CLICK HERE TO ACCESS OUR NEW WEBSITE More 19/01/2011 Women In News: WAN-IFRA African Media Leadership Programme Call For Applications WAN-IFRA is pleased to invite commercial and editorial media women in Botswana, Namibia and Zambia to apply to participate in the second year of the groundbreaking Women In News (WIN) programme. More 18/01/2011 Mexico, Pakistan Most Deadly Places for Journalists in 2010 Sixty-six journalists and other media workers were killed world-wide because of their professional activities in 2010, with Mexico and Pakistan emerging as the most deadly countries for journalists, the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) said Wednesday. More 12/01/2011 Belarus Press Crackdown Draws International Protest WAN-IFRA has protested to Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko against the detention of more than 20 journalists following demonstrations over his re-election, including a Russian reporter who was beaten and forcibly taken by riot police while on the air in a radio broadcast. More 10/01/2011 Moroccan Journalist Wins Gebran Tueni Prize Aboubakr Jamaï, the co-founder and former managing director of the weekly newspaper Le Journal Hebdomadaire and a pioneer of the independent press in Morocco, has been awarded the 2010 Gebran Tueni Award, the annual prize of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) that honours an editor or publisher from the Arab region. The award recognises Mr Jamaï's constant struggle in publishing some of the region's finest independent journalism while dealing with a monarchy that, despite promises of reform, prefers to maintain control of the Moroccan media. The award to Mr Jamai was announced Sunday, the fifth anniversary of the murder of Gebran Tueni, the Lebanese publisher who was killed by a car bomb in Beirut in 2005. More 13/12/2010 Hungarian Media Law Fuels International Concern The European Newspaper Publishers’ Association (ENPA) and the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), have expressed concern at a draft law in Hungary that would impose extensive fines against journalists and publishers if they refuse to disclose their sources or publish information deemed inappropriate by the government. More 13/12/2010 “A Band of Deceitful Liars” – Breaking the Silence on Freedom of Expression in Iran Iran may never be far from the international headlines but it is rarely Iranian journalists who have the opportunity to shape the debate. A belligerent dictator supported by an oppressive clerical regime has succeeded in insulating the country from all internal critical analysis, in the process redefining freedom of expression to mean crimes against the state. More 13/12/2010 Azerbaijan: Council of Europe Committee of Ministers Calls for Eynulla Fatullayev’s Release Members of the International Partnership Group for Azerbaijan, which includes WAN-IFRA, are deeply concerned by the Azerbaijani government’s failure to comply with the European Court of Human Rights’ judgment in the case of imprisoned Azerbaijani journalist Eynulla Fatullayev. These international organisations welcome the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers’ recent decision in Fatullayev’s case and call on the Azerbaijani government to mark International Human Rights Day by immediately and unconditionally releasing Fatullayev from prison. More 10/12/2010 WAN-IFRA Promotes Responsible Investment in Media The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) is working to increase the social investment base for newspapers in developing markets and contribute to the economic viability and independence of free media around the world. More 02/12/2010 Fatullayev’s Fate Lies With The Council Of Europe Committee Of Ministers The Committee of Ministers’ Deputies are set to discuss the case of imprisoned Azerbaijani journalist Eynulla Fatullayev, who remains in jail despite a European Court of Human Rights judgment on 22 April ordering the Azerbaijani government to release him immediately. More 30/11/2010 Press Groups Protest Against Arrest of German Journalists in Iran The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) and the World Editors Forum, together with the European Newspaper Publishers' Association (ENPA), have called on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to release two German journalists who were arrested while interviewing the son of a woman condemned to death by stoning. More 30/11/2010 One Year After Philippines Massacre, World’s Press Condemns Impunity For Killers One year after the murders of 57 people, including 32 journalists and media workers in the Philippines, more than 100 suspects remain at large as the culture of impunity continues to erode justice in the country, WAN-IFRA said on the anniversary of the attack. More 23/11/2010 International Partnership Meeting Statement: Philippines International freedom of expression groups, media support and development organisations and journalists’ unions are calling on the Philippines Government to take urgent and concrete steps to respond and act on human rights abuses that continue to plague journalists and media workers operating in the country. More 23/11/2010 Spate of Journalist Arrests in Zimbabwe Raises Concerns WAN-IFRA and the World Editors Forum have protested against the latest series of journalist arrests in Zimbabwe and have condemned the increasing climate of intimidation for the country’s critical media. More 19/11/2010 Free Dawit Isaak - Take Action Today Dawit Isaak, a journalist with dual Eritrean-Swedish citizenship and one of the founders of Eritrea's first independent newspaper, Setit, was arrested and imprisoned without charge in September 2001 as part of a crackdown against the independent media. His whereabouts remain unknown to this day. In October 2010, Mr Isaak was awarded the WAN-IFRA Golden Pen of Freedom. Download and publish our exclusive materials and join the worldwide campaign to Free Dawit Isaak. More 18/11/2010 Five Years Past WSIS, Online Activity Even More Censored in Tunisia The International Freedom of Expression Exchange Tunisia Monitoring Group (IFEX-TMG), a coalition of 20 IFEX members including WAN-IFRA, is deeply concerned that five years after hosting the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), Tunisia remains one of the most repressive countries for independent journalists, bloggers and human rights defenders. Access to the Internet is heavily censored, independent websites are blocked or hacked, and emails and phone calls are intercepted. More 17/11/2010 International Partnership For Yemen Reports On Critical Press Freedom Situation A coalition of international press freedom and human rights organisations, including WAN-IFRA, have called on the government of Yemen "to end the practice of extrajudicial trials for journalists" following a hearing for Saba news agency reporter Abdul Ilah Hayder Shae, who is being held in military detention for his work covering Al-Qaeda. More 16/11/2010 WAN-IFRA Concerned by Freedom of Expression Violations in Azerbaijan Nine international organisations, including WAN-IFRA, have condemned the Azerbaijani government’s failure to comply with its international obligations to freedom of expression during the period surrounding the 7 November parliamentary elections.  More 11/11/2010 WAN-IFRA calls for the protection of journalists and an end to impunity in Russia WAN-IFRA calls on Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to ensure that widespread attacks on journalists are aggressively prosecuted following the attempted murder of newspaper reporter Oleg Kashin. More 09/11/2010 Continuous Persecution of Independent Judges in Tunisia Impacts on Freedom of Expression On the eve of the International Association of Judges (IAJ) Congress in Dakar, Senegal, the International Freedom of Expression Exchange Tunisia Monitoring Group (IFEX-TMG), of which WAN-IFRA is an active member, reiterates its deep concern about the continuous persecution of independent judges in Tunisia and its resulting impact on freedom of expression. More 02/11/2010 2011 WAN-IFRA Golden Pen of Freedom Awarded to Dawit Isaak Dawit Isaak, a founder of Eritrea’s first independent newspaper who has been imprisoned for the past nine years without charge or trial, has been awarded the 2011 Golden Pen of Freedom, the annual press freedom prize of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA). Mr Isaak, who has dual Eritrean-Swedish citizenship, was imprisoned following a September 2001 suppression of the independent media in Eritrea, one of the worst countries in the world for press freedom. The country has no private newspapers, radio or television stations. More 27/10/2010 2010 WAN-IFRA Press Freedom Film WAN-IFRA is committed to defending and promoting a free and independent press worldwide. A free press is the guardian of the right to freedom of expression for millions of people across the globe, but for billions more this basic right is denied, meaning their voices often go unheard. This film is a snapshot of their struggle. More 25/10/2010 Azerbaijan: Free Expression under Attack Ahead of Azerbaijan’s upcoming Parliamentary elections, nine organisations are launching a new report titled Free Expression under Attack: Azerbaijan’s Deteriorating Media Environment. The report findings come out of a joint freedom of expression mission to the country in September 2010 and highlight the Azerbaijani government’s failure to comply with its international commitments to promote and protect freedom of expression.  More 22/10/2010 WAN-IFRA Calls for Release of Indonesian Editor The member groups of the Coordinating Committee of Press Freedom Organisations, including WAN-IFRA, express their deep concern over the continued persecution in Indonesia of Erwin Arnada, who was the editor of the Indonesian edition of Playboy magazine, which has not been published since 2007, over charges that two courts had ruled to be unfounded. More 21/10/2010 UNESCO Indefinitely Suspends Obiang Prize The UNESCO executive board decision to suspend indefinitely the Obiang Prize has been welcomed by press freedom and human rights organisations around the world. More 20/10/2010 World's Press Condemns Attacks Against Independent Egyptian Media WAN-IFRA has condemned the recent spate of attacks against the independent press in Egypt ahead of the forthcoming parliamentary and 2011 presidential elections. It calls on President Hosni Mubarak to ensure that the press is able to report free from government pressure. More 14/10/2010 WAN-IFRA Concerned by Ongoing Media Oppression in Kurdistan In a letter sent to the President of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government, Massoud Barzani, WAN-IFRA has expressed serious concern at a developing pattern of media oppression and intimidation that has seen the murder of journalists and impunity for the perpetrators. More 12/10/2010 WAN-IFRA and 23 IFEX members express concern about proposed law that threatens media freedom in Bolivia In an open letter to the president of the Bolivian legislature, WAN-IFRA and 23 fellow IFEX members expressed concern over two articles in the proposed Law against Racism and All Forms of Discrimination. More 08/10/2010 Press Freedom Under Attack Around the World At least 56 journalists have been killed in the first eight and a half months of  2010, and media employees worldwide continue to face physical violence and persecution of all kinds, whether from public officials, criminals or terrorists, WAN-IFRA has said in its annual review of press freedom. More 07/10/2010 2010 WAN-IFRA Golden Pen of Freedom Awarded to Ahmad Zeid-Abadi Iranian journalist Ahmad Zeid-Abadi, who is currently serving a six-year prison sentence, was honoured during a ceremony at the opening of the World Editors Forum in Hamburg, Germany, for "his courageous actions in the face of persecution and for his outstanding contribution to the defence and promotion of press freedom." Mr Zeid-Abadi was among at least 110 journalists arrested following the disputed re-election of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in June 2009. At least 23 remain behind bars, about a fifth of all journalists imprisoned worldwide. More 06/10/2010 Akbar Ganji’s Speech On the Occasion of Ahmad Zeidabadi Receiving The Golden Pen of Freedom Award 2010 Leading Iranian investigative journalist and 2006 WAN-IFRA Golden Pen of Freedom laureate, Akbar Ganji, accepted the 2010 award on behalf of his friend and fellow journalist, Ahmad Zeidabadi, who is currently serving a six-year prison sentence in Iran. In a powerful speech delivered at the opening ceremony of the 17th World Editors Forum in Hamburg, Germany, Mr Ganji praised Mr Zeidabadi's commitment to peace and condemned the regime for suppressing freedom of speech inside the country. More 06/10/2010 WAN-IFRA Board Endorses Press Freedom Resolutions Meeting in Hamburg, Germany, on 4 October, the Board of WAN-IFRA endorsed press freedom resolutions relating to Africa, Iran, Bahrain, Argentina and South Africa. More 04/10/2010 Repealing Insult Laws and Criminal Defamation Across Africa The Board of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), meeting in Hamburg, Germany, on 4 October 2010, calls on African governments to immediately repeal insult and criminal defamation laws to ensure a free, strong and independent press is permitted a central role safeguarding accountable and effective democratic governance across the continent. More 04/10/2010 Iran The Board of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), meeting in Hamburg, Germany, on 4 October 2010, calls on the Iranian government to immediately release all imprisoned journalists and writers and cease the repression of free expression and press freedom in the country. More 04/10/2010 Bahrain The Board of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), meeting in Hamburg, Germany, on 4 October 2010, urges the Bahraini government to take all necessary steps to reverse the ongoing crackdown against freedom of expression in the country. More 04/10/2010 Argentina The Board of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), meeting in Hamburg, Germany, on 4 October 2010, calls on Argentine President Cristina Kirchner to ensure that the government reverse recent actions that undermine the free and independent press in Argentina. More 04/10/2010 South Africa The Board of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), meeting in Hamburg, Germany, on 4 October 2010, calls on President Jacob Zuma of the Republic of South Africa to immediately withdraw the Protection of Information Bill and to bring South African media laws in line with the highest international standards. More 04/10/2010 Brick by Brick, The Great Firewall Extends WAN-IFRA presents the latest in an exclusive series of monthly cartoons by Michel Cambon satirizing the enemies of press freedom. More 01/10/2010 World’s Press Calls For Further Investigation into Ukraine Murder WAN-IFRA and the World Editors Forum have urged Ukrainian authorities to extend investigations into the murder of journalist Georgy Gongadze after recent developments in the case. More 01/10/2010 33 IFEX Members Condemn Excessive Prison Sentence Handed Down to Blogger Hossein Derakhshan WAN-IFRA, along with 32 other IFEX members have condemned the 19-year prison sentence handed down to Iranian blogger Hossein Derakhshan. More 01/10/2010 Georgian Media Seek Revenue Sustainability in EU-supported programme The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) have just completed the third session of a business development course for Georgian media, under a programme funded by the European Union to strengthen the financial independence of media in the country. More 29/09/2010 Vietnam Media Partnership Expands to Business Training Vietnamese media managers are attending two cutting-edge training courses this week on how to run successful newsrooms and media businesses, as part of a new partnership between the Vietnam Journalists Association (VJA) and WAN-IFRA. More 23/09/2010 Georgian Media Adapts to Meet Changing Audience Demands The Creating and Developing New Media Platforms workshop of the EU-funded Media Strengthening Program for Georgia began with a session looking at Media Strategy, bringing Georgian media leaders together to discover ways of harnessing and embracing the demands and opportunities of a new media environment. Methods designed to reduce costs and create new revenue generating opportunities by producing content for the portable, personalised and participatory media landscape are seen as the future across all media platforms. More 23/09/2010 'Women in News' in Full Swing Women in News (WIN), a groundbreaking initiative from WAN-IFRA that helps female media professionals advance their careers, will see participants from Zambia, Namibia and Botswana meet in Johannesburg, South Africa, next week as the programme reaches its half-way point. More 22/09/2010 WAN-IFRA Condemns Attacks Against Journalists in Uganda WAN-IFRA and the World Editors Forum have condemned a series of attacks on journalists in Uganda, and called on the government to ensure that journalists can carry out their jobs without fear or intimidation.  More 22/09/2010 Press Groups Welcome European Court Ruling on Protection of Sources The European Newspaper Publishers' Association (ENPA), together with WAN-IFRA and the World Editors Forum, have welcomed the landmark ruling of the European Court of Human Rights concerning the protection of journalistic sources. More 21/09/2010 A Newsday for Zimbabwe In early June, the new independent Zimbabwean daily Newsday was finally granted a publishing license by the government after two long years in waiting. WAN-IFRA spoke to assistant editor Norah Spie about the paper, the current state of media affairs, and how she sees the future for her country. More 15/09/2010 Judges who call for independent judiciary targeted for speaking out Members of the IFEX-TMG have written to the International Association of Judges (IAJ) to appeal for support for judges in Tunisia, who are being persecuted for openly calling for judicial independence or for criticising the government.  More 15/09/2010 WAN-IFRA and 30 fellow IFEX members call on President Kabila to end persecution and harassment of journalists and media In a joint letter to President Joseph Kabila, WAN-IFRA and 30 fellow IFEX members expressed their concern at the declining situation for the media throughout the Democratic Republic of Congo and called on him to ensure the safety of journalists and guarantee press freeedom in the country. More 14/09/2010 Capturing a Common Language: Photography and the ANDP For communication to take place, a common language is generally a prerequisite. For the Danish consultants and Algerian photographers and editors brought together for a workshop in Algiers in August, communication occurred through the intermediary of a translator. But they all still had a common language. The visual language of photography. More 13/09/2010 International Partnership Group freedom of expression mission to Azerbaijan As journalists, bloggers and activists in Azerbaijan face serious and widespread systemic challenges and are forced to carry out their work in a climate of endemic impunity and under persistent pressure from the authorities, the International Partnership Group for Azerbaijan conducted a three-day freedom of expression mission to the country between 7-9 September. More 10/09/2010 Zimbabwe Editors Assess New Ways of Working Representatives from Zimbabwe’s independent, state and community media have taken part in a unique workshop aimed at equipping the country’s media leaders with the skills needed to produce content for multiple devices.  More 06/09/2010 Freedom Of Expression And An Independent Media Essential To Ensuring Fair Elections in Azerbaijan The International Partnership Group for Azerbaijan that includes WAN-IFRA is launching a three-day freedom of expression mission to Azerbaijan today, during which ten international non-governmental organisations will highlight their serious concerns regarding the freedom of expression situation in the country, which has been unfolding with little attention from the international media spotlight. More 06/09/2010 African Press Freedom Advocates Fight Criminal Defamation Laws Africa's leading press freedom advocates met in Kenya this week to support the Declaration of Table Mountain, a freedom of expression campaign organised by WAN-IFRA to repeal criminal defamation and insult laws across the continent. More 03/09/2010 WAN-IFRA Joins IFEX Members to Appeal for Charges to be Dropped Against Prominent Egyptian Human Rights Activists and Blogger WAN-IFRA, along with 34 fellow IFEX members, regional and international legal and human rights organisations, have launched a joint appeal for charges to be dropped against prominent human rights activists Gamal Eid, director of the Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), Ahmad Saif al-Islam, founder of Hisham Mubarak Law Centre (HMLC), as well as blogger Amr Gharbeia. More 02/09/2010 WAN-IFRA Concerned by Proposed Changes to South African Media Laws WAN-IFRA has expressed concern over the implications of a proposed Protection of Information Bill currently before the South African parliament. More 24/08/2010 A Treatment for the Press in Tunisia WAN-IFRA presents the latest in an exclusive series of monthly cartoons by Michel Cambon satirizing the enemies of press freedom. Click on the image, download and publish for free. More 28/07/2010 WAN-IFRA and Vietnam Journalists Association Launch Media Convergence Project Vietnamese media managers today begin the country¹s first training course on how to set up converged multimedia content newsrooms to produce news for multiple devices. More 26/07/2010 The Rory Peck Awards - Call for Entries The Rory Peck Awards is the only awards competition that celebrates the work of freelance news and current affairs camera operators around the world. The closing date for this year's awards is Monday 6 September. More 23/07/2010 IFEX-TMG appeals to Tunisia's partners to save the life of ailing journalist in prison The International Freedom of Expression Exchange Tunisia Monitoring Group (IFEX-TMG), a coalition of 20 IFEX members, strongly condemns the arrest of journalist Fahem Boukaddous, who is in poor health, and calls on Tunisia's partners to speak out to help save his life. More 19/07/2010 WAN-IFRA Pays Tribute to Deceased Golden Pen of Freedom Laureate, Pius Njawé One of the African continent’s leading press freedom advocates, Cameroonian journalist, editor and publisher Pius Njawé, was killed in a traffic accident on Tuesday 13 July while in the United States. More 13/07/2010 Let my life be the price to be paid for freedom and democracy An open letter from journalist Fahem Boukaddous, who is being treated at Farhat Hached Hospital in Sousse, Tunisia. His concern that the police could drag him at any moment from hospital to a filthy and life-threatening prison cell keeps rising. More 10/07/2010 All Rhodes Lead to Highway Africa The 14th Highway Africa conference, held between 5 and 7 July 2010, brought together African journalists and media experts from across the continent for a three-day programme of seminars, workshops and panel discussions at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa. More 09/07/2010 Archbishop Desmond Tutu Endorses WAN-IFRA's Declaration of Table Mountain Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu of South Africa has endorsed the Declaration of Table Mountain, a media industry call to African heads of state to repeal insult and criminal defamation laws and place a free press higher on the political agenda. More 08/07/2010 WAN-IFRA Condemns Jail Term Handed to Fahem Boukaddous The International Freedom of Expression Exchange Tunisia Monitoring Group (IFEX-TMG), a coalition of 20 IFEX members including WAN-IFRA, strongly condemns the court ruling against journalist Fahem Boukaddous and urges the Tunisian authorities to put an end to the shameful use of the judiciary to stifle free expression. More 07/07/2010 WAN-IFRA Condemns the Murder of Rwandan Editor WAN-IFRA and the World Editors Forum have asked the President of Rwanda, Paul Kigame, to initiate an investigation into the murder of journalist Jean Leonard Rugambage and bring the murderers to justice. More 02/07/2010 Women In News is an “Opportunity of a Lifetime” WAN-IFRA’s Women In News (WIN) programme enjoyed its official launch in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 1 and 2 July. The long awaited event, made possible by the funding of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), brought together 14 participants, representing media women from Botswana, Namibia and Zambia; two international career coaches; four national mentors; advisors and organisers to meet, network, and kick off the six-month programme with lively discussions, one-on-one coaching sessions, a newspaper tour, a management workshop, and more. More 02/07/2010 Dan Viet Set to Launch Modern, Re-designed Website Vietnamese online media is undergoing a revitalisation. Motivated by an increased liberalisation of the media and an interest in adopting the functionality and design of large global news websites, Dan Viet - the online arm of Nong Thon focusing on rural news and agriculture - has been reborn. More 30/06/2010 WAN-IFRA Joins Call on Moroccan Government to Stop Politically-Motivated Prosecutions of Journalists Sixty-eight human rights organisations and civil society groups, including WAN-IFRA, expressed concern about recent cases of politically-motivated attacks against Moroccan journalists for their critical reporting. More 28/06/2010 Arab Newspaper Development Programme - Phase II Launched After two months of negotiating a new deal, the second phase of the Arab Newspaper Development Programme was finally launched at a first meeting of the ANDPII team in Beirut to coincide with the 4th Arab Free Press Forum held in early June 2010. More 25/06/2010 TMG Condemns Adoption of New Law against Government Critics in Tunisia The International Freedom of Expression Exchange Tunisia Monitoring Group (IFEX-TMG), a coalition of 20 IFEX members including WAN-IFRA, condemns the adoption by the Tunisian Chamber of Deputies on 15 June of a new law hastily tailored to stifle freedom of expression both inside and outside Tunisia and to threaten government critics with heavy jail sentences.  More 18/06/2010 WAN-IFRA Condemns Sentencing of Moroccan Newspaper Director WAN-IFRA and the World Editor’s Forum have condemned a six-month jail sentence handed down to Moroccan journalist and editor, Taoufik Bouachrine, and have called on Moroccan authorities to overturn the sentence. More 16/06/2010 Global Coordinating Committee Repudiates Order for Arrest of Journalist Guillermo Zuloaga The Global Coordinating Committee of Press Freedom Organisations meeting in Paris on 14 June unanimously agreed to condemn the order for the arrest of journalist Guillermo Zuloaga, president of the Venezuelan television network Globovisión, and his son, Guillermo Zuloaga Siso. More 14/06/2010 The Power Seat WAN-IFRA presents the latest in an exclusive series of monthly cartoons by Michel Cambon satirizing the enemies of press freedom. Click on the image, download and publish for free. More 09/06/2010 World's Press Calls for Freedom for Jailed Iranian Journalists WAN-IFRA has called on the Iranian government to immediately release all imprisoned journalists and writers and end its repression of press freedom and free expression in the country. More 07/06/2010 WAN-IFRA's 4th Arab Free Press Forum Arab Governments and Free Press: All Talk, No Action. More 06/06/2010 IFEX Members Call on UNESCO to Reject Donations from Equitorial Guinea Recalling UNESCO's stated commitment to free expression on World Press Freedom Day, 30 IFEX members have called on the organisation not to accept a $3 million donation from President Teodoro Obiang for the administration of an international prize in life sciences. More 21/05/2010 WAN-IFRA Condemns Murder of Journalist in Iraqi Kurdistan WAN-IFRA and the World Editors Forum have condemned the murder of journalist Sardasht Osman in Iraqi Kurdistan. More 19/05/2010 Professionnalisation et dépénalisation : le combat du journaliste rwandais Albert-Baudouin Twizeyimana Seize ans après, la mémoire collective est encore marquée par l’horreur des centaines de milliers de victimes du génocide perpétré contre les Tutsi. Comme tant d’autres Albert-Baudouin Twizeyimana a été à la fois le témoin impuissant et la victime des déferlements de haine qui ont déchiré le pays, haine à laquelle certains journalistes ne furent pas étrangers. A 42 ans, le journaliste, à l’origine du lancement le 2 mai dernier de l’association JOLI (Journalistes Libres), entend rendre à la profession ses lettres de noblesse, étape essentielle pour apaiser les tensions entre les journalistes et leurs détracteurs. More 19/05/2010 Statement on the Media Situation in the Kyrgyz Republic International media development, freedom of expression, democracy and Human Rights organisations note the historic opportunity for building a strong and vibrant media environment in the Kyrgyz Republic, whilst also expressing concerns about the unstable situation for journalists and media outlets. More 10/05/2010 WAN-IFRA Warns Against 'Soviet-Style' Censorship in Russia WAN-IFRA and the World Editors Forum have condemned proposed legislation in Russia that "would effectively reintroduce Soviet-style censorship", and have called on President Dmitry Medvedev to reject it. More 06/05/2010 Lancement d’une association de promotion de la liberté de la presse au Rwanda A la veille de la Journée mondiale de la liberté de la presse, traditionnellement observée le 3 mai, l'Association mondiale des journaux et des éditeurs de médias d'information (WAN-IFRA) apporte son soutien au lancement d'une association de défense de la liberté de la presse au Rwanda. Baptisée JOLI, pour Journalistes Libres, celle-ci s'est donné pour objectif de lutter pour la « promotion et la protection de la liberté de la presse au Rwanda ». More 03/05/2010 3 May: They said to stay home but I couldn't - An interview with exiled Iranian journalist Ehsan Maleki Born in 1980 and educated at the University of Art in Tehran, Ehsan Maleki is an Iranian photojournalist who was arrested and forced to flee his country in the aftermath of the disputed 2009 June elections.  Working for the SIPA news agency, he was advised to stay at home after the Iranian government banned the reporting of post election protests, but his passion for photography and a desire to capture this moment in his country's history saw him ignore the pleas from his editors and take to the street. More 03/05/2010 The courage of clandestine video journalists Kavi Chongkittavorn is a respected journalist and current chair of the Southeast Asian Press Alliance in Bangkok. With more than twenty years experience reporting on human rights and press freedom issues in Southeast Asia, he writes on the everyday struggles of clandestine journalists who dare to report the news in countries afflicted by censorship. Using new media technologies such as camera phones, these brave journalists bring the news to the outside world. On World Press Freedom Day, 2010, Kavi writes exclusively for WAN-IFRA. More 03/05/2010 WAN-IFRA Welcomes the Release of Tunisian Journalist Taoufik Ben Brik WAN-IFRA has welcomed the release of Tunisian journalist Taoufik Ben Brik, but reiterates its call for the Tunisian government to free all journalists held in detention because of their work and to respect international commitments to freedom of expression. More 28/04/2010 TMG welcomes release of journalist Ben Brik but condemns policy of punishing critical journalists While members of the Tunisia Monitoring Group (TMG) welcome Taoufik Ben Brik's release from prison today, the press freedom coalition condemns the charges against journalist Fahem Boukadous as a political manoeuvre whose true aim is to silence criticism of Tunisian authorities. More 28/04/2010 WAN-IFRA Condemns Death of Cameroonian Journalist While in Custody WAN-IFRA and the World Editors Forum have condemned the death on 22 April of journalist Germain S. Ngota Ngota while in custody at Kondengui prison, Yaoundé. More 28/04/2010 WAN-IFRA Condemns Murder of Three Journalists in Nigeria The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) and the World Editors Forum have condemned two separate violent attacks that have claimed the lives of three journalists in Nigeria. More 28/04/2010 WAN-IFRA Condemns Proposed Media Law in Fiji WAN-IFRA has condemned a proposed media law in the Pacific nation of Fiji that threatens journalists with prison sentences and fines and seeks to limit foreign ownership of media companies. More 26/04/2010 WAN-IFRA Condemns Suspension of Newspapers in Rwanda WAN-IFRA has condemned the six-month suspensions imposed on two newspapers in Rwanda and have called on President Paul Kigame to overturn the decision. More 22/04/2010 WAN-IFRA Condemns Attacks Against Newspaper in Ukraine WAN-IFRA and the World Editors Forum have condemned a series of attacks against the staff and management of Express newspaper in Ukraine. More 21/04/2010 TMG calls for end to harassment of journalists in Tunisia The Tunisia Monitoring Group (TMG), a coalition of 20 members of the International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX) - the global network of free expression campaigners - has received reports of further harassment of Tunisian journalists. More 09/04/2010 Riding Roughshod over Press Freedom WAN-IFRA presents the first in an exclusive series of monthly cartoons by Michel Cambon satirizing the enemies of press freedom. Click on the image, download and publish for free. More 08/04/2010 WAN-IFRA Condemns Journalist Murders in Honduras WAN-IFRA and the World Editors Forum have condemned the killing of five journalists in four separate attacks that took place during March in Honduras. More 06/04/2010 World's Press Condemns Threat To Independent Reporting In Estonia The leading global and European press and journalist organisations today called on EU-member Estonia to drop a proposal that would force journalists to reveal their sources, saying the move "poses a serious threat to freedomof the press." More 30/03/2010 Joint Action on Freedom of Expression in Bahrain Thirty-one IFEX members and 22 other organisations signed a joint letter to Navanethem Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, about ongoing violations of freedom of expression in Bahrain. More 29/03/2010 40 IFEX Members Reject Defamation of Religions Resolutions In a joint submission to the UN Human Rights Council, 40 IFEX members protest resolutions on defamation of religion and the proposed elaboration of complementary standards to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD). More 29/03/2010 WAN-IFRA Pays Tribute to Pro-Democracy Writer Veteran Burmese pro-democracy activist, prominent journalist and writer U Win Tin celebrated his 80th birthday on 12 March in characteristically defiant mood. More 25/03/2010 Free Journalists, Writers and Bloggers Held in Iran More 24/03/2010 WAN-IFRA Protests Over Wave of Attacks on Journalists in Cameroon WAN-IFRA wrote to Paul Biya, President of Cameroon, to protest over the recent series of attacks on journalists and called on the government to  immediately release all journalists imprisoned for carrying out their job and to cease all forms of intimidation. More 17/03/2010 WAN-IFRA Condemns Libel Judgement in Liberia WAN-IFRA has condemned the recent libel awards against newspapers the New Democrat and FrontPage Africa in Liberia. More 17/03/2010 Media in Danger: WAN-IFRA Condemns Abduction of Mexican Journalists WAN-IFRA has condemned a series of abductions involving journalists in the Mexican border region of Reynosa. More 12/03/2010 WAN-IFRA Concerned About Sanctions Against Kazakh Weekly In a letter to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, WAN-IFRA expressed its serious concern at the imposition of a harsh award of damages and a ban on distribution of weekly newspaper Respublika. More 12/03/2010 WAN-IFRA Women in News Programme Call for Applications: Women working in middle and senior management positions at newspapers in Botswana, Namibia and Zambia are invited to apply for the "Women In News" (WIN) training programme, organised by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA). More 11/03/2010 WAN-IFRA and IASN Welcome Release of Kidnapped Journalists in Nigeria WAN-IFRA and the International Association of Sports Newspapers (IASN) have welcomed the release of two sports journalists being held hostage in Nigeria. More 09/03/2010 WAN-IFRA Condemns Detention of Iranian Journalists The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) has condemned the continued imprisonment of Iranian journalist Emad Baghi and the repressive measures employed by the state to silence critical publications. More 09/03/2010 TMG appeals to the UN to raise concerns about the ongoing violations of women's rights To mark the occasion of 8 March 2010, International Women's Day, members of the Tunisia Monitoring Group (TMG), and members of the IFEX Gender Working Group appealed to the UN to raise concerns about the on-going violations of women's rights in Tunisia. More 08/03/2010 TMG calls for release of Tunisian journalist Taoufik Ben Brik The Tunisia Monitoring Group (TMG) has voiced new concern for the health of jailed Tunisian journalist Taoufik Ben Brik, one of President Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali's firmest critics. More 01/03/2010 WAN-IFRA Condemns Sentencing of Rwandan Journalists WAN-IFRA has condemned the sentencing in Rwanda of three journalists on charges of invasion of privacy. More 25/02/2010 Refuser le silence Agnès Tailé est une jeune journaliste camerounaise qui, en 2009, a reçu le « prix  du courage en journalisme » décerné par la Fondation internationale des femmes dans les médias (IWMF). Elle a bien voulu accorder une interview à la WAN-IFRA afin de faire part de son expérience et de sa réflexion sur une liberté de la presse au Cameroun. More 24/02/2010 Supporting Press Freedom Through the Courts London-based Media Legal Defence Initiative, (MLDI), works around the world providing legal support to journalists and media outlets seeking to protect their right to freedom of expression. More 23/02/2010 WAN-IFRA Condemns Prosecution of Nigerian Publisher WAN-IFRA has condemned the prosecution in Nigeria of editor and publisher Mallam Tukur and called on the government to decriminalise libel as a matter of urgency. More 18/02/2010 WAN-IFRA Condemns Killing of Yemeni Journalist WAN-IFRA has condemned the murder of journalist Shu'i Al-Rabu'I in Yemen and called on the government to quickly investigate and prosecute the case. More 17/02/2010 WAN-IFRA Condemns the Closure of Moroccan Weekly WAN-IFRA has condemned the closure of the Moroccan newsmagazine Le Journal Hebdomadaire and the apparent use of the judicial system to silence an independent publication. More 11/02/2010 The 4th Arab Free Press Forum, 6-7 June Beirut, Lebanon, will host the 4th Arab Free Press Forum in the first of a series of exceptional events planned for the city this coming June. Organized by WAN-IFRA, this year’s edition of the Arab Free Press Forum will be held in the build up to the 63rd World Newspaper Congress and 17th World Editors Forum. More 04/02/2010 World’s Press Condemns Sentencing of Burmese Journalists WAN-IFRA has condemned the sentencing of two Burmese journalists to long prison terms and called on the country's military junta to immediately release them and end its continuing attacks on the media. More 03/02/2010 Publishing Groups Call on France to Pressure Tunisia on Press Freedom The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) and the International Publishers Association have called on the French Foreign Affairs Minister, Bernard Kouchner, to monitor press freedom violations in Tunisia More 27/01/2010 WAN-IFRA Concerned About Sentencing of Two Yemeni Journalists WAN-IFRA wrote to President Ali Abdullah Saleh to express its most serious concern at the recent arrests and sentencing of journalists Moaz Al-Ashihabi and Anisa Othman. More 22/01/2010 WAN-IFRA Concerned About Proposed Deportation of Jared Malsin WAN-IFRA wrote to the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, to express serious concern at the detention and proposed deportation of journalist Jared Malsin. More 20/01/2010 TMG Calls on European Parliament to Help End Tunisian Government's War on Free Expression The Tunisia Monitoring Group (TMG), a coalition counting 20 member organisations, including WAN-IFRA, welcomes the European Parliament's public debate on the situation in Tunisia on 20 January. TMG members hope the debate will send a strong message to the Tunisian government to end its unrelenting war on freedom of expression. More 13/01/2010 WAN-IFRA Condemns Murder of Togolese Sports Journalist WAN-IFRA wrote to the President of Angola, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, to express its grave concern at the murder of Togolese sports journalist Stanislas Ocloo. More 12/01/2010 Publishing Groups Condemn Murder of Cypriot Media Executive The Cyprus Newspaper & Magazines Publishers Association, ENPA - the European Newspaper Publishers’ Association - and WAN-IFRA strongly condemn the assassination of Andy Hadjicostis, Managing Director of Dias Media Group in Cyprus. More 12/01/2010 WAN-IFRA Calls on the Iranian Government to End its Crackdown on Media WAN-IFRA called on the Iranian government to immediately release all jailed journalists and end its crackdown on the media that began after the disputed 2009 election. More 11/01/2010 WAN-IFRA Protests Sentencing to 20 Years in Jail of Burmese Journalist WAN-IFRA wrote to Sr. Gen. Than Shwe to express serious concern at the sentencing to 20 years in jail of journalist Hla Hla Win. More 07/01/2010 WAN-IFRA Condemns Murder of Bulgarian Journalist WAN-IFRA wrote to the President of Bulgaria, Georgi Parvanov, to express grave concern at the murder of journalist Bobi Tsankov. More 07/01/2010 WAN-IFRA Protests Arrest of Iranian Journalists WAN-IFRA wrote to President Ahmadinejad to express concern at the arrest of at least 11 journalists in late December and the continued detention of more than 20 others. More 05/01/2010 WAN-IFRA Concerned About Possible Withdrawal of Blik's Licence WAN-IFRA wrote to the President of Ukraine, Viktor Yuschenko, to express concern about the possible withdrawal of the licence of the newspaper Blik, and possible criminal sanctions against its editor-in-chief. More 24/12/2009 WAN-IFRA Condemns Murder of Turkish Editor WAN-IFRA wrote to the Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to express its grave concern at the murder of newspaper editor Cihan Hayirsevener. More 23/12/2009 Interview with Shorena Shaverdashvili, Publisher and Editor of Georgian Weekly Liberali Shorena Shaverdashvili, publisher and editor of Georgian weekly Liberali, has set up a mission for her magazine to provide in-depth coverage of the most pressing issues in the Georgian society. More 18/12/2009 WAN-IFRA Protests over Prior Censorship in Brazil WAN-IFRA wrote to the President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, to express its grave concern at the Supreme Court’s upholding of a lower court ruling permitting prior censorship. More 18/12/2009 Imprisoned Iranian Journalist Awarded 2010 Golden Pen of Freedom Ahmad Zeid-Abadi, an Iranian journalist and political analyst who was imprisoned following Iran's disputed presidential election in June, has been awarded the 2010 Golden Pen of Freedom, the annual press freedom prize of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA). More 17/12/2009 Iraqi Kurdistan Journalist Receives Gebran Tueni Award Asos Hardi, the Editor in Chief and founder of the Awene newspaper in Iraqi Kurdistan, has been awarded the 2009 Gebran Tueni Award, the annual prize of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) that honours an editor or publisher from the Arab region. More 12/12/2009 WAN-IFRA Protests Intimidation of Journalists in Georgia WAN-IFRA wrote to the President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, to express serious concern at reported attempts by the special services to blackmail and intimidate investigative journalist Tedo Jorbenadze. More 04/12/2009 Pakistani Editor Awarded 2009 Golden Pen of Freedom Najam Sethi, Editor-in-Chief of Friday Times in Pakistan, has been awarded the 2009 Golden Pen of Freedom, the annual press freedom prize of the World Association of Newspapers. Mr Sethi, whose newspaper advocates liberal and secular ideas in a country too-often torn by religious extremism, was honoured for his outstanding defence and promotion of press freedom under difficult circumstances and constant personal danger. More 01/12/2009 Free Press: What Good Is a Mission Without a Business? Trevor Ncube, Ahmed Benchemsi and Najam Sethi answered WAN-IFRA's questions following the annual press freedom round table held on 30 November in Hyderabad, India. More 01/12/2009 World Review, June - December 2009 More than 750 journalists have been murdered over the past decade and at least 88 have been killed since the beginning of 2009. Hundreds of media employees have been arrested this year, and at least 170 remain in jail today, most often following sham trials with many imprisoned without charges at all. More 01/12/2009 WAN-IFRA Board Issues 7 Press Freedom Resolutions The Board of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers, meeting in Hyderabad, India, on 30 November 2009, issued 7 press freedom resolutions calling on the authorities in The Philippines, Turkey, Cuba, Pakistan, China, Yemen and Russia to uphold press freedom.  More 30/11/2009 WAN-IFRA Calls for Protection of Sources in Europe WAN-IFRA joined major media and press freedom organisations in urging the European Court of Human Rights to affirm high levels of protection of journalists and their sources. More 30/11/2009 Report on 2009 WAN-IFRA Press Freedom Mission to Georgia The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers conducted a two-day press freedom mission to Georgia, on 21 and 22 September 2009.  More 30/11/2009 Report on 2009 WAN-IFRA Press Freedom Mission to Azerbaijan The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers conducted a three-day press freedom mission to Azerbaijan, from 22 to 24 September 2009.  More 30/11/2009 Forty-seven IFEX Members Condemn Massacre of Journalists Forty-seven IFEX members, including WAN-IFRA,condemned the problem of impunity in the Philippines, and appealed for justice in the horrible massacre of a reported 28 journalists. More 27/11/2009 World’s Press Appalled by the Massacre of Journalists in Philippines WAN-IFRA expressed absolute dismay and condemnation of the horrific massacre of 12 journalists, in an attack on a convoy in the southern Philippines that killed at least 46 people. More 24/11/2009 IFEX-TMG Calls for Respect of Human Rights in Tunisia Members of the Tunisia Monitoring Group (TMG), including WAN-IFRA, wrote to French Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner, to express concern over the serious violations of the rights to freedom of expression, and the Tunisian authorities' tendency to resort to censorship, intimidation and violence.  More 16/11/2009 WAN-IFRA Condemns Jailing of Journalists and Bloggers in Azerbaijan World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers and the World Editors Forum wrote to the President of Azerbaijan to to condemn and express dismay at the jailing of two video bloggers. More 13/11/2009 WAN-IFRA Protests over Criminal Charges Against a Journalist for Insult in Lebanon WAN-IFRA wrote to the President of Lebanon, Michel Suleiman, to express serious concern at criminal charges brought against a journalist for “insulting” the president.   More 13/11/2009 WAN-IFRA Protests Over Violence Against Journalists in Mexico World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers and the World Editors Forum wrote to the President of Mexico to express grave concern at the continuing impunity enjoyed by those who murder and commit violence against journalists, as well as the government’s decision to disband a special committee looking into crimes against journalists. More 09/11/2009 WAN-IFRA Protests Over Press Freedom Situation in Yemen World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers and the World Editors Forum wrote to the President of Yemen to express serious concern at the alleged torture of a journalist in prison and the sentencing to jail of two others. More 05/11/2009 World’s Press Condemns Attacks on Tunisian Journalists WAN-IFRA condemned the beating of a Tunisian journalist, allegedly by police, and the arrest of another, and called on the Tunisian authorities to abandon their campaign of intimidation against the independent press. More 30/10/2009 WAN-IFRA Condemns Harsh Crackdown on Press in Morocco Thirty-one IFEX members, including WAN-IFRA, and 24 other organisations, called on the Moroccan government to stop the current crackdown against press freedom, and condemned the recent arrests and harassment of journalists and independent press. More 23/10/2009 EU Should Provide More Support for Media Freedom On the occasion of the European Development Days, WAN-IFRA joined with the Global Forum for Media Development and other press freedom organisations in calling for stronger dedicated European Union support to media freedom in Africa. More 23/10/2009 WAN-IFRA Protests Over Prosecution of Journalists in Zambia WAN-IFRA wrote to the President of Zambia, Rupiah Banda, to express serious concern at the prosecution of The Post editor-in-chief Fred M'membe and three of his colleagues. More 22/10/2009 WAN-IFRA Concerned About Legal Norms Proposed at UN 23 IFEX members, including WAN-IFRA and other organisations raised concerns about proposed mechanisms to combat racial and religious intolerance. More 20/10/2009 WAN-IFRA Protests Over Suspended Jail Sentence for Libel in Abkhazia WAN-IFRA wrote to de facto President of Abkhazia to express concern at the suspended jail sentence awarded to journalist Anton Kriveniuk for libel. More 19/10/2009 WAN-IFRA Protests Over the Jailing of Journalists for Defamation in Azerbaijan WAN-IFRA wrote to President Aliyev to express concern at the jailing of four journalists for defamation only two weeks after the administration assured a WAN-IFRA delegation that measures were being taken to decriminalise the offence. More 12/10/2009 WAN-IFRA Protests Northern Ireland Government's Demands for Cuts to Advertising Rates WAN-IFRA and ENPA wrote to the First Minister of Northern Ireland to express serious concern at the policy applied by the Northern Ireland Government in buying and negotiating advertising rates in the regional newspaper market. More 12/10/2009 La Repubblica Editor Says Press Freedom Threatened in Italy La Repubblica is being sued for defamation by Mr Berlusconi for repeatedly publishing 10 questions asking the Prime Minister to explain his extra-marital relationships and behaviour, the subjects of widely reported public scandals this year. More 02/10/2009 International Organisations Call for Reforms of the Media in the Republic of Belarus International media and press freedom organisations, including WAN-IFRA, jointly call for reforms and the removal of restrictions on the media in the Republic of Belarus. More 25/09/2009 Burma Action Group Appeals for Release of Political Prisoners Members of the Burma Action Group (BAG), a coalition of over 20 press and rights advocacy groups, including WAN-IFRA, welcomed the release of 7,114 Burmese prisoners, among whom were four journalists and approximately 128 political prisoners. More 25/09/2009 World’s Press Calls for Greater Media Freedom in Azerbaijan WAN-IFRA called on the Government of Azerbaijan to introduce “drastic reforms” to create full media freedom in the country, as a delegation from the organisation ended a three-day mission to the capital, Baku. More 24/09/2009 WAN-IFRA Concerned at the Wake of Attacks on the Press in Uganda Thirty-one IFEX members, including WAN-IFRA, write a joint letter to President Museveni in the wake of attacks on the press in Uganda. More 17/09/2009 WAN-IFRA Protests Over a Cut in Postal Subsidies to Greenland’s Newspapers WAN-IFRA wrote to the Premier of Greenland to express concern at the cut in postal subsidies to Greenland’s newspapers, which will have a serious impact on news coverage and critical journalism in the country. More 17/09/2009 TMG Protests as Independence of Tunisian Journalists' Union Usurped The Tunisia Monitoring Group (TMG), a coalition of 20 member organisations of IFEX, including WAN-IFRA, expresses its support for the democratically elected Board of the Tunisian journalists syndicate, and vehemently denounces the use of the police and judiciary to usurp the union. More 16/09/2009 WAN-IFRA Protests over Draconian Fine Imposed on the Dogan Media Group WAN-IFRA wrote to Prime Minister of Turkey to express its serious concern at the punitive fine imposed on the Dogan Media Group. More 16/09/2009 WAN-IFRA Protests Over an Assault on Vijesti Journalists WAN-IFRA wrote to Prime Minister of Montenegro to express its serious concern at an assault on two journalists by the Mayor of Podgorica and what appears to be a pattern of abuse of the daily newspaper Vijesti and broadcaster TV Vijesti. More 19/08/2009 WAN-IFRA Protests Over Sentencing to Jail of Six Journalists in Gambia WAN-IFRA wrote to President of Gambia to express its serious concern at the sentencing to jail for two years of six journalists for criticising the president. More 11/08/2009 WAN-IFRA Protests Over a Court Ruling Prohibiting the Media from Publishing Information in Brazil WAN-IFRA wrote to the President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, to express concern at a court ruling prohibiting the media from publishing information on a police investigation into an official allegedly involved in corruption. More 10/08/2009 Lithuanian Law Outlawing Mockery Draws Protests The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers and The European Newspaper Publishers Association have called on European governments to help ensure that Lithuania respects freedom of expression and freedom of the press following approval of a law that makes it a crime to ridicule someone. More 06/08/2009 Open Letter to the President of Sri Lanka The International Press Freedom Mission to Sri Lanka, to which WAN-IFRA is a member, urges the President to consider a 11-point plan to redress the perilous press freedom environment in the country. More 16/07/2009 Concerns about proposed AU-EU Pan African Media Observatory Project Thirty-two IFEX members, including WAN-IFRA, and partners raise concerns about the proposed AU-EU Pan African Media Observatory Project, arguing it cannot lead to the realisation of the objective of advancing media development in Africa and particularly in ensuring media freedom, independence and professionalism. More 15/07/2009 WAN Deplores Iranian Press Freedom Violations The World Association of Newspapers wrote to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to express its serious concern at the jailing of at least 13 journalists and the imposition of widespread censorship following your disputed re-election last week.  More 24/06/2009 Six Journalists Released on Bail, Another Arrested The World Association of Newspapers expressed its relief after learning of the release on bail, on 22 June, of the six journalists accused of "seditious publication" and imprisoned at Mile Two jail in Banjul. At the same time, Augustine Kanjia, of the daily "The Point", was arrested. More 22/06/2009 UNESCO Urged to Continue Defending Freedom of Expression Worldwide WAN and five other organisations write to UNESCO, asking the UN body to continue acting as a defender and champion of freedom of expression worldwide. More 15/06/2009 WAN Deplores Proposed Changes to Azerbaijan NGO Law WAN and 29 other IFEX members sign on to appeal to Parliament deploring proposed changes to NGO law. More 15/06/2009 Press Freedom Under Attack Worldwide Press freedom violations including attacks on journalists continue to mount worldwide, the World Association of Newspapers said in its half-year review of global press freedom that paints a bleak picture in much of the world. More 30/05/2009 World’s Press Calls for Justice in Murder of Mexican Journalists The World Association of Newspapers has condemned a “climate of impunity” in Mexico that allows the killers of journalists to avoid prosecution, and has called on President Felipe Calderon to do more to bring the murderers to justice. More 30/05/2009 WAN Calls for the Release of 22 Imprisoned Journalists in Cuba The World Association of Newspapers wrote to President Raul Castro on the occasion of 3 May, World Press Freedom Day, to call for the 22 journalists who are currently in prison. More 03/05/2009 WAN Calls for the Release of Journalist Roxana Saberi The World Association of Newspapers wrote to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on the occasion of 3 May, World Press Freedom Day, to call for the release of journalist Roxana Saberi and all others held for exercising their right to freedom of expression, and for a full and transparent inquiry into the deaths of blogger Omidreza Mirsayafi and photojournalist Zahra Kazemi. More 03/05/2009 WAN Calls for the Release of Journalist Sayed Parwez Kambakhsh from Afghanistan The World Association of Newspapers wrote to President Hamid Karzai on the occasion of 3 May, World Press Freedom Day, to call for the release of journalist Sayed Parwez Kambakhsh and all others held in Afghanistan prisons for exercising their right to freedom of expression. More 03/05/2009 WAN Protests Inappropriate Government Funding of the Press in Portugal We are writing on behalf of the World Association of Newspapers and the World Editors Forum, which represent 18,000 publications in 102 countries, to express our serious concern at the deliberate abuse of state funding of the press by the regional government of Madeira and the consequent distortion of the newspaper market and infringement of basic rules of competition. More 23/04/2009 WAN Protests Against Attacks on Journalists Following Elections in Moldova The World Association of Newspapers (WAN) together with 34 other press freedom advocacy groups expressed concern about the degradation of the media situation in Moldova following parliamentary elections on 5 April 2009. This included the violation of the right to access information of public interest, and harassment of journalists. More 14/04/2009 World's Press Rallies to Journalists in Danger on World Press Freedom Day The World Association of Newspapers is urging publications world-wide to show their support  on World Press Freedom Day, 3 May, for journalists who put their lives in danger to get the news. More 10/04/2009 WAN Requests Release of American Journalists from North Korea The World Association of Newspapers wrote to Kim Jong-il to express serious concern at the detention of American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee, and their guide and requested their immediate release. More 31/03/2009 WAN Condemns UN Council’s Decision on Defamation of Religion The World Association of Newspapers and World Editors Forum have condemned a resolution approved by the United Nations Human Rights Council on “defamation of religion,” calling the measure an attack on the basic human right of freedom of expression. More 30/03/2009 WAN Calls for Justice for Jailed Sri Lankan Journalist The World Association of Newspapers (WAN) together with 8 other press freedom advocacy groups remain deeply worried about Sri Lankan journalist J.S. Tissainayagam's continued detention on charges of terrorism. More 09/03/2009 WAN Protests Against Turkish Fine The World Association of Newspapers and World Editors Forum today condemned an 826 million pound (381 million Euro, $490 million dollar) fine imposed on the Dogan Media Group in Turkey, calling it a  “politically motivated” response to critical reporting. More 24/02/2009 70 Journalists Killed Worldwide in 2008 Seventy journalists and other media employees were killed world-wide because of their professional activities in 2008, with the conflict in Iraq continuing to be the most deadly assignment for journalists. More 11/02/2009 Egyptian Editor Wins Gebran Tueni Award Ibrahim Essa, Editor-in-Chief of Egypt's Al Dustour newspaper, has been awarded the 2008 Gebran Tueni Award, the annual prize of the World Association of Newspapers that honours an editor or publisher in the Arab region. More 13/12/2008	­­