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GFMD Members and Democracy Activists Propose Joint Campaign for Rule of Law in Asia

Media freedom in Asia was the focus of discussion at the Asia regional meeting during the World Movement for Democracy conference in Jakarta on April 12.

The 40 participants representing media development organisations and a wide range of civil society groups proposed a joint campaign to promote the rule of law in Asia.

“The rule of law concerns us all,” said Melinda de Jesus of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility in the Philippines. “32 journalists were murdered in one attack in the Philippines last November, but also community activists are being killed if they dare to speak out. And no one is being brought to justice. We need to work together to fight corruption in the police and in the courts.”

“The GFMD is committed to this campaign”, said GFMD director Bettina Peters. “We will propose it to our Asia Regional Forum for Media Development that will take place in Jakarta on April 15 and 16.”

Owais Aslam Ali of the Pakistan Press Foundation said he would take the idea to a conference on fighting impunity that will be held in New York at the end of April.

The GFMD is holding its Asia Regional Forum for Media Development immediately after the World Movement for Democracy on April 15 and 16 in Jakarta. Information on that meeting can be found at: http://www.gfmd.info/index.php/regions/.

More information on the World Movement for Democracy can be found at http://www.wmd.org/assemblies/sixth-assembly/.