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IFEX conference highlights freedom of expression
DATELINE: 25/2/06
Free expression groups from around the world gathering in Brussels this week at the International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX) General Meeting have pledged to confront a "growing number of attacks against the media.""It's no news to anyone here that the war on terror has put freedom of expression under threat," said Christopher Warren, President of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), in his opening speech on 20 February 2006.
"Freedom of expression is in retreat in too many emerging democracies. However, in mature democracies, governments are also tightening access to information, restricting coverage in the name of national security and broadening the scope of unacceptable speech."
These trends were backed up by a report presented by the IFEX Clearing House, which highlighted a 20 per cent increase in the number of alerts on free expression violations issued in the last 18 months.The IFEX General Meeting, taking place from 20 to 24 February, brings together more than 100 free expression activists, including IFEX members, from across the globe to discuss ways they can build effective campaigns to confront the growing threats to freedom of expression and press freedom. The meeting is hosted by IFJ.
At a panel session on terrorism and freedom of expression, Franco Frattini, Vice President of the European Commission and European Union Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security, made a trenchant defense of free speech when he referred to the recent crisis surrounding the re-publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad.
"We must defend freedom of expression," he said. He called for "a frank, transparent and even tough exchange of views" which should include a "strong rejection of violence."
"Freedom of expression must be defended possibly most of all when ideas shock or disturb," said Frattini. "The difficulty is to reconcile free expression with the deepest individual convictions, which should also be respected." The Commissioner expressed his willingness to promote dialogue both within EU boundaries and in neighbouring countries (see his speech: http://tinyurl.com/laero).
Frattini referred to a number of initiatives being taken to encourage a dialogue between media representatives and faith leaders, but denied any political intention to impose further rules related to media ethics.One of the initiatives brought together European editors, broadcasters and journalists in Brussels last week, where a joint statement was issued affirming the media community's determination to "create a meaningful dialogue that will improve understanding between communities, that will reduce tension and that will enhance the quality of journalism on all sides." (See: http://www.freemedia.at).
Commenting on the cartoon crisis at the IFEX conference, Shadaba Islam, a senior correspondent for Deutsche Presse Agentur, said it "has taken place in the context of a pervasive climate of intimidation against 20 million European Muslims, a situation which the EU has failed to address before the crisis erupted."
"The war against terrorism and extremism is not only a struggle for European values. Democrats from all countries are oppressed in what has to be described as a civil war for the soul of Islam. What is shocking here is the lack of understanding for basic Muslim values, despite an apparent political engagement for the establishment of a multi-religious society," she said.
Joining the debate, Tony Bunyan, Director of Statewatch, said "absolute freedom could also lead to absolutism. Freedom of speech should not endanger other people's lives."Hélène Flautre, Chair of the European Parliament Sub-Committee on Human Rights, denounced double standards in the treatment of human rights in Europe. "Journalists should not be held back by external pressures," she said.In the past two weeks, as violent protests against the cartoons spread throughout the Muslim world, journalists have been arrested and media outlets closed in Russia, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Algeria and Jordan for re-publishing the cartoons.
In another panel session, speakers highlighted concerns over media concentration. "The consolidation of media control can represent a subtle and discreet form of censorship," said Andrew Schwartzman, President and CEO of Media Access Project, a U.S. public-interest law firm that represents civil society groups on media regulation issues.Jane Duncan, Executive Director of the South Africa-based Freedom of Expression Institute, pointed out that media concentration is not just a northern issue, "of concern only to people living in developed countries."
The dangers of media concentration could be as bad or even worse in the South than in the North, she said.Participants in the debate called for a strong commitment to pluralism, media quality and public service values in media policy making.A follow-up report on the conference's proceedings will be featured in the "IFEX Communiqué" next week.Visit these links for updates on the cartoon crisis: -
Read what IFEX members are saying about the cartoon controversy:
Cartoonists Rights International
Index on Censorship defining-the-.shtml
World Association of Newspapers
Last modified: Saturday, February 25, 2006
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Notices
Events & Announcements
World Press Freedom Day
More reporters are currently imprisoned in Turkey than in any other country in the world. Only a matter of weeks ago lawyers failed to persuade a Turkish court to release a 76-year-old journalist from a Turkish internet news station.
World Press Freedom Day on Friday May 3, 2013 is being marked in Britain by a rally to highlight the dangers facing journalists in Turkey and in this podcast, Nicholas Jones speaks to Barry White, Organiser at the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom, and Sam Bamford, the TUC's policy officer for Eastern Europe and Africa about the importance of a campaign to highlight international press freedom.
The World Press Freedom Day rally is being staged by the National Union of Journalists at the NUJ head office, Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1 on Thursday May 2, 6pm-8pm.
DATELINE: 27/4/13
UK launch of EU media campaign
DATELINE: 13/3/13
The UK launch of a 'European Citizens' Initiative' calling for EU rules against concentration of media power will take place on Thursday March 21 from 11:00am – 12:30pm in Committee Room 4A at the House of Lords, London. Guest speakers will include actor and activist Hugh Grant (pictured), media consultant Claire Enders, Professor Steven Barnett, Barry McCall (President of the NUJ) and Marc Gruber (Director of the European Federation of Journalists).
A European Citizens' Initiative is an official petition, like a Downing Street petition. If it succeeds in gathering a million signatures across the EU, the Commission is obliged to respond.
This petition calls for the EU to act to protect media pluralism and press freedom.
CPBF Annual General Meeting
DATELINE: 1/3/13
Make a note in your diary
Saturday 13 July 2013 from 10.00am
NUJ HQ, 308/312 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1.
Leveson, media ownership, CPBF future work.
DOWNLOAD FREEPRESS NOW
DATELINE: 26/3/10
Download Freepress in PDF, ePub or mobi format. Issue 194 now available.
MEDIA FOR ALL CONFERENCE
DATELINE: 26/3/10
Papers from the Media for All Conference
MEDIA MANIFESTO
DATELINE: 26/3/10
The media’s job is to inform and entertain us but we rely on them too to tell us what our rulers and representatives are up to. In the run-up to the Iraq war the government used spin and disinformation in the media to create panic and mislead people. The truth is coming out now, but we need stronger, more independent media to be able to scrutinise governments and make informed choices.
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Previous stories
Free Speech & Censorship
Statement of Media Professionals Meeting to Discuss the Danish Cartoons Controversy
Freedom of Expression or Hate Speech
Religion and Freedom of the Press
CPBF response to the cartoons
Cover-ups, lies and censorship
CPBF response to the cartoons
The Danish Cartoon Controversy
IFJ call for debate as cartoons cost editor his job
All the news that doesn't fit
Gagging the truth
Borris Johnson vows 'I'll go to jail to print the truth'
UK paper gagged over Aljazeera memo
Freedom of Information Blockage
FoI training from the Campaign for Freedom of information
Journalists worldwide protest Canada's news lockout
Australia gets tough on journalists
Government to consult over Freedom of Information and the PCC
A law unto itself
Community Newspaper uses FoI Act
Open the Books!
Freedom of speech - the global challenge
IFEX handbook on free expression campaigns
A message from the McLibel two
Using FoI
Freedom At Last?
Congratulations
Lobbying, FoI and News International
