Media Freedom Takes Centre Stage at World Movement for Democracy
12.04.10Democracy activists speaking at the opening of the 6th World Movement for Democracy in Jakarta, Indonesia on April 11 highlighted the key role free and independent media play in building democratic societies.
In welcoming the 650 participants from 101 countries, Kim Campbell, former Prime Minister of Canada and Chair of the World Movement’s Steering Committee mentioned free media and freedom of expression as prerequisites to democracy.
Bambang Harymurti, editor in chief of Tempo Magazine in Indonesia highlighted the role independent journalists and media NGOs played in bringing democracy to his country. “Our democratic experiment is on-going,” he said. “And it is clear that we have to safeguard media independence in order for democratic structures and transparency to become entrenched in our society.”
GFMD members are well represented at the World Movement for Democracy and media development issues are being debated in a wide range of workshops during the conference.
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/.