(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an 11 March 2003 IFJ media release: World Journalists Support Demand for Somali Media Delegation To Join Peace Conference in Kenya The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today renewed calls on the regional Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD) in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, responsible for organising the current Somalia peace […]
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an 11 March 2003 IFJ media release:
World Journalists Support Demand for Somali Media Delegation To Join Peace Conference in Kenya
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today renewed calls on the regional Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD) in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, responsible for organising the current Somalia peace talks, to guarantee formal participation by the Eastern Africa Media Institute (EAMI) Somalia Chapter as the formal civil society representative of the Somali media community.
Last month, on 19 February, the IFJ formally approached the conference organizers on the same issue. However, the Somali media community are still denied the right to participate fully. Almost all civil society groups in Somalia are represented, except for the media. The IFJ strongly believes that journalists should be involved in all policy discussions on media regulation, freedom of the press and freedom of expression.
The EAMI Somalia Chapter is lobbying for a media clause on press freedom, freedom of expression, and general media regulations to be included in the future provisional charter for Somalia’s transitional administration.
The IFJ, which is the world’s largest organization of journalists, representing more than 500,000 journalists in over 100 countries, supports formal Somali media representation, and sees the legal protection of press freedom and a climate where journalists can work without fear or oppression as vital to Somalia’s process of attaining democracy.
The peace talks are aimed at establishing a broadly-based government in Somalia. The talks, which opened on 15 October last year, have already seen controversy over the number of participants and the allocation of seats to the various groups.
