Libya: Launching an initiative to strengthen professional solidarity between journalists

The first consultative meeting between Libyan journalists aiming at strengthening professional solidarity has just concluded. This initiative was launched by the IFJ in cooperation with the Federation of Arab Journalists (FAJ).

Libyan jounalists meet in Tunisia. Credit: FES


The first consultative meeting between Libyan journalists aiming at strengthening professional solidarity has just concluded.  This initiative was launched by the IFJ in cooperation with the Federation of Arab Journalists (FAJ).

The meeting was held in Tunisia on 12-13 July and was attended by a group of journalists working for diverse media organisations including audio visual, print and online who have previous experiences or are currently involved in solidarity and union organising initiatives. The discussions covered the challenges and issues facing professional journalists, including journalist safety, protections from attacks and threats, fragile working conditions, strengthening editorial independence and the need to unite efforts in reforming the legal environment. This is fundamental to fostering free and independent journalism in Libya. The Libyan participants agreed to establish a unified journalists’ union, independent from political interference and government and employers’ control and open to all professional journalists in line with international standards. The IFJ and FAJ said in a joint statement: “We are very optimistic following the positive discussions and the spirit of solidarity and cooperation between our colleagues from Libya. They have the will and determination and we are confident they will manage to unite their different initiatives into one journalist union capable of defending their social and professional rights and we are committed to supporting their initiative all the way” In addition to the IFJ, the meeting was also co-organized and supported by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) and United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI).

For more information, please contact IFJ on + 32 2 235 22 16

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