Many borders are closed, thousands of companies have shut down, many of our unions have had to close, as have the IFJ headquarters in Brussels and our three regional offices in Dakar, Sydney and Buenos Aires. As trade unionists, we have a duty to both protect the employees of our organisations and to advise journalists on the best ways to protect themselves from this pandemic.
This health crisis, unfortunately, will have consequences on the media, the working conditions of our colleagues in newsrooms and the employment of journalists. And as it is too often the case, it is the most vulnerable among us who are already paying the price and who will lose their jobs in the coming days, without any social security cover nor any salary compensation.
I know that, as trade unionists, you stand with those in need among us with all your strength. I congratulate you on this because we must protect journalists and save the media, working with all international workers' organisations.
And in these difficult and exceptional moments, you can also count on us, elected members from the Executive and Administrative Committees, if you have the slightest need or any question. You can also count on our teams in Brussels, Sydney, Buenos Aires and Dakar, who work remotely.
At the moment, it is very difficult to know exactly what the future holds - we have already postponed our Annual General Assembly and the Executive Committee of Oman in June. However, rest assured that we will do our utmost to maintain our missions at a very high level of quality.
Take care of yourselves and your loved ones.
Let us never forget that together we are stronger.
With all my friendship and all my solidarity.
Younes MJAHED
IFJ President