<
 
 
 
 
×
>
You are viewing an archived web page, collected at the request of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) using Archive-It. This page was captured on 10:07:50 Nov 12, 2016, and is part of the UNESCO collection. The information on this web page may be out of date. See All versions of this archived page.
Loading media information hide
Print this page
World Press Freedom Day conference concludes in Kigali
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.

News
     

World Press Freedom Day conference concludes in Kigali

12-05-2009 (Kigali)
World Press Freedom Day conference concludes in 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:
  • 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 participants of the conference also appealed to the governments in Eastern Africa to vigorously implement commitments to freedom of expression through a legal and regulatory environment that respects press freedom and independence, and to enable media diversity.

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.
World Press Freedom Day conference concludes in Kigali
Participants of the conference
© EAJA

World Press Freedom Day conference concludes in Kigali
Speaker at the conference
© EAJA

Related themes/countries

  • This item can be found in the following topics:
          · Burundi
          · Comoros
          · Djibouti
          · Ethiopia
          · Kenya
          · United Republic of Tanzania
          · Rwanda
          · Somalia
          · Uganda
          · Seychelles
          · Sudan
          · World Press Freedom Day 2009
          · Press Freedom: News Archives 2009


  • Contact information
    Related Links
    More resources
    portal1.org
    we are portal 1
    Community of Practice Software Solutions - Powered by Tomoye Simplify Version 3:01b
    UNESCO-CI
    Have feedback? Email the Chief Editor
    Portal Statistics: 23292 knowledge objects - 6499 topics