International organizations have backed the promises of a free, prosperous and peaceful South Africa through the development of a liberalized global economy since the end of the apartheid regime. Yet while the economic bridges of the EU’s largest trading partner in Sub-Saharan Africa are being built, journalists groups are mounting a defense against the increasingly systematic policies of repression and censorship.
Jane Duncan, Executive Director of the Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI), the main South African Watchdog, will be here to present the conclusions of the FXI’s annual report published last week and to stir up the debate on the EU’s responsibilities regarding this new state of emergency in one of the most influential African democracies.
Thursday, 30 September 2004, at 6pm
Résidence Palace (Le Passage)
155 Rue de la Loi
1040 Brussels
This press conference will include a detailed presentation by Jane Duncan the Executive Director of the Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI).
It will be hosted by Journalists @ your Service (JAYS), an alliance of journalists' groups - International Federation of Journalists, AGJPB/AVBB (Belgian Journalists Union), the International Press Association, the European Journalism Centre and the Brussels branch of the NUJ, in partnership with the Résidence Palace.
The meeting will include the presentation of an Exclusive Video Footage (25 min.) produced by a coalition of South African NGOs.
This event is part of the dialogue organized by the IFJ and Human Rights Watch on press freedom and human rights.
The IFJ press release on the FXI’s report is available on:
http://www.ifj.org/default.asp?Index=2710&Language=EN
More Information contact: Bertrand Ginet - +32 2 235 2206 and/or email [email protected]
See also
Complementary information: South Africa and the EU: The New State of Emergency (websites)
