Member unions of the International Federation of Journalists from Japan to Cyprus are signing up to the global campaign to highlight the crisis facing journalists in Iraq where the unprecedented scale of killings of journalists has prompted calls for international action to curb the violence against media.
The IFJ member union Nipporo in Tokyo, which represents staff at the country’s public broadcaster NHK, has donated 5,000 Euro to the international humanitarian appeal for aid to the families of Iraqi media victims.
At the same time dozens of IFJ affiliates across the world have been signing up to the International Committee for the Defence of Iraqi Journalists which plans to issue an appeal on June 15th next week – Iraqi National Press Day.
In his note of support Andreas Kannaouros, the President of the Union of Cyprus Journalists, echoes the sentiments of all: “We wholeheartedly join the International Committee and we strongly support the global appeal to end the violence against media and journalists. The Cypriot journalists have issued a national appeal for media support and are collecting cash for the humanitarian appeal.
At least 129 journalists and media staff have been killed in Iraq since the war broke out in March 2003. At least 80% of the victims, more than 100, are Iraqis.
On June 15th, IFJ unions around the world will publicise the crisis and will send messages of support to the IFJ’s two Iraqi affiliates as well as calling on their own governments to intervene to press for more action by the Iraqi authorities to recognise the media crisis which White claims remains largely invisible to many politicians.
The IFJ says that the Global Day of Action will focus on practical measures including more safety training and more protective equipment for media staff, humanitarian help to those most in need and a vigorous campaign to stop political interference in media.
“The support from our global unions’ shows the clear recognition by journalists of the pressing need to show solidarity and provide concrete support for journalists in Iraq”, said White. “This is a crisis that can only begin to be solved through a united stance across the worldwide media communities”.
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The IFJ represents more than 500,000 journalists in over 110 countries
