Predstavnici medija u Iraku zahtjevaju da se medijske slobode unesu u Ustav

17.08.2005.

Iraqi Media Leaders Demand Democracy and FreeExpression Rights in Constitution

More than 40 leaders of Iraqi journalism –editors, union leaders, university lecturers and other media experts – havecalled for action to strengthen free expression and democratic rights in thestalled talks over a new constitution.

At a conference today in the JordaniancapitalAmman, media professionals agreed acharter of basic rights for a democratic media culture inIraq, anddemanded that legislators working on a draft of a new constitution make aserious commitment to free expression rights and free journalism.

The constitution should make "a clearand frank reference to the important role of the media and the need to guaranteefreedom of expression and the rights of journalists to work withoutinterference," said participants at the conference organised by theInternational Federation of Journalists with the support of UNESCO, the UnitedNations cultural agency.

Theconference declaration reflects growing concern among journalists that promisesof democratic reform are threatened by deadlock in negotiations over a newconstitution, in which the rights of women and regional autonomy are majorpoints of disagreement. The text will be submitted to the people in a nationalreferendum later this year.

"The stateshould protect free expression, guarantee the freedom of journalists andjournalism within the media, and pursue all violators of these rights," said thejournalists who called on the authorities "to guarantee independence of allmedia including non-governmental, public service media, financed by publicmoney."

Theconference said that media should reflect pluralism of thought, politics,ethnicity, religion and culture. "Reference in the constitution to freeexpression is worthless if the state does not provide the means to protect andenforce this right," said the participants, "particularly at a time whenIraqis the most dangerous country inthe world for journalists and media staff and where dozens have been killed orkidnapped."

Leaders fromall Iraq's journalists' groups as well as leading editors and leaders of a newunion of radio stations, the first media employers' group set up in the country,were joined by media experts, journalism trainers and trades unionists fromabroad for the three-day conference which agreed a wide-ranging programme ofaction and adopted a charter of rights for democratic media.

"Thisconference is proof that violence and extremism have not killed off the spiritof independence in Iraqi journalism," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary,who chaired the meeting. "Democracy will not work without free media and thenetwork of solidarity launched here, which includes journalists from allsections of Iraqi society, shows that media professionals will fight for theirrights every step of the way."

Povratak