26 July 2009
Volume 12 - 2003 Issue 22 (3 Jun. 2003)
Turkey
Turkey may finally be on its way to joining the European Union (EU), but freedom of expression in the country is a long way from being respected, says the Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN (WiPC).
Iraq
An "historic" meeting of 20 press-freedom groups and media development organisations, including ARTICLE 19, Index on Censorship, Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the World Association of Newspapers (WAN), has resulted in a common agreement to co-ordinate efforts for rebuilding war-torn Iraq's media and supporting the development of a media policy for the country.
Indonesia
In Indonesia, the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) have raised the alarm over a series of attacks on journalists covering the military conflict in Aceh province and what they say is mounting evidence of the Indonesian military?s moves to restrict reporting there.
China
The Chinese government's continued clampdown on Internet free expression has spurred international condemnation after four men were sentenced to prison last week for 8-10 years on subversion charges. The Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) and the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) are calling for the immediate release of Xu Wei, Jin Haike, Yang Zili and Zhang Honghai, calling the verdict ridiculous and a clear breach of international human rights standards.
Venezuela
Human Rights Watch has released a report calling on the Venezuelan government to appoint a special panel to investigate attacks on journalists, saying authorities are not doing enough to stem violence against the media. "Caught in the Crossfire: Freedom of Expression in Venezuela" concludes that Venezuela's justice system is failing to identify and punish those who attack and threaten journalists.
China - Hong Kong
Freedom House, Human Rights Watch and the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) are joining forces to oppose a draft national security law many say poses grave threats to freedom of expression in Hong Kong. HKJA is visiting the United States this week as part of a delegation of leading Hong Kong pro-democracy legislators and activists who want to raise international awareness of the threats posed by the law.
While the Internet is revolutionising the way people around the world distribute, exchange and access information, it is also coming under new forms of censorship, says the Media Freedom Representative of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Identifying these new restrictions and finding suitable responses will be the focus of an international conference organised by the OSCE from 13 to 14 June.
South Africa
Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) has published two new books examining public protests in South Africa and what it calls the "crisis of accountability" confronting the country's public broadcaster.
International
Media trainers and free-expression groups around the world will want to get their hands on this - a new how-to guide for implementing effective and sustainable media development projects in conflict zones.
International
Former Indian journalist Kuldip Nayar has been honoured with the 2003 Astor Award in recognition of his defence of press freedom, the Commonwealth Press Union recently announced.
International
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) is seeking nominations for its annual Press Freedom Award honouring the work of an individual or institution who has made a significant contribution to the promotion of press freedom in southern Africa.
Somalia
June 2003
Brazil
3 June 2003