Reports
Eastern Africa Conference on Media, Dialogue and Mutual Understanding
Download Report : EAJA Conference Report Kigali 2009.pdf
Concerned about the growing intolerance towards independent journalism and the growing violence against journalists, the Eastern Africa Journalists Association (EAJA) organized two-day conference on the occasion to mark the World Press Freedom Day in accordance with the global theme proposed by UNESCO: Media, Dialogue and Mutual Understanding.
The Eastern Africa Conference on Media, Dialogue and Mutual Understand, held in Kigali on 2-3 May, attracted leaders of journalists and media in Eastern Africa for two days of lively discussion and debate.
The conference, which was organized on the occasion of world press freedom day, focused on state of press freedom in the region, safety of journalists, culture of impunity in the media industry, media laws and other legislations, role of media in promoting dialogue and mutual understanding, decent working conditions, and ethical journalism.
The conference provided a forum for journalists’ leaders, press freedom advocates, media owners, UN representatives, and representatives from the International Federation of Journalists and Open Society Initiative.
Decisions from the conference play an important part in our efforts in securing press freedom, better working conditions for journalists and attaining democratic values in Eastern Africa. They will also shape our campaign and advocacy work to bring change in the region.
We are particularly grateful to our conference host, Association of Rwandan Journalists, an EAJA affiliate, and the moderators of different sessions of the conference for chairing and encouraging wide ranging debate on a number of issues. We are also grateful to UNESCO, Open Society Institute and International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX) for funding this conference as well as the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) for strong participation and guidance of the conference.
A number of recommendations were made which we hope journalists organizations and press freedom groups in Eastern Africa will take forward over the next period.
A number of recommendations were made which we hope journalists organizations and press freedom groups in Eastern Africa will take forward over the next period.
On behalf of the Executive Committee of EAJA, I would like to thank the members of EAJA Secretariat in supporting and making all arrangements of the conference. We are grateful to the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Rwanda Mr. Aurélien Agbénonci for the UN’s generous sponsorship of the conference.
Omar Faruk Osman
Secretary General
Eastern Africa Journalists Association (EAJA)