Strengthening IFJ regional links in the Asia-Pacific
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:
RECOGNISES the importance of regional links between journalists' unions to foster solidarity and pride;
EXPRESSES an intention to formalise the existing network of journalists' unions in the Asia-Pacific region by establishing an IFJ Asia-Pacific Federation;
BELIEVES that the development of such a federation would allow the journalists working within the Asia-Pacific region to be better represented by their unions;
RESOLVES to engage in a consultative process over the next six months with IFJ affiliates in the region to gauge support for such a federation;
SUPPORTS the in-principle role of the IFJ Asia-Pacific Federation as:
? Fighting for the social and professional rights of journalists working in all sectors of the Asia-Pacific media;
? Assisting journalists in the region to create and maintain environments that foster independent journalism;
? Setting priorities for IFJ work in the Asia-Pacific region.
DIRECTS the IFJ Asia-Pacific office to institute a process of consultation with IFJ Asia-Pacific affiliates to determine if there is support for the formation of a federation along these lines, with a report back to the next IFJ regional meeting.
For further information, please contact Christopher Warren on +61 411 757 668.
The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 110 countries
