news about advocacy issues

Pakistan Catholic Church protests against destruction of its property

2012-01-18T11:00:00.005Z

The Catholic Church in Pakistan has issued the following press release to protest against the illegal destruction of its property in the Punjab. Further information here

Press Release

Destruction of Church Property by the Punjab Government in Lahore

The Catholic Church isagain shocked to experience the illegal capture and destruction of its propertyby the Government of the Punjab, Pakistan. This property is morethan 18 Sq. Kanals worth Hundreds of Millions of Rupees and is situated at mainAllama Iqbal Road.

The Catholic Church usedto run a Sewing Centre that used to provide sewing skills for the girls of theadjoining areas. Three Catholic families were residing in that campus. Earlier,even the Sisters of Charity of Jesus & Mary and Franciscan Tertiary Sistersof Lahore used to reside there. This property was registered in the name ofLahore Charitable Association and was being taken care by the Caritas PakistanLahore.

Not only the Catholics orother Christians but even the Muslims of the surrounding areas know that thisproperty belonged the church.

In the present days, Fr.Emmanuel Yousaf Mani (Director of National Catholic Justice & PeaceCommission, Pakistan)was dealing the court cases in this regard.

The Government of thePunjab, Pakistanlaunched this illegal action on the 10^th January 2012. They even didnot allow the residents to take their belonging out of their rooms. Normallygovernments provide safety to the people especially the minorities in everycountry. Ours is the different case. The rule in our country is “Might isRight”.

We are astonished to notethat the Pakistani media in general has not given proper reporting of thisillegal action by the Government of the Punjab, Pakistan against the minorities.They are supposed to safe guard the lives, rights, respect and the propertiesbut they themselves are Grambling and using illegal means against theminorities. We strongly condemn their lawless action.

The Catholic Church in Pakistan makesa special appeal to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to intervene and give us ourproperty back.

The Church has given acall for the peaceful protest and prayer to take place on 16^thJanuary 2012 at 12:00 noon. We make an appeal to the international media to highlightour cause of struggle and give coverage to our protests to get back ourproperty.

Fr. Nadeem John Shakir

Executive Secretary,

National CatholicCommission of Social Communications Pakistan,

Lahore, Pakistan.

Holy See joins International Organization for Migration

2011-12-07T12:35:00.000Z

UK Ambassador to the Holy See, Nigel Baker, comments on his blog:

Good news this week as the Holy See on 5 December joined the Geneva-based International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Why is this important? The Holy See’s “Ambassador” (Permanent Observer) to the UN in Geneva, Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, summed it up well in an interview he gave to Vatican Radio: “as we are witnessing a continuous increase in the number of migrants and refugees in the world, it is important for us to be present and to participate in the efforts of the international community with the specific contribution of the Holy See: an ethical voice which gives a fresh interpretation to these new situations. [..] What must prevail is not so much politics, as the need to meet the human needs of these people, as they migrate through the various regions of the world”.

As I noted a couple of weeks ago, the growing menace of people trafficking, coupled with increasing migration flows especially towards the developed world, requires a bold, international response. The issue is a priority for the British Government, and increasingly so for the Holy See. We welcome Archbishop Tomasi’s statement that the Holy See will focus on “the defence of human beings and their dignity”. And we look forward to working with them here in Rome and in the IOM.

Human Rights under threat in Indonesian Papua

2011-11-17T10:44:00.001Z

Geneva (Agenzia Fides) –Indonesian Papua is experiencing "serious abuses of civil and political rights as well as economic, social and cultural", while the mass media are gagged to hide the truth: so says the new Report "Human Rights in Papua 2010/2011" launched in Geneva by three non-governmental organizations", Franciscans International "(FI) - NGO of the Franciscan Family -"Faith-Based Network on West Papua "(FBN) and "Asian Human Rights Commission" (AHRC).

Social Media in the Service of Children

2011-11-17T09:57:00.001Z

Eliza Villarino reports on how UNICEF is using social media to help children:

In Mozambique, a 16-year-old girl got pregnant by her teacher. Her school suspended her but did not take any action against the teacher.

UNICEF published the story of Linda (not her real name), as well as what it’s doing to help prevent similar cases of sexual abuse against minors in Mozambique, on its website Oct. 19. If you’re one of the U.N. agency’s 1.2+ million fans on Facebook or its 600,000+ followers on Twitter, you would have received a notification about the article on your Facebook newsfeed or Twitter timeline.

“I hope we will be successful and save all the children from bad people,” says one comment on UNICEF’s Facebook wall post.

But of course, for UNICEF, an organization recognized for its serious pursuit of innovation, there’s more to social media than just disseminating information about its programs. It has, in fact, incorporated social media use in some programs such as Connecting Classrooms and Voices of Youth.

UNICEF is also working on a new communication and public advocacy strategy that, according to Gerrit Beger, will embrace social and civic media as a core element. He also said the organization’s social media guidelines will be released soon.

Source: Devex

Al Jazeera English Gives Voice To African Journalists

2011-11-04T12:17:00.000Z

Al Jazeera English is putting the spotlight on Africa’sjournalists in “Africa Investigates.” The new series is intending on providingAfrican journalists a megaphone from which to report their stories oncorruption, abuse, and exploitation to the masses. The journalists who workedon the reports for the series worked undercover, using hidden cameras, and, ofcourse, put themselves at risk in order to reveal the truth behind frauds,conspiracies, abuse of minorities, child trafficking, and high-level corruption.The series will consist of eight one hour episodes and began Wednesday,November 2 on Al Jazeera English.

Series producer Diarmuid Jeffreys said that investigativejournalism in Africa is often stuffed down because of the political figures whocan suppress reports. “All too often in the past, African reporters have notbeen able to pursue wrongdoing because it involves powerful figures who wieldundue influence over local media – financial, corporate or political – orbecause it is simply too dangerous,” Jeffreys said. “Investigative journalismis a perilous profession in many African nations, where intimidation, beatings,imprisonment and death threats can be an occupational hazard. As a result theyhave often had to sit idly-by while Africa’s story has been told by Westerncorrespondents, ‘parachuted in’ for the purpose, who reinforce stereotypicalviews about African peoples and their supposed inability to face up to andsolve their own problems.”

Blood in the Mobile Official Trailer

2011-10-19T19:02:00.000+01:00

The main part of minerals used to produce cell phones are coming from the mines in the Eastern DR Congo.

The Western World is buying these so-called conflict minerals and thereby finances a civil war that, according to human rights organisations, has been the bloodiest conflict since World War II: During the last 15 years the conflict has cost the lives of more than 5 million people and 300.000 women have been raped. The war will continue as long as armed groups can finance their warfare by selling minerals.If you ask the phone companies where their suppliers get minerals from, none of them can guarantee that they aren’t buying conflict minerals from the Congo.

The Documentary Blood in the Mobile shows the connection between our phones and the civil war in the Congo. Director Frank Poulsen travels to DR Congo to see the illegal mine industry with his own eyes. He gets access to Congo’s largest tin-mine, which is being controlled by different armed groups, and where children work for days in narrow mine tunnels to dig out the minerals that end up in our phones. See http://bloodinthemobile.org/take-action/

UNIVERSAL LOGO FOR HUMAN RIGHTS UNVEILED!

2011-10-19T12:27:00.000+01:00

UNESCO proposes February 13th as World Radio Day

2011-10-08T18:49:00.003+01:00

UNESCO’s Executive Board has recommended the proclamation of World Radio Day, on the basis of a feasibility study undertaken by UNESCO, further to a proposal from Spain. The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, suggested the date of 13 February, the day when the UN radio was established in 1946. The new World Day should raise awareness about the importance of radio, facilitate access to information through radio and enhance networking among broadcasters.

African Platform on Access to Information

2011-09-27T09:54:00.002+01:00

The Pan African Conference on Access to Information was held this month in Capetown, hosted by UNECSO, the African Union, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Over 200 delegates who signed the African Platform on Access to Information, which states that “access to information is a fundamental human right” and that “the right of access to information shall be established by law in each African country.”
A model law on Access to Information is currently being drafted by the special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression of the African Commission for Human and Peoples’ Rights. infojustice.org

International Day of Peace, September 21st

2011-09-19T16:54:00.000+01:00

The International Day of Peace ("Peace Day") provides an opportunity for individuals, organizations and nations to create practical acts of peace on a shared date. It was established by a United Nations resolution in 1981 to coincide with the opening of the General Assembly. The first Peace Day was celebrated in September 1982.

In 2002 the General Assembly officially declared September 21 as the permanent date for the International Day of Peace.By creating the International Day of Peace, the UN devoted itself to worldwide peace and encouraged all of mankind to work in cooperation for this goal. During the discussion of the U.N. Resolution that established the International Day of Peace, it was suggested that:

"Peace Day should be devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples…This day will serve as a reminder to all peoples that our organization, with all its limitations, is a living instrument in the service of peace and should serve all of us here within the organization as a constantly pealing bell reminding us that our permanent commitment, above all interests or differences of any kind, is to peace."

Since its inception, Peace Day has marked our personal and planetary progress toward peace. It has grown to include millions of people in all parts of the world, and each year events are organized to commemorate and celebrate this day. Events range in scale from private gatherings to public concerts and forums where hundreds of thousands of people participate.Anyone, anywhere can celebrate Peace Day. It can be as simple as lighting a candle at noon, or just sitting in silent meditation. Or it can involve getting your co-workers, organization, community or government engaged in a large event. The impact if millions of people in all parts of the world, coming together for one day of peace, is immense.

International Day of Peace is also a Day of Ceasefire – personal or political. Take this opportunity to make peace in your own relationships as well as impact the larger conflicts of our time. Imagine what a whole Day of Ceasefire would mean to humankind.

The 'Gound Zero Mosque' Uncovering Media Bias

2011-09-19T16:33:00.000+01:00

Upon the recommendation of The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, the International Center on Media & Public Affairs (ICMPA) at the University of Maryland, College Park, U.S.A. and the Gabinete de Comunicación y Educación at the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain, undertook a study to analyze how major news outlets across the globe covered the Park51 mosque (the so-called "Ground Zero Mosque") news story over a six-month period, from May-October 2010. Park51 is a planned Muslim community center to be located two blocks from the World Trade Center site in lower Manhattan. The proposed plan includes a performing arts center, a fitness center, a bookstore, a culinary school, a September 11 memorial, and a prayer space for the Muslim community. It is intended to be a platform for multi-faith dialogue. The plans were reviewed and approved by the local community board in May 2010.

Conservative bloggers affiliated with the group “Stop Islamization of America,” launched a campaign against the project, renaming it the "Ground Zero Mosque,” which prompted a national controversy.

The research shows that in the US different political interests set the media agenda. Internationally, news outlets that similarly labeled the story consciously understood the harmful nature of this misuse of terminology, as evidenced by warnings of bigotry and Islamophobia. However, their reports still focused on confrontation. Media concentrated on the sensational part of the story. Drawing an emotional connection with readers is seen as more effective than the information itself.

Additionally, international media told the story through the US media lens: journalists used information elaborated by other journalists as a primary source, which helped to produce perceptions of fear and threat. Insufficient knowledge and the misuse of terminology, therefore, may create a disinformation effect that can threaten peace in multicultural communities.

The case study shows the importance of developing media literacy. Citizenship education should address questions relevant to the role of media in multicultural societies. Individuals should be aware of how the media deal with migrants, multiculturalism, and, in this particular case, Islamic culture and religion. They should be enabled and encouraged to develop critical thinking skills in order to differentiate media messages and identify stereotypes, Islamophobia, radicalism, and racism within the media discourse.

More at http://uncoveringbias.wordpress.com/

Winners of Council of Europe 2011 Youth Media Award

2011-09-15T12:01:00.000+01:00

Media freedom was chosen as the theme for the 2011 Council of Europe award, which was organised with the European Youth Press. The competition was made open to journalists under the age of 30 from 47 member states.
The award features four main categories, with each entry judged according to its originality, technical quality and understanding of the subject.
The work of Emmanuel Haddad from Spain, was considered the best among the written press entries. Photographer Ramin Mazur from Moldova, triumphed in the photo-journalism category and the best radio interview honour went to Jerneja Zavec from Slovenia. The winners of the video journalism prize were Eszter Cseke and Andras Takacs from Hungary.
The winners will receive €1000 and an invitation to attend and cover next month’s Parliamentary Assembly session. The prizes will be presented by the Assembly’s President Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on 5 October.

Coexist Prize for religious tolerance

2011-09-13T16:02:00.000+01:00

The Coexist Foundation has launched a global search for an unsung hero who has made an exceptional contribution to building bridges between people of different faiths.

The Coexist Prize, worth $100,000, aims to celebrate the positive social role religion plays for so many people in the world.

Coexist, a Foundation with offices in New York and London, will honor an individual who has shown inspirational courage, imagination and commitment, and been nominated by the public, or by its global network of nominating partners. The Prize is completely inclusive and explicitly open to people of all faiths, and those of no religious persuasion. There are also two runners up awards worth $10,000.

The winners’ powerful stories will be featured in short documentaries, which Coexist will showcase at the Prize ceremony on Tuesday March 20th 2012 at New York University. They will also be made available online, so that they can be an inspiration and example for others. Coexist will work closely with the Prize winners to carry on their work and ensure its lasting impact in their society and beyond.

An internationally respected panel of judges, including Her Excellency Mary Robinson, His Excellency The Grand Mufti of Egypt Sheikh Ali Gomaa, Rabbi David Rosen (American Jewish Committee's International Director of Interreligious Affairs), and Professor David Ford of the Cambridge University Inter-Faith Programme, will choose the winner and the two runners up.

Members of the public can nominate people through the online nomination form here, where there is also further information about the criteria and guidelines. The deadline for nominations is the 14th of October. Candidates can also promote their project on Twitter as part of the competition, by using the hashtag #coexistprize.

From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World

2011-05-31T11:24:00.002+01:00

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is an international campaign originating from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL) at Rutgers University in 1991. Participants chose the dates November 25, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and December 10, International Human Rights Day, in order to symbolically link violence against women and human rights and to emphasize that such violence is a human rights violation.

This year's theme is From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Let’s Challenge Militarism and End Violence Against Women! More info and downloadable materials here

Power of Peace Network -- introductory video

2011-05-23T15:46:00.000+01:00

WSIS Forum 2011 - protecting children online

2011-05-23T15:40:00.000+01:00

World Summit on the Information Society Forum 2011 - a civil society view

2011-05-23T15:20:00.001+01:00

SIGNIS Pacific calls for Broadband Expanision

2011-05-19T16:39:00.000+01:00

The SIGNIS-Pacific Assembly was held from May 2 to 5 in Noumea, New Caledonia. At the end of the meeting, the association of Catholic communicators issued a Declaration calling for broadband access to the Internet for Pacific countries.

The Declaration begins"We, the members of SIGNIS Pacific (World Catholic Association for Communications) call upon the leaders of the Church in the Pacific to encourage governments and other authorities to foster growth of communications infrastructure that will assist with the development of our region. Specifically we ask our Church leadership to see the value of new communications services, e.g. high-speed broadband and wireless applications as ‘tools’ of ministry to assist our people in the areas of health, education, social welfare and a myriad of pastoral outreach applications, e.g. relationship counseling, religious education etc. Increased capacity, particularly for remote outer islands and isolated villages, is vital if our people are to share in the considerable benefits these technologies bring to human development. More at http://tinyurl.com/66d7std

Global Report on the Status of Women in the News Media

2011-05-03T10:20:00.000+01:00

In a groundbreaking effort to promote the voice of women in the news-gathering and news dissemination process, UNESCO and the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) have collaborated in a global research partnership that has culminated in the publishing of a report on women in the news media.

The study report – titled Global Report on the Status of Women in the News Media - represents a set of reliable and comprehensive data on which to make a clear determination about where women currently fit into the news-making operation, decision-making hierarchy and ownership structure of media companies

Iranian Journalist Awarded World Press Freedom Prize

2011-04-18T09:51:00.000+01:00

Imprisoned Iranian journalist Ahmad Zeidabadi is the laureate of this year’s UNESCO Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize. He was selected by an independent international jury of 12 media professionals.

A former editor-in-chief of the Azad newspaper and contributor to the Tehran-based daily Hamshahari, the BBC Persian service, and the Persian/English news site Rooz, Ahmad Zeidabadi is also a member of the Association of Iranian Journalists, and the elected president of one of Iran's largest student organizations, the Iranian Alumni Association. He is also a professor of political science, and has lectured at numerous academic institutions.

Ahmad Zeidabadi is currently serving a six-year jail sentence following Iran’s disputed presidential election in 2009.

The right to education of children living and/or working on the street

2011-03-09T15:19:00.000Z

SIGNIS joined with other NGOs lead by the AVSI Foundation and the International Catholic Child Bureau (BICE) to submit a written statement (A/HRC/16/NGO/11) to 16th session of the UN Human Rights Council on the right to education education of street children.

The following are extracts from the document. The full version is available here.

....it is hard to determine the exact number of children working and/or living on the street worldwide, according to UNICEF estimation, they represent around 100 million children, whose fundamental rights are constantly violated. In particular, they are quite systematically denied the right to education though, up to now, the issue has not raised much awareness among society nor relevant intervention from public authorities.....

The signatories NGOs call for a genuine conceptual revolution about street children and about the objectives of education. When children live and/or work in the street this should only be considered as a phase in their lives, and not as a permanent state. We would like to underline that it should be taken and tackled as a situation and not regarded as an identity, and those at stake are still “children” and neither “criminals” nor “beggars”.....

....education should be provided without discrimination to all children with the means to fulfil their potential in society, to become positive social actors while also developing their own resources and abilities.....

We also recommend that the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child elaborate a General Comment on the “Rights of children living and/or working in the street” so as to deepen the reflection on the issue, and define the different causes and consequences of the phenomenon, in a right to education-oriented perspective.

Clothing for Liberation

2011-03-09T14:27:00.000Z

Communication strategies aimed at building a culture of peace may come in many forms but few people would think of clothing as an instrument of political change. Peter Gonsalves, however, is an exception. In his book Clothing for Liberation, explores the power of symbolism in political action by examining how Gandhi used his clothing and the way he dressed to promote his vision of India and unify his followers.

Vatican representative in Geneva: statement on religious freedom

2011-03-04T15:08:00.000Z

Kevin Clarke at America Magazine reports that Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi, the Permanent Representative of the Holy See to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva issued a statement on the requirement of religious freedom that is especially pertinent in light of the assassination March 1 of Pakistani Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti. Archbishop Silvano points out: "Religious strife is a danger to social, political, and economic development. Religious conflict polarizes society, breaking the bonds necessary for social life and commerce to flourish".

He also suggested that: The Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion could be invited regularly to include information on persecution of religious groups. It would be helpful if the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner of Human Rights were to monitor the situation of governmental and societal restrictions on religious freedom and report annually to the Human Rights Council.

SIGNIS condemns killing of Pakistani minister and calls for respect for religious freedom

2011-03-04T11:11:00.000Z

Brussels, March 4 (SIGNIS). SIGNIS, the World Catholic Association for Communication, today supported church and civil society leaders calling for the Pakistan government to take concrete measures to curb extremism and uphold the religious freedom of minorities

The President of SIGNIS, Augustine Loothusamy said: “We condemn the terrible murder of the minister for minorities, Mr Bhatti. We fully support the stand taken by Archbishop Saldanha and other leaders in calling for the Pakistan government to renew efforts to ‘take practical steps to curb extremism’ and safeguard the religious rights of all communities.

We join with our colleagues in SIGNIS Asia in urging our members, partners and friends to use this time for prayer, reconciliation and mutual respect between religions.

We pray that out of this tragedy will come a renewed commitment to sustain a peaceful and democratic Pakistan in which the human rights of all are recognized and protected.

As SIGNIS we renew our commitment to building a culture of peace, using the media to build bridges of understanding between all communities.”

Augustine Loorthusamy,
President
SIGNIS, (World Catholic Association for Communication)

SIGNIS Asia condemns killing of Shahbaz Bhatti

2011-03-03T16:45:00.000Z

SIGNIS Asia President, Lawrence John Sinniah has condemned the killing of Shahbaz Bhatti:

It is with great sadness that we hear the killing of Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti, the minister for religious minorities in Pakistan. Bhatti, 42-was a Roman Catholic. A leaflet left at the assassination site threatened further violence and said that an "infidel Christian" shouldn't have been allowed to head a committee looking at amending of laws.

Both Catholic and Protestant bishops plan to meet today at 5 pm at the residence of Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Lahore.

We call on all SIGNIS Asia members, their partners and friends to condemn the killing and use this time for prayer, reconciliation and mutual respect for all religions.

Please include a special prayer for Mr. Bhatti family, minority groups, the meetings by Catholic and Christian groups and especially for the Pakistan Government to work towards greater peace in the region.

See: Christian groups in Pakistan organized street protests and meetings after the assassination of Catholic federal minister for minorities affairs Shahbaz Bhatti yesterday in Islamabad.

State of the World's Children 2011

2011-03-02T10:58:00.002Z

Today's youth faces an increasingly uncertain world where climate change, rapid urbanization, the economic recession and rising unemployment pose unprecedented challenges. There are 1.2 billion adolescents across the world, nine out of ten of these young people live in developing countries. Millions are denied their basic rights to quality education, health care, protection and exposed to abuse and exploitation. Recognizing the need to turn this vulnerable age into an age of opportunity, UNICEF has dedicated it flagship publication State of the World's Children 2011 to adolescents. This video highlights the importance of investing in adolescents for breaking the cycles of poverty and inequity.

US Institute for Peace under threat

2011-03-01T09:28:00.002Z

The Washington Post blogger Ezra Klein draws attention to the danger of short-term economies undoing long-term goals:

Erik Voeten notes that the one governmental institution dedicated to advancing our understanding of how to resolve international conflict non-violently is likely to get its funding cut: The U.S. House of Representatives voted last week to cut nearly all funding to the United States Institute of Peace(USIP).

And Fr Ted Hesburgh comments that if the United States is serious about peacemaking, "its citizens and national leaders must defend the institutions that are doing the hard work of transitioning societies from war to peace. The U.S. Institute for Peace should have a permanent home in the nation's capital from which to teach, inspire and prepare current and future generations of peacemakers - and to be a symbol of America's commitment to reducing violent international conflict in the 21st century."

Child Rights' Governance

2011-02-28T09:54:00.001Z

Child Rights Governance (CRG) sets out two main objectives: Strengthen state institutions and mechanisms for the implementation and monitoring of children’s rights; and increase awareness and capacity among civil society and children to promote children’s rights and hold duty bearers to account.

This short report presents a range of case studies that show how work on CRG can hold governments to account, influence budgets, empower children, strengthen civil society, and improve national legal systems. These are changes that can make an important difference to millions of children’s lives – changing the way resources are used, making legal systems more child friendly, highlighting the issues that children themselves care about, and demanding more action from governments. Source: http://zunia.org/source/crin.org/

Women Make the News

2011-02-28T09:39:00.001Z

Launched annually on the occasion of International Women’s Day (8 March), Women Make the News (WMN) is a global initiative aimed at promoting gender equality in the media. This year’s theme, Media and Information Literacy (MIL) and Gender, seeks to highlight good practices in this area and emphasize the importance of fostering media and information literate societies as a way to improve the understanding of women and men about gender perspectives in media and information systems.

UNESCO invites media and civil society organizations, as well as professional associations, journalists’ unions, women and men working in the media to share their thoughts on how MIL can help women and men understand gender equality and to challenge the media to address this issue.

You can submit your contribution to UNESCO by 30 March 2011 via the Women Make the News website using the Join the campaign box (top right of the webpage). It will contribute to inform UNESCO’s decision to support MIL initiatives and will be featured on the website.

“I am Africa. This is My Story…”: Power of Peace Network supports digital storytelling contest

2011-02-25T18:05:00.000Z

An African continent-wide digital storytelling contest on YouTube, entitled “I am Africa. This is My Story…”, will be launched on 1 March 2011 by Chrysalis Campaign, Inc. (USA) and ZAA-ICT, a Southern Africa Telecentre Network supported by UNESCO’s Power of Peace Network (PPN).

The contest calls on African native youth, between the ages of 14 and 35, to team up with press, schools, cyber cafes, NGOs, missions and youth agencies to produce three-minute YouTube digital stories.

Individuals and organizations that help young StoryTellers will be called CyberGuides and will also receive free media training.

To enter the contest, please go to: http://i-am-the-story.ning.com/, where you will find free online training and links to free video editing tools. Organizations that help youth with YouTube stories will be able to use these stories for their own websites. Voting starts on 1 May 2011 and ends on 1 August 2011.

Queries about the contest can be sent to Richard C. Close. More information about the Power of Peace Network is available at: www.thepowerofpeacenetwork.com.

'Not My Life'. Modern slavery is a children's rights issue

2011-01-20T22:54:00.000Z

'Not My Life' filmmaker says modern slavery is a children's issue

A feature-length documentary that exposes the brutal reality of human trafficking, and its disproportionate impact on children, has had its world premiere in New York.

The documentary – ‘Not My Life,’ directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Robert Bilheimer and narrated by actress Ashley Judd – was made with support from UNICEF and international non-governmental organizations. It takes an unflinching look at the multi-billion dollar industry that is the modern-day slave trade.

The hidden face of Christmas - violence against women

2010-12-22T09:50:00.001Z

Philip Lee raises his voice to expose a hidden tragedy:

"Complaints have come in about a recent blog of mine on the killing of a Mexican mother seeking justice for the murder of her daughter. What upset some people was not the story itself, but the use of an expletive in the title.

Four days later, that story has sunk almost without trace. The Cancún climate change summit and the oil pipeline explosion at San Martin Texmelucan – tragedies of a different kind – have taken over. But there are still Christmassy headlines about snow and not missing your favourite TV shows.....

Violence against women is a pandemic.....Christmas has a hidden face. It is the face of the women of the world weeping for violence. What shall we do?"

International Migrants Day and Radio 1812

2010-12-17T13:11:00.000Z

So far, 152 radios from 39 countries around the world are taking part in the Radio 1812 event on International Migrants Day on the 18th of December. Join us to celebrate IMD together!

Radio 1812 (best seen with Firefox 3.6 and Internet Explorer 8) is an initiative by December 18, the International Advocacy and Resource Centre on the Human Rights of Migrant Workers. It is a global event that brings together migrant groups and radios from around the world to produce, broadcast and share programmes celebrating the achievements and highlighting the concerns of migrants worldwide.

UNESCO and Al Jazeera combine for freedom of expression

2010-12-14T15:52:00.000Z

UNESCO and Al Jazeera Satellite Network have signed an agreement to promote freedom of expression and access to information in the Arab world.

“This agreement advances a new kind of partnership UNESCO is establishing with media organizations,” said UNESCO’s Director-General Irina Bokova. “The UN charter proclaims the promotion of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all. As a leading source of news and information about the Arab world and beyond, Al Jazeera is well positioned to uphold these principles in this region.”

World Press Freedom Day on 3 May will be an annual focal point of the two-year agreement. UNESCO and Al Jazeera will work together to host a series of events to mark the Day, including documentary films and photojournalism exhibitions.

To further encourage freedom of expression, a correspondent who has demonstrated exceptional professionalism and courage while covering armed conflict or natural disaster will be awarded a trophy at the Al Jazeera International Documentary Film Festival. The award will be funded by Al Jazeera and UNESCO will be part of the selection committee.

Not just for Christmas? How the Guardian tried to change development reporting

2010-12-01T10:33:00.002Z

Katine students

This report by Polis intern Aivory Gaw

People are inherently self-interested. But with this self-interest comes the occasional need for altruistic action. Arise, Christmas charities where media outlets do their once a year act of humanitarian service that attracts people to donate to causes around the world. However, the problem is, this kind of service occurs just once a year. People donate money without really knowing where the funding goes or how much of a difference one donation can make. The Guardian sought to change this with Katine project.

In the latest Polis Media Dialogue, Elizabeth Ford from the Guardian explained how the Katine project was an attempt to do things differently. Launched by Alan Rusbridger in 2007 in conjunction with the African Medical and Research Foundation and Farm-Africa, the 2.5m project allowed viewers to see exactly how their money was being used, the progress of development as well as they got to know inhabitants of Katine in Northern Uganda on a more personal level.

The project focused on five areas, health, education, water sanitation, livelihoods of children and governance. Developments were reported through the official Katine project website on the Guardian. What was unique about the project was that it encouraged citizens to get involved as well, engaging the community by providing them with a voice. A resource center was set up with 4-5 computers that enabled people to come in, post their own comments, write their own blogs, take some cameras and provide their own account or their own story.
See the list of upcoming Dialogues here.
Watch the full video of the seminar here – starting at 16″

SIGNIS-WACC Human Rights Award 2010 Goes to Documentary on Afghanistan

2010-10-14T23:10:00.000+01:00

Brussels, October 12, 2010 (SIGNIS/WACC) - The SIGNIS-WACC Human Rights Award 2010 has been given to the documentary The Garden at the End of the World, directed by Australian film-maker Gary Caganoff. http://tinyurl.com/2eyld5h

Media for Democracy and Human Rights in the Pacific

2010-08-10T11:22:00.000+01:00

UNESCO, in cooperation with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the European Commission, has launched the project Media for Democracy and Human Rights in the Pacific. This project will focus on strengthening the capacity of media workers and other civil society advocates to document, monitor and respond to media-rights violations in the Pacific.

Decade for a Culture of Peace final report

2010-08-10T10:31:00.000+01:00

The 2010 End-of-Decade Report has now been submitted to the United Nations Secretary-General. The report is available in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese form the Decade website.

The summary report is based upon individual reports from over 1,000 organizations. The individual reports can all be found at http://tinyurl.com/33dx7wx

Power of Peace Network website

2010-08-10T10:20:00.000+01:00

The nine-month old UNESCO-initiated Power of Peace Network (PPN) website has surpassed the 1000th mark in the number of registered members.
The PPN website was inaugurated during the 2nd Power of Peace Global Forum. The website serves as a virtual space for individuals and groups who are interested in promotion of peace, peace-building and dialogue, allowing them to network and exchange ideas and opinions.

World Press Freedom Day

2010-05-04T16:44:00.000+01:00

Despite the existence of rights enshrined by national and international conventions, journalists continue to find themselves in frequent peril for simply doing their job, as they strive to report the truth in the passionate belief that reporting what they see is the foundation of a healthy democracy.

The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers WAN-IFRA is dedicating its 2010 World Press Freedom Day campaign to Journalists in Exile.

www.worldpressfreedomday.org has free, ready-to-publish materials made available for download

Google reveals censorship information

2010-04-26T16:32:00.000+01:00

Google announced on its official blog that it has revealed governments' requests to remove data from the web and get information about users. It has released a map showing country by country where it has had government requests or court orders to remove content from YouTube or its search results, or to provide details about users of its services.The release of the tool was

Iranian blogger wins freedom of expression prize

2010-04-26T16:17:00.000+01:00

Iranian blogger, journalist and women’s rights activist Jila Bani Yaghoob was awarded the "Reporters Without Borders, Freedom of expression” prize for her blog “We are journalists” (http://www.zhila.org/spip.php?article217) at the sixth international “Best of the Blogs” event held in Berlin by German radio Deutsche Welle from 13 to 15 April.

Fiji struggles to retain free press

2010-04-26T16:15:00.000+01:00

David Robie reports that editors, broadcasters and publishers are struggling to defend the last vestige of a free press in Fiji in the face of a draconian media decree aimed at gagging two of the country's three daily newspapers.

The draft Media Industry Development Decree 2010 features harsh penalties for journalists and news organisations which breach vaguely worded content regulations.

The limits of freedom and faith

2010-04-01T10:46:00.000+01:00

A report in the Economist comments on the latest round in the attempt by the Organization of the Islamic Conference to protect religions from 'defamation"

"On March 25th the Human Rights Council (HRC), voted by 20 votes to 17, with eight abstentions, for a text that lists the “defamation of religion” as an infringement of liberty. ... the margin was the smallest ever, and opponents think there could be a good chance of defeating a “defamation” motion next time one comes around.

critics...who include atheists, Christians and indeed some Muslims, say the “defamation” idea is worse than hot air: far from protecting human rights, it emboldens countries that use blasphemy laws to criminalise dissent. What encourages these critics is that more countries seem to be coming around to their view. Mexico, Uruguay, Argentina, Zambia and South Korea voted against the latest resolution. Brazil criticised the text but abstained."

Read more at http://tinyurl.com/yh8hgtf

Tenth World Assembly of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC 10)

2010-03-30T12:20:00.002+01:00

Montreal, March 25, 2010. The Tenth World Assembly of Community Radio Broadcasters will be held from 8 to 13 November 2010 in Ciudad de la Plata, province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. To register visit http://amarc10.amarc.org . To propose a self organised workshop write to secretariat@si.amarc.org

Community Radio stations have come together in AMARC Argentina to host the first Global conference of community broadcasters to be held in South America, where community radios were born 60 years ago. Furthermore, Argentina and the Latin America Caribbean region is going through dynamic social changes and has rich experiences to share with the world movement of community radio.

Despite laws, journalists’ safety remains under threat

2010-03-30T12:11:00.000+01:00

Is journalism becoming more and more dangerous? While the right to inform is regularly reaffirmed by international governing bodies, and more organizations than ever before represent the press, the number of journalists targeted is constantly increasing.

According to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), 2009 was “one of the worst years for killings of journalists, ending a violent decade which grievously affected journalism and saw record numbers of media professionals murdered”. Read more at UNESCO http://tinyurl.com/yh82zdc

Twitter recognised alongside campaigning journalists in Index on Censorship Awards

2010-03-30T10:52:00.001+01:00

Twitter recognised alongside campaigning journalists in Index on Censorship Awards

Twitter, investigative journalist Heather Brooke, and Peruvian radio station Radio La Voz were recognised at last night's Index on Censorship awards.

Posted using ShareThis

Fiji extends media censorship - from Media Network Weblog

2010-03-30T10:40:00.000+01:00

Fiji extends media censorship - from Media Network Weblog: "Fiji’s military-backed government has extended the regulations used to censor the country’s media until the end of April, ABC News reports. Fiji’s public emergency regulations (PER) were put in place on 10 April last year after the military-backed regime scrapped the country’s constitution. Under the regulations, all local media outlets are censored with a ban [...]"

Salesians set up new UN website to support young people

2010-03-25T18:53:00.001Z

New York (Agenzia Fides) – The Salesians of Don Bosco in the United States of America have just launched a new website that highlights the work they do at the United Nations and for the world in favor of young people.

The new website is designed to provide easy access to information on the work of Salesians, especially in those areas that receive special attention from the Member States of the United Nations.

In addition to providing regular updates from United Nations sources and from Salesian sources, the website will also have sites on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube to maintain constant contact with visitors through discussions, comments, and video. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 20/3/2010)

Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe: media freedom under threat

2010-03-25T18:24:00.000Z

On 27 January 2010, prompted by concern about continued violations of, and threats to, media freedom, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted Recommendation 1897 (2010), entitled “Respect for media freedom”. More from the IRIS database of the European Audiovisual Obervatory.

Religious freedom under threat worldwide

2010-03-18T10:34:00.000Z

Geneva, March 12, 2010. (Fides) Archbishop Tomasi, Permanent Representative of the Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva at the Human Rights Council drew attention to the state of religious freedom in the world, observing that “nearly 70 percent of the world’s 6.8 billion people live in countries with high restrictions on religion, the brunt of which often falls on religious minorities”.

UN Millennium Campaign and NGLS launch new website

2010-03-18T09:52:00.001Z

Only five years remain to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) agreed upon by UN Member States in 2000. UN Member States will therefore come together this September in New York during an ‘MDG summit’ to accelerate progress towards the achievement of the MDGs.

To keep interested civil society stakeholders informed on the summit process, including the planned Hearings with civil society and the private sector in June, the UN Millennium Campaign and the UN Non-Governmental Liaison Service (UN-NGLS) have launched a dedicated website

This website will report on all the latest developments related to the summit, give voice to perspectives from civil society and provide information on how to be engaged in the summit process.

Internet nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

2010-03-12T12:54:00.001Z

The BBC reports that the internet is among a record 237 individuals and organisations nominated for this year's Nobel Peace Prize.

The number of nominations surpasses last year's record of 205 nominations. The internet's nomination has been championed by the Italian version of Wired magazine for helping advance "dialogue, debate and consensus".

Children must have a voice in building peace, says Archbishop Tutu

2010-03-11T10:49:00.000Z

According to Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the systematic use and abuse of children in conflicts across the world has continued, unabated, over the past 20 years. Grave violations which persist against girls and boys include murder, rape, assault, sexual slavery and forced recruitment.

Speaking at the launch of the UNICEF-Harvard University publication, Children and Transitional Justice: Truth-Telling, Accountability and Reconciliation Archbishop Desmond Tutu said that “the seemingly endless cycle of violence and conflict, turning children into instruments of war, must be stopped”.

The Archbishop said that any successful transition from war to peace must ensure that children have a place – and a voice – in helping to build a peaceful and stable future.
The vision and ambition therefore of transitional justice is to enable societies that have been torn apart by conflict and violence to recover and to empower individuals – victims, witnesses and perpetrators – to recount their experiences and agree on a measure of justice to guide their future.

“The death and suffering of children in times of conflict and instability make it clear that the world has failed to prioritize the rights and well-being of children,” said Archbishop Tutu. “Transitional justice processes are a chance to set things right, and their success or failure depends to a large degree on how they involve children.”

Children and Transitional Justice: Truth-Telling, Accountability and Reconciliation analyses practical experiences to determine how the range of international courts, truth commissions and traditional processes can be applied, both to improve accountability for crimes perpetrated against children and to protect the rights of children involved. It explores safe and meaningful child participation in different circumstances.

Human Rights Defenders Receive the International Women of Courage Award

2010-03-11T10:30:00.000Z

Three women, whose courageous efforts to defend human rights were highlighted by Amnesty International, were honoured by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the annual International Women of Courage Award Ceremony on March 10.

Sonia Pierre of the Dominican Republic, Shadi Sadr of Iran and Jestina Mukoko of Zimbabwe received the prestigious award that recognizes the work of courageous women who actively advocate for social justice, equality and human rights around the world. Read more here

Internet access seen as fundamental right

2010-03-09T12:23:00.002Z

Four in five adults (79%) regard internet access as their fundamental right, according to a new global poll conducted across 26 countries for BBC World Service.

The poll of more than 27,000 adults conducted by GlobeScan found that 87 % of those who used the internet felt that internet access should be "the fundamental right of all people". More than seven in ten (71%) non-internet users also felt that they should have the right to access the web.

Countries where very high proportions regarded internet access as their fundamental right included South Korea (96%), Mexico (94%), and China (87%).

UNESCO calls for greater efforts to ensure Education For All

2010-03-09T09:45:00.000Z

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova has called on governments and donors to redouble their efforts to protect educational gains made over the past decade that she says are under threat from the global economic downturn.

The 2010 Education for All Global Monitoring Report, Reaching the marginalized warns that aftershock of the global financial crisis threatens to deprive millions of children in the world’s poorest countries of an education.
Ms. Bokova said “multiple disparities” affect girls particularly. “Girls’ chances of attending and completing school are still unacceptably low,” she said. “I am planning to launch a major initiative in this respect and I count on the support of all EFA partners in understanding and addressing the educational needs of adolescent girls.”

AMARC-WIN broadcast for Women’s International Day on March 8

2010-03-06T23:16:00.001Z

Tune in to the International AMARC-WIN broadcast for Women’s International Day on March 8!

March 5, 2010 Montreal – This March 8th, the Women’s International Network of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC-WIN) will celebrate Women’s International Day with a Webcast starting on March 8th to March 31st, dedicated to women and gender issues.

The Webcast will begin at 1:00 am GMT on Monday March 8. Community radio producers from Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Africa, Europe, North America and Latin America and the Caribbean will participate at this broadcast campaign. To listen the multilingual programs visit the website: http://march8.amarc.org

One World International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival

2010-03-04T12:04:00.004Z

Europe’s largest human rights film festival starts in Prague on March 18.

The New York Times highlights the eight-day One World International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival which will screen 101 films from 30 countries. The 12th annual festival is spearheaded by the Czech charity People in Need, which campaigns for freedom-related causes worldwide, and the former Czech President Vaclav Havel. In addition to the screenings, there will be panel discussions with some 100 directors and human rights advocates attending One World.

Women in the News: preliminary results of Global Media Monitoring Project 2010

2010-03-03T10:48:00.006Z

Only 24% of persons seen, heard, or read about in the news are female.

This is one of the key findings of the 2010 Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP). The preliminary report was released on 2 March 2010 at a panel discussion and debate on the occasion of the 54th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York.

The results contained in the report are preliminary, based on a sample of 42 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, Pacific Islands and Europe. The findings encompass 6,902 news items and 14,044 news subjects, including people interviewed in the news.

Among the key findings are:

* 24% of the people interviewed, heard, seen or read about in mainstream broadcast and print news are female; only 16% of all stories focus specifically on women.

* Women have achieved near parity as givers of popular opinion in news stories. But less than one out of every five experts interviewed is female, and men predominate strongly as eyewitnesses and providers of personal experience in news stories.

* Almost one half (48%) of all news stories reinforce gender stereotypes, while 8% of news stories challenge gender stereotypes. Women in the news are identified by their familial relationships (wife, mother, daughter) five times more often than men.

* Overall, news stories by female reporters are much fewer than news stories by male reporters. News stories by female reporters have considerably more female news subjects than stories by male reporters and challenge gender stereotypes almost twice as often as stories by male reporters.

The study reveals overall that women remain grossly underrepresented in news coverage in contrast to men, resulting in news that depicts a world in which women are largely absent. The research also shows a paucity of women's views and opinions compared to male perspectives in mainstream news reports.

Comparison with results of the three previous editions of the GMMP carried out every five years since 1995 shows signs of change towards gender balanced and gender responsive news. Female news subjects have increased from 17% to 24% in the last 15 years. Popular opinion in the news is now nearly at parity, compared to 2005 when at 66%, popular opinion was largely provided by men.

The Global Media Monitoring Project is coordinated by the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC).

Community Radio and Peacebuilding in Africa

2010-03-03T10:37:00.003Z

A report by Search for Common Ground on four community radio stations in rural Sierra Leone and Liberia has found that community stations positively contributed to peacebuilding in their communities.

Listeners reported a high impact from programmes that address peace and nonviolent conflict resolution. Community stations in all locations were also described as active participants in diffusing potential violent crises. It was found that radio helps marginalised people without access to other means of communications and was universally cited as vital in facilitating peaceful election processes.

However, the report also found that radio's impact is often reliant on the cooperation of government, and that community radio stations are making limited use of their power as media outlets to compel government participation in media.

Women Make the News 2010 call for contributions

2010-03-03T10:26:00.003Z

On the occasion of International Women’s Day (8 March), UNESCO joins forces with international and regional media organizations to launch the annual Women Make the News (WMN) initiative.

Under the theme “Towards Gender Sensitive Indicators for Media: Best Practices for Gender Perspective in Media and in Media Content”, WMN 2010 is intended to initiate a global exchange on the importance and the need for gender sensitive indicators for media organizations.

Please share your thoughts on some priority elements you think should be considered to measure how responsive the media are to gender issues in all aspects of their operations, and why you think these elements should be prioritized. Share your best practices in considering gender equality in media and in media content. You can submit your contributions by 30 March 2010 via the WMN website using the Join the campaign. They will contribute to inform UNESCO’s decision to support the development of gender sensitive indicators to be used by media organizations and civil society and will be featured on the Women Make the News 2010 website.

Community Radio Broadcasters in Asia Pacific call for Communication Rights

2010-03-03T10:13:00.003Z

Bangalore, India, February 24, 2010. Community radio broadcasters from 20 countries of the Asia Pacific region have demanded to place people’s communications rights at the centre of development.

The Bangalore declaration issued at the conclusion of the regional assembly of community radio broadcasters held in Bangalore, India from 20-23 February 2010 has also called for supporting initiatives that aid access to digital and other technological opportunities to enable community broadcasting in an ever-widening scale, while calling for creating spaces on the airwaves for diverse and marginalized voices, irrespective of caste, creed, race, colour, gender, sexuality, faith, and differently-abled or other differences.

No Time Left

2010-02-19T14:49:00.002Z

No Time Left- a global campaign to achieve the eight Millennium Development Goals, has come out with eight short films by eight international filmmakers (Wim Wenders, Jane Campion, Gaspar Noe, Gus Van Sant, Abderrahmane Sissako, Mira Nair, Gael Garcia Bernal, Jan Kounen). Each short focuses on one of the issues- poverty reduction, AIDS, environment, and so on. The films can be viewed for free this month on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/notimeleft

International Women’s Day Broadcast Campaign

2010-02-19T14:38:00.003Z

From March 8th to March 31st, The Women's International Network of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC-WIN) will organize the 6th annual International Women’s Day Broadcast Campaign.

The theme of this year is “Empowering and celebrating women as agents of recovery”. The Webcast will begin at 1:00 am GMT on Monday March 8. To listen the multilingual programs visit http://march8.amarc.org

Disaster and Crisis Coverage

2010-02-19T14:32:00.003Z

This online guidebook from the International Center for Journalists is designed to help journalists everywhere prepare for future disaster coverage.

A PDF version of the guide, including an extended text and
additional sections, can be downloaded in English here,
http://www.icfj.org/disaster/ICFJ_disaster_ENG.pdf
and in Spanish, here.
http://www.icfj.org/disaster/ICFJ_disaster_ESP.pdf

Disaster and Crisis Coverage http://ow.ly/15HPR

Social Media give Haiti Victims a voice

2010-01-15T10:22:00.001Z

The Guardian reports on the importance of social media in disaster situations:

With many of the official lines of communication down, user-generated content played an important role yesterday in spreading news about the Haiti earthquake. Social media partly made up for the lack of information from the affected area on what had happened and what was most needed.

Twitterfeeds gave an impressive picture of the ongoing earthquake, and the Guardian's live blog on the rescue mission used social media as well as information from other news organisations. The BBC also covered the event combining tweets from the area with the work of its reporter Matthew Price in Port-au-Prince.

However, the news organisation with the most material on the quake at present looks to be CNN. It has seven reporters on the ground – but is still significantly enriching their work with social media.

68 Journalists killed in 2009

2009-12-18T17:19:00.003Z

At least 68 journalists worldwide were killed for their work in 2009, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists' (CPJ) annual census.

The highest ever number recorded by the yearly report, the number of deaths in 2009 rose steeply after 31 media workers, including 29 journalists, were killed in the Philippines last month.

Other fatalities were the result of neglect or mistreatment during imprisonment for work-related charges and revenge attacks carried out by the subjects of investigative stories."This has been a year of unprecedented devastation for the world's media, but the violence also confirms long-term trends," says Joel Simon, CPJ executive director.

The new figures represent a 60 per cent rise in the death toll from the 42 deaths recorded in 2008. All but two of the victims in 2009 were local journalists and nine were freelancers, according to the census.

WACC calls media to action on International Migrants Day

2009-12-18T16:45:00.003Z

On International Migrants Day, 18 December, WACC is calling on communication organizations and networks to take action to ensure that migrants, refugees and displaced people’s voices are heard. It urges media professionals to ensure that migrants and their needs are represented and reported in a fair and balanced manner consistent with their right to speak and be heard.

Broadcasters and Climate Change

2009-12-18T12:59:00.001Z

Broadcasters from around the world have joined forces to combat climate change, acknowledging their essential role as opinion influencers and urging the industry to set quantifiable targets for a reduced carbon footprint.

Participants representing around 1000 broadcasters agreed upon the "The Paris Declaration on Broadcast Media and Climate Change," which will strengthen regional and international collaboration, and encourage production and dissemination of audiovisual content to give a voice to marginalized populations affected by climate change.

Delegates at the first ever UNESCO Broadcast Media and Climate Change conference in Paris (France) on 4-5 September came together to consider a global consensus on climate change, and to facilitate the use of materials between developing and developed country broadcasters.

Youth Engagaing with the World

2009-12-14T11:22:00.002Z

UNESCO has once again joined hands with its long-standing partner, the International Clearinghouse on Children, Youth and Media based at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, to publish the 2009 Yearbook Youth Engaging with the World: Media, Communication and Social Change.

The Yearbook contains a series of articles, written by qualified scholars from different regions of the world, on the impact of media and communication on young people as driving forces of social change. Noting the increasing exposure of young people to media and ICT, the publication highlights the importance of media and information literacy as a prerequisite for their empowerment. It seeks to explore theoretical assumptions as well as empirical evidence of media and information literacy in action. The book also analyzes the many ways in which the youth use these tools for entertainment and informational purposes, for social networking and mobilisation, and for knowledge sharing.

Click here to obtain the book from the Clearinghouse.

Internet censorship at the UN Internet Governance Forum

2009-11-16T14:40:00.002Z

Video of Ronald Delbert at the Internet Governance Forum in Egypt explaining the reach of internet censorship. Ironically UN security demanded the removal of a poster promoting a book (to which he had contributed) by the OpenNet Initiative (ONI) entitled Access Controlled. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8361849.stm

Human Rights and Catholic Community Radio in Africa

2009-11-02T13:22:00.001Z

At the African Synod of Bishops in Rome the following intervention was made by
H. Exc. Mons. George Cosmas Zumaire LUNGU, Bishop of Chipata, President of the Episcopal Conference (ZAMBIA)

We have seen justice and peace commissions established in almost all our parishes and even in some Small Christian Communities (SCC). These commissions are making a huge difference in helping our Christians to make informed interventions in social matters. In part, because of the work of these justice and peace commissions, the Catholic Church, in Zambia, is considered by Catholics and non-Catholics as an institution that is credible and consistent in the promotion of human rights.

We have also been blessed in the area of social communications where we now have Catholic Community Radio stations in all but one of our ten dioceses. The radio stations are playing a big role in our evangelizing mission, such as the promotion of good governance and civic education. Rural communities, where illiteracy is very high, are now finding their voice, freely articulating their faith on radio on matters of justice in their own communities. Most of our radio stations also routinely make space for non-Catholics.

However, we are not complacent. We are aware that we have numerous challenges. For instance, like other countries blessed with mineral resources, we have multinational corporations in our country who have shown very little interest in promoting the welfare of our people, especially in the extractive industries like the mining sector. This sector is impacting negatively on the environment. For this reason Zambia is hosting a big international meeting on the impact of extractive industries on poor countries soon after this Synod concludes.

Furthermore, we are greatly challenged by the impact of poverty on the environment. For example, poverty is leading to wanton destruction of forests through charcoal burning and unsustainable cultivation methods. As a Church we need to come up with ways of mitigating this situation. I wish to urge, therefore, that this Synod makes a clear and strong statement on our concerns regarding issues of environmental justice as a contribution to the upcoming Copenhagen Conference on the Environment.

Campaign for a violence-free education

2009-11-02T12:54:00.001Z

This video was shown at the SIGNIS World Congress in Chiang Mai

Forced to Flee - New series of short films on displacement

2009-09-07T19:28:00.003+01:00

IRIN Films has launched Forced to Flee - New series of short films on displacement

Around the world tens of millions of people have been forced to leave their homes. Some have been driven out by conflict, some by natural disaster. Some have been displaced in the name of development, others by climate change. These films tell their personal stories.

IRIN (Integrated Regional Information Networks) is part of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, but its services are editorially independent. Its reports do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations and its agencies, nor its member states.

Freedom on The Net

2009-08-26T16:47:00.002+01:00

The dynamic of increasing digital media use worldwide accompanied by more systematic and sophisticated methods of control is the core finding of this study, a pilot report on internet and new media freedom. This study evaluates the level of internet and mobile phone freedom experienced by average users and activists in a sample of 15 countries across 6 regions.

Covering the calendar years 2007 and 2008, the index addresses a range of factors that might affect such freedom, including the state of telecommunications infrastructure, government restrictions on access to technology, the regulatory framework for service providers, censorship and content control, the legal environment, surveillance, and extralegal attacks on users or content producers. The selected indicators capture not only the actions of governments but also the vigor, diversity, and activism of the new media domain in each country, regardless of—or despite—state efforts to restrict usage.

http://www.freedomhouse.org/uploads/specialreports/NetFreedom2009/FreedomOnTheNet_FullReport.pdf

OCLACC condems attack on freedom of expression

2009-07-02T19:07:00.001+01:00

Quito, Ecuador, 1 de julio (OCLACC).- La Organización Católica Latinoamericana y Caribeña de Comunicación, OCLACC, condenó "de forma enérgica las limitaciones a la libertad de expresión, ocurridas luego de la ruptura democrática y golpe de Estado en Honduras, y exige una irrestricta libertad de expresión como factor fundamental para el entendimiento democrático de nuestros pueblos".

Another Catholic Radio Station under the military

2009-07-02T19:01:00.002+01:00

Martes, 30 de Junio de 2009

Otra radio católica intervenida por militares

La violación a la libertad de expresión, a consecuencia del golpe de estado en Honduras, se materializó una vez más como respuesta a la tarea informativa que varias emisoras cumplen en ese país centroamericano. La mañana de este lunes 29 de junio amanecieron militarizadas las instalaciones de la radio Católica, Trujillo, Honduras, según la información llegada a la redacción de OCLACC.

Varios miembros del ejército llegaron a la estación radial para disponer la suspensión de los servicios informativos de la emisora, en una medida que según los oficiales es preventiva ya que se podrían crear posibles protestas de los grupos populares que apoyan la consulta para la cuarta urna que promovía el ya depuesto presidente Manuel Zelaya Rosales, dice la denuncia de Radio Católica.

Read the full story

Catholic Radio Station Closed down in Honduras

2009-07-02T18:56:00.003+01:00

Clausuran a la Radio Progreso

Dom, 06/28/2009 - 17:12

Radio Progreso, HondurasTegucigalpa, Honduras, 28 de junio (OCLACC).- Tras el Golpe de Estado ocurrido a primeras horas de este domingo 28 de junio en contra del Presidente Manuel Zelaya Rosales, de manera intempestiva, un contingente de unos 25 militares ingresaron a los estudios de Radio Progreso y obligaron a cerrar las emisiones de la radioemisora que se encontraba informando sobre los acontecimientos políticos registrados.

Según la información llegada a la redacción de OCLACC, los militares "obligaron a cancelar de manera absoluta la programación". No obstante, de inmediato un numeroso grupo de pobladores se acercó a las instalaciones de la radioemisora con la finalidad de defender a la radio y a su personal", dice la nota remitida por el Director de Radio Progreso, el sacerdote jesuita Ismael Moreno, sj (Melo).

Read more

Gegen Folter - Amnesty International

2009-07-01T16:13:00.001+01:00

Amnesty's new viral video to support its campaign against torture.

Iran Protest Photos Key To Twitter Coverage

2009-06-15T19:09:00.002+01:00

There are two uprisings right now related to Iran. The most important one is visible in the massive street demonstrations, in Iran and worldwide, by people dissatisfied with the contested reelection of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

A lesser, but still important, uprising concerns dissatisfaction with news coverage. You'll notice this crystallizing right now among Internet users—especially on Twitter. (If you haven't done so yet, search Twitter for the hashtag #iranelection.) The general sentiment is that the mainstream media was too slow and too cautious in covering the Iran election. Consider this the first major news story to have totally slipped out of the groove of the established news outlets, and is now being told to audiences directly by people involved in it.

Many Twitter commentators are relying on photos from Tehran for facts about what's going on.

Twitter users who want to spread news about Iran are grabbing pictures from news sites and posting them on the picture sharing service TwitPic.

More at the link below:
Posted by Daryl Lang on June 15, 2009 at 1:39 PM on http://www.pdnpulse.com/2009/06/iran-protest-photos-key-to-twitter-coverage.html

Photo feed from Iran http://tinyurl.com/lsjurl #IranElection

Council of Europe states resolve to review impact of anti-terror laws on freedom of expression

2009-06-01T12:07:00.002+01:00

The First Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for Media and New Communication Services took place in Reykjavik on the 28 and 29 of May. The general theme was A New Notion of Media? Delegates eventually adopted a Political Declaration, Resolutions and an Action Plan designed to direct to the Council’s future work on media and the Internet.

After some contentious debate and pressure from the media and civil society organizations, the delegates (with Russia the only dissenter) "resolved to review national anti-terrorist laws and practice on a regular basis to ensure that any impact on freedom of expression and information is consistent with the Council of Europe standards, in particular the case law of the European Court of Human Rights.

They stated that although in some cases it is inappropriate to disseminate particular information in order to prevent terrorist acts in the interest of an ongoing investigation, the protection of the victims or judicial proceedings, “reporting on terrorism cannot be equated to supporting terrorism”.

They also underlined that concerns have been raised that, in some cases, anti-terrorist laws restricting freedom of expression and information in member states are “too broad, fail to define clear limits to authorities´ interference or lack sufficient procedural guarantees to prevent abuse”.

The Conference also asked the Council to assess whether the existing freedom of expression and information standards for traditional media should apply to new media and service providers, or if new ones should be elaborated.

The continuing importance of public service media was stressed and the Council asked to explore the possibility of elaborating a “policy document containing guidance for member states on governance approaches for public service media”.

The Action Plan also pledged to continue to develop the “public service value of the internet. It called on all states and “non-state actors” to explore ways to ensure that critical Internet resources are managed in the public interest and as a public asset, even by elaborating an international legal instrument.

The Council of Europe was asked to explore the feasibility of elaborating a treaty to further protect cross-border Internet traffic. Finally, delegates called on the Council of Europe to make more lasting arrangements for organising Pan-European Internet governance events.

The importance of continuing to work on media literacy in the formal and non-formal sectors and as part of education for “democratic citizenship” was underlined once again.

Political Declaration and resolutions are available at www.coe.int

The sessions of the ministerial conference are available in video webcast on www.ministerialconference.is

The background to the conference decisions is well analysed by William Horsley in the article, Council of Europe ministers, under media pressure, accept their duty to restrain anti-terrorism laws from breaking media freedom http://www.neurope.eu/articles/94565.php

United States joins the Human Rights Council

2009-05-22T11:27:00.001+01:00

On 12 May 2009, the General Assembly elected 18 countries to serve on the Human Rights Council (HRC), the principle UN intergovernmental body for human rights, that is mandated to promote the effective coordination and mainstreaming of human rights within the UN system, to encourage universal respect for the protection of all human rights and to address and recommend on human rights violations.

This year, Belgium, Hungary, Kyrgyzstan, Norway and the United States are joining for the first time. Bangladesh, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Djibouti, Jordan, Mauritius, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal and Uruguay were re-elected.

How conflict is represented in the media

2009-04-30T12:55:00.004+01:00

Jake Lynch (one of the main propenents of peace journalism) has written a thoughtful article on the problems surrounding the media representation of complex conflicts and political events

SAT-7 ARABIC launches new campaign to improve the status of women

2009-04-30T11:32:00.003+01:00

New programme series focuses on female-headed households. Through 26 documentaries from Egypt, Lebanon and Morocco, women who are the sole providers for their children, their siblings or their parents tell their stories. The series is called: “And I am not ‘just’ a woman.” The first documentary will be on air on 5 May.

Juliana Sfeir, SAT-7 Lebanon, is the producer for the series. She says “I feel compelled to raise the banners of justice for these women, because I, personally, have been marked by the injustices of a chauvinistic society. Only those who have experienced society’s negative gaze, and how hard it is for such women to stand alone, bending under the heavy yoke of everyday life... can understand what these women face day after day. This is my platform to raise their voice ... to tell the world that they are not just women. They are heroes who deserve the salute of a warrior. This project was initially developed from my Master degree’s thesis film. Thanks to SAT-7, it developed into a much wider visionary project, thus becoming a greater campaign covering three major Arab and North African countries.

The documentaries are part of a larger media campaign, which also includes a number of awareness-raising spots. Later this year a live talk show on the same subject will be launched.

Through this campaign, which is funded by partners in Scandinavia, SAT-7 ARABIC wants to raise awareness about the rights of women, and give hope of a better life for female heads of households in the Middle East and North Africa.

Contact : DavidHarder@sat7.org

Reporters Without Borders hunger strike in support of Roxana Saberi

2009-04-29T15:59:00.003+01:00

Four members of Reporters Without Borders, including its secretary-general, Jean-François Julliard, began a hunger strike yesterday in support of Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi, who has been sentenced to eight years in prison in Iran on a charge of spying for the United States. Saberi has herself been on hunger strike since 21 April. Read more

Censorship in Fiji

2009-04-29T15:22:00.001+01:00

Media should be a stronger priority in development

2009-04-28T10:06:00.004+01:00

Media should be a stronger priority in development strategies, says an independent policy opinion survey from the BBC World Service Trust.

The report, Governance And The Media – A Survey Of Policy Opinion, concludes that the role of media in the democratic and development processes of developing countries is poorly researched, insufficiently understood and inappropriately prioritised within the development system.

Independently conducted interviews were undertaken with a range of development figures including John Githongo, the former anti-corruption Czar in Kenya, Professor Paul Collier of Oxford University and Professor Thomas Carothers of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

The report further observed that there is an "engagement gap" between the importance of media in development, and its actual prioritisation in development strategies.

The BBC World Service Trust is the BBC's international development charity. It aims to reduce poverty and promote human rights in developing countries through the innovative and creative use of the media.

Source: BBC World Service Trust

Council of Europe Declaration on Community Media

2009-04-27T11:54:00.002+01:00

The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted on 11 February 2009 the Declaration on the role of community media (CM) in promoting social cohesion and intercultural dialogue. The document in English and French is available from the website of the Community Media Forum Europe, here.

Journalists in the firing line

2009-04-27T10:23:00.004+01:00

World Press Freedom Day 2009 The Word Association of Newspapers has published a collection of resources and interviews detailing the hazards facing journalist who report on issues that might upset the rich and powerful. Their stories are told here.

World Press Freedom Day 2009

2009-04-27T10:14:00.002+01:00

The potential of media in fostering dialogue, mutual understanding and reconciliation will be the topic of UNESCO World Press Freedom Day 2009 to be celebrated on 2-3 May 2009. As the only UN agency with a mandate to defend freedom of expression and press freedom, UNESCO has placed mutual understanding, and dialogue through media at the core of its mission.

The Sri Lankan editor Lasantha Wickrematunge has been posthumously awarded the 2009 UNESCO World Press Freedom International Prize. The late Sri Lankan journalist and editor of the Sunday Leader, who was assassinated on 8 January this year, knew his profession put him in danger and went so far as to write an editorial for publication after his death. It appeared in the Sunday Leader on 11 January 2009, voicing Mr Wickrematunge's commitment and readiness to die for press freedom: "[…] there is a calling that is yet above high office, fame, lucre and security. It is the call of conscience."

UNESCO Conference on World Press Freedom Day 2009

2009-04-27T10:06:00.004+01:00

World Press Freedom Day 2009: Dialogue, mutual understanding and reconciliation

The way the media influences thought and action and its capacity to foster dialogue, understanding and reconciliation will be the focus of discussions at a UNESCO conference marking World Press Freedom Day 2009, to be held in Doha (Qatar) on 2 and 3 May.

The General Secretary of SIGNIS, Alvito de Souza, will moderate a panel at the Conference on promoting inter-religious dialogue and mutual understanding.

In his message for World Press Freedom Day 2009, the Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, stressed: “We must strengthen our efforts to build a media that is critical of inherited assumptions yet tolerant of alternative perspectives; a media that brings competing narratives into a shared story of interdependence; a media that responds to diversity through dialogue.”

Fijian Media Gagged

2009-04-21T13:39:00.003+01:00

Brussels, April 21, 2009 (SIGNIS) - SIGNIS, the World Catholic Association for Communication expresses its profound concerns for the new laws in Fiji that prohibit local media from publishing stories that negatively depict the government led by the newly appointed Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama.

This new direction, issued last Saturday, April 11, 2009, has immediately resulted in the deletion of certain news stories from local media together with the expulsion of foreign journalists critical of the government's annulment of the 1997 Constitution and the abrogation of the judiciary.

SIGNIS endorses the principle that the freedom of the media to publish and broadcast is the freedom, and right, of people to be informed.

Since 1987 Fiji has had four coups and a bloody military mutiny.

Fijian media have been told to refrain from airing or publishing news stories, broadcasts or articles that may be inciting to law and order. Under a new promulgation, the Public Emergency Regulations 2009, Section 16 (1) of the regulation states that if the "Permanent Secretary for Information has reason to believe that any broadcast or publication may give rise to disorder and thereby cause undue demands to be made upon the police or the armed forces, or may result in a breach of peace, or promote disaffection or public alarm, or undermine the Government or State of Fiji, he or she may, by order, prohibit such broadcast or publication."

In a letter to media in Fiji, the Information Secretary, Major Neumi Leweni, has requested all media to "immediately refrain from publishing and broadcasting any news item that is negative in nature, relating to the assumption of executive authority on 10th April 2009 by His Excellency the President."

SIGNIS believes that journalistic freedom includes the right to publish and broadcast news and information, without fear or favor, and the right to comment fairly and dutifully upon it. SIGNIS stands by the principle that freedom of the media in Fiji and elsewhere is important even more because of the obligation it entails towards the citizens of that country than because of the rights it gives to the media.

For further information contact the SIGNIS General Secretariat, Brussels, Belgium:
E-mail: sg@signis.net
www.signis.net

Fiji Media Facing Crackdown

2009-04-15T14:31:00.002+01:00

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports that

Local and international media in Fiji are under increasing pressure and tough restrictions after the reinstatement of Commodore Frank Bainimarama's military regime.

Reports are also coming out of Fiji that the interim government is now restricting the use of the internet as it continues its crackdown on civil liberties.

Commodore Bainimarama's restrictions include stationing military censors in newsrooms and deporting ABC journalist Sean Dorney back to Australia.

Local journalists are being watched by police, amid reports of internet cafes are being forced to shut.

The regime has also ordered the shutdown of ABC Radio transmitters in Fiji.

The situation has been denounced by the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) which has called on the Fiji authorities "to immediately remove its security force presence in newsrooms and to stop its censoring of news items. "The free and peace loving people of Fiji are being silenced by the barrel of the gun and by taking control of the news media and banning news on events taking place and against the regime shows a serious move on the part of the interim government to take back its people to the dark ages."

United World for Children Rights

2009-04-05T22:26:00.001+01:00

Media Standards Trust criticizes existing system of UK press regulation

2009-02-09T10:02:00.004Z

A More Accountable Press, published by the Media Standards Trust finds that the existing UK system of press self-regulation, as currently constituted, including the Press Complaints Commission, is unable to deal with the serious and growing threats to press standards and press freedom.

The report, published in consultation with an independent group of 12 leading figures from the press and civil society, found that the current system is insufficiently effective, largely unaccountable, opaque, and failing to reflect the radically changed media environment.

Research conducted by YouGov found that 75% of the British public think newspapers publish stories they know to be inaccurate. 70% of people believe there are far too many instances in which newspapers invade people’s privacy. 7% of people trusted newspapers to behave responsibly, a figure lower than that for banks. It also found increased public support for government intervention in the press as a result of falling levels of trust.

Tunisia: Violence against community radio journalists

2009-02-02T12:36:00.004Z

AMARC Europe has issued a Press Release (28/01/09) expressing deep concern over "the harassment of Tunisian Independent journalists suffered by the new Independent Radio project, Radio Kalima.

Yesterday the coordinator of the project, Dhafer Otay, was held for the entire day by the Tunisian police, which prevented him from entering the radio studios. He was threatened of deeper consequences and prison, if he should continue working within the radio project. This morning, the police have doubled the staff and prevented the secretary of CNLT (Conseil National Pour Les Libertés en Tunisie) from entering the office of CNLT which is in the same building.
A human rights activist, Makhlouf Zouhayr, who came to express solidarity, was severely beaten by the police; Omar Mestiri, managing editor of the Kalima platform, was copiously insulted while he was trying to stop them. At present the Radio Kalima editorial staff is still under siege.

"We ask Tunisian authorities to cease immediately those odious intimidations», said Mariano Sanchez, President of the European branch of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters. «We firmly condemn the dictatorship methods put in place by the Tunisian Government, and we ask the EU to block immediately all the commercial relations with Tunisia, until the basic human rights will be guaranteed".

Since Monday the 26th of January, Radio Kalima can also be listened to through Med Info Radio satellite channel, the first all info radio channel based on community radio and independent production centres in the Mediterranean basin, a project led by the italian radio agency AMISnet.

For more information: Francesco Diasio, AMARC Europe: +39.06.8632 8312

Sihem Bensedrine, founder of CNLT +43.676757 4556

More information here and here

First World Day of Social Justice on the 20th of February 2009

2009-02-02T12:25:00.002Z

At its sixty-second session, in November 2007, the General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed the 20th of February as World Day of Social Justice. The day is to be observed for the first time in 2009.

Member states were invited to devote this special day to the promotion of concrete national activities. This is to be done in accordance with the objectives and goals of the World Summit for Social Development and the twenty-fourth session of the General Assembly, entitled “World Summit for Social Development and beyond: achieving social development for all in a globalised world.”

More information

Source: Pax Christi International newsletter February 2009

Hard News on US TV draws higher ratings

2009-01-30T09:11:00.002Z

Even as many news programs face a postelection audience drop-off, "serious" television news is drawing serious ratings this winter, with viewers flocking to shows like CBS's "60 Minutes" and PBS's "NewsHour with Jim Lehrer." This interrupts a decade-long drift of viewers away from hard news toward softer fare. Executives and producers credit high interest in all things Obama, as well as a raft of major developments in the economy and the Middle East that demand longer attention spans from viewers.

Eschewing conventional wisdom, which holds that viewers don't like shows about war or the finer points of a bad economy, 60 Minutes has devoted segments to violence in the Middle East and the fallout of the subprime meltdown. Where some news coverage has focused on the celebrity of President Obama and his family, it has hewed to the substance of the president's policy.

(c)Benton Foundation 2008 http://benton.org/node/21370
HARD NEWS ON TV DRAWS MAJOR RATINGS
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Rebecca Dana]

Asia Pacific Rice Film Award 2008/09

2009-01-30T08:56:00.005Z

The aim of the Asia Pacific Rice Film award is to showcase RICE in a creative manner by focusing on any or all of the “Five Pillars of Rice Wisdom”. – Rice Culture, Community Wisdom, Biodiversity Based Ecological Agriculture, Safe Food and Food Sovereignty.

The Asia Pacific Rice Film Award will be presented to creators of short innovative television, video or cinematic films that effectively educate the public on the role of rice in cultures, economies and communities/societies in Asia Pacific. The films should use the Five Pillars as the guiding principles. They should reflect any or all of the following aims: instilling an appreciation of the rice heritage of Asia; raising public awareness of the issues on and threats to rice; highlighting the role of small farmers and women in rice; strengthening the people’s resolve and action to save rice; and encouraging a stronger role for youth in rice.