Journalists' unions and associations in Southeast Asia, affiliated with the International Federation of Journalists, have formed a new network aimed at tackling issues affecting journalists' safety, rights and freedoms in the region.
Journalists’ Unions and Associations in South East Asia, affiliated with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), have formed a new network aimed at tackling issues affecting journalists’ safety, rights and freedoms in the region.
The ‘Southeast Asian Journalists’ Unions Network,’ formed during a meeting of the affiliates in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, aims to build strength between the unions and stand in solidarity on issues such as press freedom, labour rights and gender equality.
“This newly formed network of affiliates represents a very positive step forward for the region,” said Jacqui Park, Director of the IFJ Asia-Pacific Office. “The network will mean the affiliates can form a united front and work shoulder to shoulder to tackle common issues affecting journalists and media workers across South East Asia.”
The network has agreed the following declaration of intent which states:
We, representatives of journalists’ unions and associations in Southeast Asia affiliated with the International Federation of Journalists,
Recognizing that we face common problems of poor welfare and working conditions as evidenced in low wages, violations or outright suppression of our right to organise, and violations of our labor rights;
Knowing how many of our colleagues have been killed, threatened and harassed as they performed their work as journalists, and how many others continue to face daily threats to their lives and safety because of the failure to punish those responsible for these attacks;
Seeing how impunity and state policies erode press freedom and freedom of expression, and also deprive people of the right to access to information;
Aware of the need to promote gender equity and awareness within journalists’ unions and media organizations, broaden and improve gender-sensitive reporting within the media, and to implement programs that promote gender awareness and equity;
Realizing the importance of closer and more active coordination and cooperatio n among ourselves and other groups that advocate and promote the same issues;
All Agree: to organise into the Southeast Asian Journalists’ Unions Network (SEAJU) with the mission of strengthening solidarity between our unions and all journalists within the region and work together to:
– Improve the welfare and working conditions of journalists in the region
– Build an informed public by advancing press freedom, freedom of expression, access to information and independent media
– Fight for the protection and safety of journalists and to end impunity
– Promote gender equity within journalists’ unions and media organizations, and implement programs that will advance and protect gender rights
– Build the organizational capacity of our unions and our group
To these ends, we commit ourselves and affix our signatures this 17 day of June 2013 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
SIGNATORIES:
Aliansi Jurnalis Independen (AJI)
National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)
Cambodian Association for the Protection of Journalists
National Union of Journalists Malaysia
Myanmar Journalists Association (MJA)
Federation of Media Independent Unions (FSPM-Independens)
