IFJ, FAJ and the Yemeni union adopt a safety action plan for Yemeni media

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the Federation of Arab Journalists (FAJ) and the Yemen Journalists’ Syndicate (YJS), an IFJ affiliate, adopted on 23 February a safety action plan for Yemeni media following a solidarity meeting in Amman, Jordan.  The solidarity meeting, hosted by another IFJ affiliate, the Jordan Press Association (JPA) under the umbrella of the YJS, was attended by senior Yemeni journalists, editors and union leaders to discuss the challenges confronting journalists in the country and to agree on common principles and strategies that will help protect journalists, strengthen solidarity in the media sector and start the process of building a safe, independent and ethical operating environment for journalists in Yemen. In addition to safety, the meeting addressed issues of hate speech and incitement to violence and how to build a professional dialogue among the country’s journalists to protect the conditions and standards of journalism during the conflict. The group continued the meeting with a wider group through a conference organised in cooperation with UNESCO and GFMD with the aim of drawing a wide plan of actions to support Yemeni journalists and media sector. Participants included up to 40 Yemeni journalists, several UN agencies and media support groups, IFJ President Jim Boumelha, YJS General Secretary Marwan Dammaj, JPA President Tareq al Momani and FAJ senior vice president Moaid al Lami were among the participants of the meeting. Thirteen journalists are thought to remain kidnapped or arrested in the country by the different warring parties since the beginning of the conflict and some of them have been tortured, according to YJS figures. At least 10 lost their lives in 2015. Given the emergency situation in Yemen, the Federation launched last year the ongoing campaign 'End Oppression and Incitement against Yemeni Journalists'

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