From left: Ojoma Ochai, Sara Whyatt, Marie Ottoson, Julie Reid, Ramon Tuazon, Getachew Engida | Photo ©UNESCO
AMIC Secretary General Ramon R. Tuazon outlined some best practices in addressing the issue of impunity in the killing of journalists during a special session at the World Press Freedom Day Global Conference held at Accra, Ghana on 02-03 May 2018. The best practices were based on a recent 7-country case study by the International Media Support (IMS). The panel discussion also served as the launching pad for two recent UNESCO reports – World Trends on Freedom of Expression and Media Development 2017/2018 and ReShaping Cultural Policies: A Decade Promoting the Diversity of Cultural Expressions for Development.
Also speaking at the event were Marie Ottosson, Assistant Director-General of the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (SIDA); Deputy Director-General of UNESCO, Getachew Engida; UNESCO Freedom of Expression Division Director Guy Berger, and Prof. Julie Reid from the University of South Africa.
According to Tuazon, among the best practices documented in the IMS Study were inter-agency/multi-stakeholder engagement in journalist safety and protection; adoption of a national plan of action on safety; comprehensive safety programs especially at the ground; and legal defense.
The AMIC SG also highlighted the link between communication and culture. According to Tuazon, with media rights incessantly under attack, various forms of arts and culture provide alternative platforms for expressions.
The World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development series offers a critical analysis of new trends in media freedom, pluralism, independence and the safety of journalists. Previous editions were published in 2014 and 2015. SG Tuazon and AMIC Country Representative to Bangladesh Golam Rahman are members of the International Advisory Board of the 2017/2018 Report.
The conference also featured a Policy Lab organized by UNESCO in partnership with the University of Ghana and the Global Development Network. At the Policy Lab, Tuazon presented the paper, Data Management System on Media Killings in the Philippines. According to the SG, the development of the data management system has four phases: architecture, archiving, analytics, and advocacy.
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