humanitarian assistance."
The
Vintu Fund, administered by the IFJ, provides monthly payments for a year to 10
journalists' families who lose household head or the family's breadwinner to
violence related to that person's work as a journalist.
Since
its insertion, the Fund has provided assistance to families of journalists from
the following countries: Afghanistan, Colombia( 2 families) Democratic Republic
of Congo ( 5 families), Iraq (7 families), the Philippines
( 2 families), Pakistan, Russia,
Somalia ( 3 families), Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
"World
Press Freedom Day is about the working and living conditions of journalists,"
added White. "Those who pay the ultimate sacrifice for their profession must be
able to count on our solidarity to spare their families financial hardship."
For further details about
the IFJ:
Ernest Sagaga
32 2 235 22 07 or at [email protected]
For further details about the Vintu
Foundation:
Cristian Unteanu
GSM: 32 476 49 98 70 / TEL/FAX: 32 2
230 83 77
