IPDC supported press freedom network gains momentum

Media for Democracy and Human Rights in the Pacific

• © IFJ/ Lisa Williams-Lahari

A Media for Democracy and Human Rights in the Pacific regional training workshop was held in Apia, Samoa, during the last week of October.

The training workshop and roundtable meeting provided a forum for media professionals from Oceania to examine the status of media freedom in the region, build solidarity and support the establishment of a network to monitor and respond to media-rights violations.

The discussions and deliberations during the workshop and roundtable will also be captured and disseminated through an inaugural report “Press Freedom in the Pacific” to be published in 2011.

According to IFJ General Secretary Aidan White,” The training and meeting of Pacific Island press freedom defenders is a significant opportunity for media practitioners in the Pacific to work together to establish region-wide systems for keeping a watch on media freedom issues”.

The Media for Democracy and Human Rights in the Pacific project is supported by UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) and the European Commission.

For further information on this story please see the persons below:

Paul Hector, Advisor for CI in Pacific States: p.hector@unesco.org

Claire O’Rourke, Program Manager:
claire.orourke@ifj-asia.org

• Source:UNESCO Apia
• 16-12-2010