The
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today welcomed the decision of a
prize-winning European Union spokesman to donate his award money of 1000 EUR to the safety
of journalists - through the IFJ International Safety fund.
Alessandro
Butticé, head of communications of the European Anti Fraud Office (OLAF) has
been selected as winner of the "career" prize for the "international
journalism: press attaché" 2009 competition.
He
will receive the prize next month in Italy and he has directed that the
funds be used to "provide support to journalists and media who require legal
support in the face of violence and intimidation for the exercise of their
work."
"We
congratulate Mr. Butticé and we appreciate his solidarity with journalists on
the frontline around the world, many of whom rely upon the IFJ Safety Fund as a lifeline in times of
hardship," said Aidan White, IFJ
General Secretary. "Many of these journalists are targeted for their work exposing
corruption and maladministration in their own countries."
Mr.
Butticé receives the award in recognition of his leadership as OLAF
spokesperson in developing innovative ways to communicate the anti-fraud work
of the European Union. He has also championed better relations with working
journalists and police who are investigating corruption.
He
will receive the award during a ceremony to take place in Jesi on 17 October.
The
IFJ Safety Fund, established in 1992 and funded by journalists, provides
humanitarian assistance to journalists in need as a result of their work,
including medical and legal expenses.
To
date, beneficiaries of the Safety Fund come from the following countries : Albania, Algeria, Angola, Bosnia-Herzegovina,
Cambodia, Cameroon, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Croatia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Georgia, Ghana,
Guatemala, Haiti, India, Indonesia,
Lesotho, Liberia, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Paraguay, Peru, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan,
Tajikistan, Togo, Turkey, Uganda, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (Kosovo and Serbia).
For more information contact the IFJ
at +32 2 235 2207
The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists
in 123 countries worldwide
