The International Federation of Journalists is the world’s largest organization of professional media workers representing 600,000 journalists in 146 countries and 190-plus national trade unions and associations, including 40 in Africa.

Founded in 1926, the IFJ and its African regional group – the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) – stands up for journalists and journalism in the workplace, in the field and in the face of threats to their rights, safety and independence. The IFJ lobbies, campaigns and advocates for media freedom, gender equality, social and professional rights and the safety and security of journalists.

Believing that there can be no such thing as media freedom where journalists live in conditions of corruption, poverty or fear, the IFJ:

• Organises collective action to support journalists’ unions in their fight for fair pay, decent working conditions and in defence of their labour rights.
• Promotes international action to defend press freedom and social justice through strong, free and independent trade unions of journalists.
• Fights for gender equality in all its structures, policies and programmes.
• Opposes discrimination of all kinds and condemns the use of media as propaganda or to promote intolerance and conflict. 
• Believes in freedom of political and cultural expression.

Our Federation does not subscribe to any given political viewpoint, but promotes collective action to defend human rights, social justice, democracy and media pluralism.

The IFJ safety programme provides hands-on frontline training, media advisories, legal support, guides and manuals, safety courses and curricula and has established an International Safety Fund to provide humanitarian aid for journalists in need. 

As an organization that campaigns and carries out advocacy at the UN, works with UNESCO and civil society partners, lobbies governments and is a founding member of the Council of Europe platform for the safety of journalists the IFJ welcomes the tremendous initiative – and is proud to have been a part of helping to establish – the Digital Platform for the Safety of Journalists in Africa.

At a time when impunity is rife, journalists are under attack, when media independence is threatened by governments, paramilitary organisations, corrupt businesses or criminal gangs, when restrictive laws are multiplying, when internet shutdowns are increasing and at a time when the need for independent journalism has never been higher the launch of the Platform is a tool for journalists and media to enhance safety and demand action to protect the lives and rights of our sisters and brothers who daily risk so much to stand up for the truth.

www.ifj.org

Twitter: @IFJGlobal