Zimbabwe
About the Platform for the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists in africa
The African media stakeholders established the digital platform for the safety of journalists in Africa in 2020. This was through a steering committee under the leadership of the African Editors Forum (TAEF) and UNESCO Addis Ababa Liaison Office to the African union (AU) and the United Nations Commission for Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).
The steering committee was comprised of the following members: The African Editors Forum (TAEF), The Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), The Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), UNESCO Addis Ababa Liaison Office to the AU and UNECA, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Article 19.
The platform has been established with technical guidance from the Council of Europe (CoE) Platform on Promotion and the Protection of the Safety of Journalists and with the financial support from UNESCO Multidonor Programme for the Freedom of Expression and the Safety of Journalists.
At the time of launch in January 2021, the steering committee received confirmation of the following Partnering Organisations to represent the different categories of media stakeholders in Africa
Category 1
The media associations and networks in Africa
– African Editors Forum (TAEF)
– Federation of the African Journalists (FAJ).
Category 2
The African Union Member States, AU Bodies with focus on either of the following areas: Promoting freedom of expression, media freedom, access to information, safety of journalists, human rights, good governance and justice
– Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, at the African Commission for Human and People’s Rights (ACPHR).
– The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM),
– The African Governance Architecture (AGA),
– The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights
Category 3
The International professional associations with chapters in Africa
– International Federation of Journalists
Category 4
The Civil society defending the media and promoting human rights in Africa
– The Committee to protect Journalists (CPJ)
– The Article 19
– The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX)
Category 5
Media development partners in Africa
– UNESCO,
– Free Press Unlimited (FPU)
– BBC Media Action
– The International Media Support (IMS)
Objective:
This digital platform shall promote Partnerships, Prevention, Protection and Prosecution of perpetrators of crimes against journalists (4Ps) in Africa, by promoting the principles, national and regional coordination mechanisms that enhance the safety of journalists and combating impunity on crimes against them.
The Digital Platform aims at promoting journalists’ safety in Africa and end to impunity on crimes against them, through real time monitoring, reporting and follow-up actions by both the duty and right bearers. The platform provides the much needed synergy by African media stakeholders, in holding the perpetrators of violence against journalists and media outlets accountable.
The aim of this digital platform is to contribute to the achievement of the expected results in the amended Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa (2019) and the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.
The expected result is an enabling environment for the media to operate in AU member states, through respect for the rights of journalists and media workers and the end to impunity for crimes against journalists in Africa.
Partners
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