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World Press Freedom Day 2018

Pre- and Post-WPFD events in Accra

  • IREX events

Organizer: IREX
Date: 1 May
Contact: Lilian Makokha (e-mail to: lmakokha@irex.org, wpfd@unesco.org)
Type of event: Open for professionals working in the area of Journalism/Media Safety/Human Rights

Introduction to SAFE - Brief introduction of the SAFE Program (15 mins)
SAFE Analogy of Journalist Safety - Introduction to journalism safety in a holistic and integrated approach using simple and engaging techniques to enhance engagement, ownership and implementation of training. (45 mins)
Journalism Safety Planning - Integrated practical approach to educating on the importance of planning and its critical importance in playing a key preventative measure in reducing media freedom infringements and/or risks and threats. (1 hour)
Self-Awareness and its relation to journalist safety - The importance of being self-aware as a journalist and its relation to safety and how it is connected to other elements of safety i.e. from digital safety to physical safety. A practical sessions shall be conducted to create awareness of their psychosocial well-being and connect it to safety related topics. (1 hour)
 

  • Annual meeting of the Bureau of the Intergovernmental Council of UNESCO’s IPDC

Organizer: UNESCO / International Programme for the Development of Communication
Date: 30 April - 1 May 
Type of event: Closed

The 62nd IPDC Bureau Meeting serves as a platform for the Bureau to assume full responsibility for project selection, approval and allocation of funds from the Special Account, and plans the organization of work of the Council session.
 
  • Authors/Journalists Rights in Africa

Organizer: Ethical Journalism Network (EJN) / Federation for African Journalists (FAJ)
Date:1 May
Venue: Kempinski Hotel
Type of event: Open for journalists, media practitioners, editors and media owners
Contact: Chris Elliott and Gabriel Baglo (e-mail to: chris.elliott@ethicaljournalismnetwork.org, gabriel.baglo@africanjournalists.org, wpfd@unesco.org)

Roundtable on "Authors/Journalists Rights in Africa" to discuss the issue of copyright, share experiences and raise awareness of authors’/journalists rights in Africa.
 
  • Workshop on Safety of Women Journalists

Organizer: Embassy of Norway in Accra, Norwegian Union of Journalists (NUJ)
Date: 30 April to 1 May
Venue: Ghana International Press Center
Contact: Eva Stabell (e-mail to: eva.stabell@nj.no, wpfd@unesco.org)
Type of event: Closed

Reports on attacks and harassment against female journalists have increased worldwide. Surveys and stories told have also shown that the newsroom is a place of vulnerability for women journalists. Gender-based discrimination at work can be reduced when women have the tools to stop harassment and discrimination. Knowledge about women’s rights and international law is also useful in journalism. And all journalists reporting from protests, unrest and conflict zones need to know about safety rules and how to protect themselves.

Since 2015, The Norwegian Union of Journalists has trained journalists in Africa to organize workshops for their female colleagues in Safety and Equality. The training - funded by the Norwegian MFA - is done in alliance with The International Federation of Journalists and in cooperation with our African sister unions. Currently, more than 1000 journalists have attended the Safety and Equality workshops.
 

  • Special Mechanism for Media Freedom in the Arab World

Organizer: MedMedia Programme and International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
Date: 1 May
Venue: Kempinski Hotel, Palm Jumeirah meeting room
Contact:  Sarah Bouchetob, Moonir Zaarour (e-mail to: sarah.bouchetob@med-media.eu, monir.zaarour@ifj.org, wpfd@unesco.org)
Type of event: Banquet with buffet (invitation) and a round-table discussion (Open with meeting with registration))

Existing intergovernmental mechanisms for freedom of expression vary in terms of mandate, structure and resources. With the support of the EU-funded MedMedia programme and the Norwegian government, the IFJ launched a discussion on the development of a Special Mechanism for Media Freedom that responds to the needs, constraints and legal framework of the Arab region.
A comprehensive consultation process was carried out, bringing together experts, media organizations, journalists’ leaders, regulatory authorities and representatives from national human rights centers across the Arab World, to give their insight on the mechanism’s technical proposal and the Declaration for Media Freedom in the Arab World. The ground-breaking charter sets out 16 key principles aimed at promoting the highest international standards of media freedom and protecting journalists’ rights.
The Declaration was launched following a 20-month open consultation process on World Press Freedom Day 2016 in Casablanca, with the support of over 100 delegates representing a wide range of groups from across the Arab World and global organisations, including the UNESCO (cf. final statement).  Since then, the initiative has been given wider support, including from Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OCHR). Six Arab countries have formally signed its Declaration: Palestine, Tunisia, Jordan, Sudan, Morocco and Mauritania. 
This round table discussion will look into the methodology for an annual review to be developed in the context of this initiative, the background paper clarifying the Declaration’s key principles and the state of play of the initiative. 
 
Moderator: Monir ZAAROUR, IFJ Arab World and Middle East Policy Director & MedMedia expert
 
Speakers: 
• Sylvie COUDRAY, Chief, Section for Freedom of Expression, UNESCO
• Younes MJAHED, IFJ Senior Vice President, SNPM General Secretary & MedMedia expert
• Toby MENDEL, Director Centre for Law and Democracy
• Ammar el-DWAIK, Director of the Independent Human Rights Commission (IHRC) in Palestine and member in the Arab Network of Human Rights Institutions (ANHRI))
 
  • Vigil for Killed Journalists

Organizer: Ghana Journalism Association (GJA)
Date: 1 May (6:30 PM to 9PM)
Venue: Ghana International Press Center
Contact:  Linda Asante-Agyei (e-mail to: lindaagyei13@yahoo.co.uk, wpfd@unesco.org(link sends e-mail))
Type of event: Open (It does not need registration)

It is a pre event to honour journalists who have lost their lives in line of duty and welcome our foreign journalists.  
It is open to all journalists and other media stakeholders.
 
  • West Africa Regional Convening of MFWA and National Partners

Organizer: Media Organization for West Africa (MFWA) with support from Open Society Foundation (OSF)
Date: 1 May
Type of event: Closed

Over the course of the last decade, the media landscape and conditions of press freedom in West Africa have changed rapidly. A vast array of trends manifested itself within the region, ranging from the growing access and influence of new media technologies to the continued existence and application of restrictive laws in several countries, amongst others. These changes have had a profound effect on journalism, press freedom and the safety of journalists, both positively and negatively.
Press freedom, safety of journalists and the journalistic landscape in West Africa are faced with a myriad of interwoven complex issues. It requires deeper analysis and introspection among the press freedom and media development community in the region. A better understanding allows for informed strategies in dealing with the prevailing challenges at both national and regional levels. 
Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) will convene a regional strategic meeting with the heads of all MFWA national partner organisations from 16 countries. Challenges to press freedom and the safety of journalists in West Africa and how to tackle them will be addressed, with an aim to strengthen partnerships and to share knowledge. A representative of at least one other organisation from outside the region will also be present to share some experience on the issue of safety of journalists from the Eastern Africa perspective. 
 

  • Lecture/debate on press freedom, freedom of expression, and access to information: International Obligations & Current Challenges for Ghana

Organizer: University of Ghana Centre for European Studies, EU Delegation to Ghana, Media 4 Democracy.EU
Date: 4 May at 10AM - 1PM
Venue: Law faculty conference hall, University of Ghana
Contact: Caroline Giraud (e-mail to: caroline.giraud@media4democracy.eu , wpfd@unesco.org)
Type of event: On invitation. Priority will be given to Ghana stakeholders.
Participants: Students, Ghana media actors and civil society

The Centre for European Studies (CES), in collaboration with Media4Democracy.EU presents a public lecture in commemoration of World Press Freedom Day. The debate will be held with international experts and Ghana Civil Society and media representatives.  

Main speaker: Helen Darbishire, Media4Democracy.EU Chairman - Professor Ransford Gyampo, Director, CES
 
  • Meeting of the Steering Committee of the Global Forum for Media Development

Organizer: Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD)
Type of event: Closed
 

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