IFJ Receives Humans Rights Award from United States Labour Movement

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) was yesterday honoured by trade unionists in the United States when it was presented with the movement’s prestigious human rights prize “on behalf of media workers around the world.”

The IFJ was chosen to receive the George-Meany-Lane Kirkland Human Rights Award, named after two former leaders of the American labour movement, by leaders of the AFL-CIO trade union confederation who praised the IFJ’s campaigning defence of journalists and media staff.

In presenting the award to Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary, at a special ceremony in Washington, the AFL-CIO President John Sweeney highlighted IFJ work in confronting the crisis of violence against media staff and its practical actions to promote industry solidarity and to provide humanitarian support for the victims of violence.

“This work is on behalf of working members of the press who risk their lives and often die to tell the story,” said Sweeny. “The world of democracy depends on these stories and the people who risk their lives for them.”

The IFJ General Secretary thanked union leaders for the award, which includes a donation to the IFJ International Safety Fund, and praised the commitment of the IFJ’s affiliates in the United States, including The Newspaper Guild-CWA and the American Federation of Radio and Television Artists who were actively supporting the work of the IFJ and the International News Safety Institute in America.

For more information contact the IFJ at 32 2 235 2207
The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 114 countries worldwide