World Press Freedom Day conference concludes in Kigali
12-05-2009 (Kigali)
Speaker at the conference
© EAJA
Leaders and representatives of journalists' trade unions, associations and press freedom organizations from eleven countries in Eastern Africa have resolved to carry out an effective and collective campaign against repressive media laws and the culture of impunity against journalists and the media, as well as to collaborate to address working conditions of media professionals in the region to enhance quality and ethical journalism.
The journalists and free expression advocates met on 2 and 3 May 2009 in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, under the theme “Media, Dialogue, Mutual Understanding and Reconciliation” to commemorate World Press Freedom Day. Participants drew up the Kigali Declaration to guide their actions and address the current challenges to free expression in the region.
"We ... [are] extremely concerned about the great individual risks and dangers journalists in eastern Africa face, including cruel and degrading punishments, torture, intimidation, death threats, imprisonment, abductions, arbitrary arrests, killings and unlawful detention," reads the declaration.
The conference was organized by the Eastern Africa Journalists Association (EAJA) and supported by UNESCO, the International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX) and the Open Society Institute with the active participation of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). The Rwanda Journalists Association (ARJ) hosted the conference.
Participants expressed concern that media professionals in the region were being subjected to actions that discredit them, such as smear campaigns, political persecution, vilification and constant surveillance.
In the Declaration, the journalists call on governments in the region, which is considered to be the most dangerous in Africa for media professionals, to put in place legal and policy guarantees to ensure the safety and security of journalists and media establishments, to support the work of journalist unions and press freedom organizations in protecting media professionals, and to develop a climate of respect for the work of the media.
The conference, which was officially opened by the Rwandan Information Minister, Louise Mushikiwabo, also urged the governments in Eastern Africa to pay particular attention to the situation of media freedom in their respective countries, and to support the efforts of the media community in the promotion and protection of press freedom and freedom of expression. The conference participants decided to carry out the following actions:
The conference, which brought together 34 participants from Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, resolved to provide first-hand assistance in collaboration with regional and international organizations and protection for journalists at immediate risk, and to promote the role of the media as a platform for dialogue, reconciliation and mutual understanding.
"We ... [are] extremely concerned about the great individual risks and dangers journalists in eastern Africa face, including cruel and degrading punishments, torture, intimidation, death threats, imprisonment, abductions, arbitrary arrests, killings and unlawful detention," reads the declaration.
The conference was organized by the Eastern Africa Journalists Association (EAJA) and supported by UNESCO, the International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX) and the Open Society Institute with the active participation of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). The Rwanda Journalists Association (ARJ) hosted the conference.
Participants expressed concern that media professionals in the region were being subjected to actions that discredit them, such as smear campaigns, political persecution, vilification and constant surveillance.
In the Declaration, the journalists call on governments in the region, which is considered to be the most dangerous in Africa for media professionals, to put in place legal and policy guarantees to ensure the safety and security of journalists and media establishments, to support the work of journalist unions and press freedom organizations in protecting media professionals, and to develop a climate of respect for the work of the media.
The conference, which was officially opened by the Rwandan Information Minister, Louise Mushikiwabo, also urged the governments in Eastern Africa to pay particular attention to the situation of media freedom in their respective countries, and to support the efforts of the media community in the promotion and protection of press freedom and freedom of expression. The conference participants decided to carry out the following actions:
- campaign against the culture of impunity in the media industry;
- campaign on reforming repressive media laws and other restrictive legislations; and
- campaign on ethical journalism and regional collective bargaining standards.
The conference, which brought together 34 participants from Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, resolved to provide first-hand assistance in collaboration with regional and international organizations and protection for journalists at immediate risk, and to promote the role of the media as a platform for dialogue, reconciliation and mutual understanding.
Participants of the conference© EAJA
Speaker at the conference© EAJA
Related themes/countries
· Burundi
· Comoros
· Djibouti
· Ethiopia
· Kenya
· United Republic of Tanzania
· Rwanda
· Somalia
· Uganda
· Seychelles
· Sudan
· World Press Freedom Day 2009
· Press Freedom: News Archives 2009
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- EAJA
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