Over 40 journalist leaders met in Taipei, Taiwan over July 7-10 at an International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Asia-Pacific conference called "Media for Democracy - the Challenge in Asia".
Hosted by the IFJ's Taiwan affiliate, the Association of Taiwan Journalists, and supported by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, the meeting brought together leaders of journalists' organisations from: Australia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Thailand.
The meeting passed the following resolution:
This meeting of over 40 journalists' leaders from the International Federation of Journalists Asia-Pacific group, led by the IFJ President Christopher Warren, meeting in Taipei from 7-10 July:
RECOGNISING the mounting toll of journalists threatened and killed in the Philippines. Six journalists have been killed in the Philippines this year. 13 were killed last year bringing the total journalists' death toll since 1986 to 69;
UNDERSTANDING the importance of international solidarity for the plight of press freedom in the Philippines;
DEMANDS that Filipino journalists be allowed to fulfil their journalistic duty, free from fear of arrest or physical violence and that the relevant authorities recognise the important role that journalists play;
CALLS upon the IFJ affiliates to hold a Day of Action to stop the culture of violence that has formed towards journalists working in the Philippines;
ENDORSES the recommendations from the IFJ mission to the Philippines on the 23 January/1 February, 2005. These include:
- That the Philippines Government address the unacceptable performance of the court and judicial system in prosecuting the 66 cases of killed journalists since 1986.
- That the IFJ work with the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) to develop ongoing project support for the establishment of a safety office in the Philippines.
- That the NUJP promote and journalists use the NUJP hotline.
- That the Philippines Government closely engages in the promotion of appropriate grievance procedures for the public regarding the media.
For further information, please contact Christopher Warren on +61 411 757 668.
The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 110 countries
