(FPJQ/IFEX) – The following is an FPJQ press release: Summit of the Americas The FPJQ creates a committee to monitor press freedom The Professional Federation of Quebec Journalists announces the creation of a committee to monitor press freedom during the Summit of the Americas from April 20th through 22nd. This ad hoc committee will observe […]
(FPJQ/IFEX) – The following is an FPJQ press release:
Summit of the Americas
The FPJQ creates a committee to monitor press freedom
The Professional Federation of Quebec Journalists announces the creation of a committee to monitor press freedom during the Summit of the Americas from April 20th through 22nd.
This ad hoc committee will observe and defend the press freedom of journalists covering the summit. The Quebec Provincial Police, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs support this initiative.
To our knowledge, this is the first time a committee of journalists will work to defend press freedom at a conference in Canada. We have invited the groups Canadian Journalists for Free Expression and Reporters sans frontières to collaborate in this initiative.
The committee will be composed of nine people: Hélène Pichette, president of the FPJQ, Richard Bousquet, vice-president of the FPJQ, Jane McElhone, FPJQ board member and head of the Federation’s international activities, Claude Robillard, general secretary of the FPJQ, Francois Bugingo, FPJQ member and RSF representative, Eric Whittom, member of the FPJQ-Québec executive, Marianna Tzabiras, alerts coordinator of CJFE, Jean-Michel Leprince, FPJQ member, and Louise Lemelin, FPJQ member.
The committee will be based at the Palais Montcalm, within the security perimeter.
Given the threats to press freedom that occurred during demonstrations in Quebec last year, the FPJQ feels it essential to create a press freedom committee for the Summit of the Americas. To name but two examples: on May 1st of last year, journalists covering a demonstration in Montreal were arrested and held overnight. In October, several journalists covering a demonstration during the G-20 meeting were manhandled by the police.
The FPJQ asks that journalists covering the summit contact committee members if they experience problems linked to press freedom. Committee members can be reached at the four following cellular phone numbers:
(418) 561-3441
(418) 561-3442
(418) 561-3443
(418) 561-3446
These numbers will be operational from April 19-22.
The FPJQ will hold a press conference in Quebec City on Thursday, April 19th at 10:30 am in collaboration with CJFE and RSF. The three groups will present the press freedom committee and talk about the state of press freedom in the Americas.
