New initiative to improve the safety of journalists in countries with conflict and political transition

New Danish-funded project led by IMS will document and share best practices on the safety of journalists with a view to linking local and global efforts

A new IMS-led project on the safety of journalists will document what works and seek to connect local efforts with the onging global discussions and initiatives on the safety and protection of journalists and the issue of impunity.

The project takes its point of departure in seven countries where various types of locally led safety mechanisms for journalists have been established and where the media works under challenging conditions. These countries comprise Colombia, Philippines, Pakistan, Indonesia, Iraq, Afghanistan and Nepal.

In addition to documenting and sharing best practices linked to journalist safety mechanisms, the project will facilitate peer to peer partnerships between media workers on the issue of safety within and across the abovementioned countries.  IMS’ key partner in the project, International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), will undertake the establishment of local and global journalist networks through which the best practices on media safety will be shared and discussed.

“By documenting what actually works, we can strengthen the joint national and international efforts in improving journalist safety and protection. IMS has worked on this topic years and our experiences will now be shared with media houses, decision makers, academia and other media organisations,” explains Jesper Højberg, IMS Executive Director.

With over a decade of experience working on the set-up of locally run mechanisms to address the safety of journalists, International Media Support (IMS) is well placed to provide an indepth overview of safety mechanisms through its network and knowledge of safety challenges in each of the selected countries. . In Afghanistan, one of the seven countries covered by the project, IMS’ long-term engagement has resulted in the establishment of a country-wide safety mechanism for journalists which includes 24/7 support from hotline phones, free legal counselling for journalists and monitoring of violations against media.

IMS and IFJ will engage broadly  on the issue of safety of journalists in each of the seven countries with media practitioners, authorities, academics and media development organisations. Roundtables will gather key media stakeholders in each country to pull together, analyse and validate the findings on media safety practices. The findings will be presented in late spring 2017 online and at a symposium (venue tbc).

The official title of the project is: “Promoting UN Plan of Action on Safety of Journalist and the issue of Impunity through documenting and promoting best practices”. The project is funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs with 5 mill. DKK.  The project falls under the auspices of the global UNESCO-led UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity which IMS is driving forward together with UNESCO and a host of other organisations.

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