MUSCAT: G. M. Jamali, President Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) is attending the 31st World International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Congress as head of the Pakistani delegation comprising of Shehr Bano (Vice President, PFUJ), Rana Muhammad Azeem (General Secretary, PFUJ) and Ehtesham-ul-Haq (Secretary, PFUJ) scheduled to be held here from 31st of May till 3rd of June, 2022.
PFUJ is affiliated with IFJ, that is the global voice of journalists and represents 600,000 journalists (in 190 affiliates) in 146 countries.
The 31st World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) will take place from 31 May -3 June 2022 in Muscat, Oman. Over 250 participants representing journalists’ unions and associations from 92 countries will attend the Congress. Key themes will include the surveillance of journalists and action to end impunity for crimes against media workers.
The World Congress, hosted by the Omani Journalists Association (OJA), will kick off on Tuesday 31 May with a pre-conference involving a high -level debate on the impact of the Covid pandemic on journalism and newsrooms and IFJ affiliates’ actions to save jobs and lives over the past two years. The panel will include trade union leaders from every continent.
Thenewly elected IFJ Gender Council and its Steering Committee, will lead a review of their actions over the last three years – including campaigns to eradicate violence against women journalists, close the gender pay gap and foster women’s access to leading roles in the media – and adopt a new action plan.
On Wednesday 1 June, delegates will meet again in an inspiring debate on best practices in trade unionism, highlighting unions’ wins on saving jobs, securing equal pay and improving pay and conditions. A series of regional meetings to highlight areas of common concerns and build regional solidarity will take place that afternoon.
To wrap up the day, Congress will host a discussion on the impunity for crimes against journalists. The debate will feature killed journalists’ family members who will travel to Muscat to inform delegates about their cases and call for support for their fight for justice.
The Congress will also hold a special session to mark the International Safety Fund’s 30th anniversary, looking back on historic moments over the past three decades when the fund has provided key support to journalists at risk.
Journalism in crisis
The last three years have been especially challenging for journalists all over the world. Violence against journalists has increased worldwide, with four countries at the epicenter: Afghanistan, Mexico, Yemen and Ukraine.
Union leaders and journalists from these countries will come together to give first-hand accounts of their experiences on the ground in a special session looking at journalism in the firing line.
Shaping the future
Delegates will also debate and approve the IFJ 2022-2025 working programme. Thirty-four motions have been tabled for debate, including motions urging action on gender equality in media, the promotion of the UN Convention on the Safety and Protection of Journalists, the need to regulate the sale and use of spyware, the condemnation of the attacks against journalists and press freedom in numerous countries, including Ukraine, Yemen and Afghanistan, and a call for the immediate release of journalists in prison for doing their job.
Finally, delegates will elect a new IFJ Executive Committee and five senior officers, including the President. IFJ delegates from Asia Pacific will launch their new regional group, FAPAJ (Federation of Asia-Pacific Journalists), the fourth IFJ regional group after the European Federation of Journalists, the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) and the FEPALC (Federación de Periodistas de América Latina y el Caribe);
IFJ President, Younes Mjahed, said: “The triennial IFJ Congress allows IFJ affiliates to meet, discuss the IFJ working program and elect a new Executive Committee and a new leadership. This Congress comes at a particularly sensitive time for journalism, with wars in several countries, growing surveillance of media workers and newsrooms still suffering the consequences of the Covid pandemic. We believe this Congress will provide us with a clear roadmap to face these challenges and strengthen the IFJ’s capacity to support its members across the world”.
Flow of Events:
Monday 30the May, 2022 Arrival and registration in Muscat
Tuesday 31 MAY, 2022
09h00 [Reading the IFJ Policy on Sexual Harassment]
Constitutive meeting of the FAPAJ
Moderated by Anthony Bellanger (GS/IFJ), Jeremy Dear (DGS/IFJ), Jane
Worthington (IFJ Asia-Pacific Office Director)
13h00 Lunch
14h00 “Regional delegates have the floor: journalism in the time of the pandemic”
Moderator: Jim Boumelha, IFJ Honorary Treasurer
– Latin America: Zuliana Lainez (FEPALC)
– Arab World and Middle East: Nasser Abu Baker (FAJ)
– Asia-Pacific: Sabina Inderjit (FAPAJ)
– Africa: Sadiq Ahmed Ibrahim (FAJ)
– Europe: Mogens Blicher Bjerregård (EFJ)
– North America: Jennifer Moreau (UNIFOR)
16h00 Gender Council meeting
18h30 Closing
19h30 Opening of the 31st IFJ Congress by the IFJ President, Younes Mjahed
20h00 Opening evening
Wednesday 1st June, 2022
09h00 [Reading the IFJ Policy on Sexual Harassment]
Election of the Presidium and Committees
10h00 Report of the General Secretary
11h45 [Solidarity message: video Audrey Azoulay, DG UNESCO and Matjaz Gruden,
Council of Europe]
12h00 Discussion: “ Winning at work: unions in action”
Moderator: Jeremy Dear (DGS/IFJ)
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Panel: Michelle Stanistreet (NUJ/GB-Ireland); Amira Mohamed (SNJT/Tunisia);
Carla Gaudensi (Fatpren/Argentina); John Schleuss (CWA/USA)
13h00 Lunch
14h30 Regional meetings: Africa, North America, South America, Asia-Pacific, Europe,
Middle East and Arab World
In parallel: Meetings of the Committees on resolutions, finances and statutes
Report to the plenary
17h00 Receipt of candidatures for elections
16h45 [Solidarity message: Christy Hoffman / GS-UNI-Global]
17h00 Discussion: “Ending Impunity: The IFJ Global Campaign”
Introduction: Anthony Bellanger, GS/IFJ
Moderation: Dominique Pradalié, IFJ Executive Committee member
Panel: Carmen Draghici, Professor of International Law (University of London);
testimonies of the families : Fabienne Mercier-Nérac (France) ; Sharmelí Bustios
(Peru) ; Motasem Mortaja (Palestine) et Sandya Ekneligoda (Sri Lanka).
Discussion on 30 years of the International Safety Fund
19h00 Nobel Peace Prize winners: Maria Ressa and Dmitri Muratov
‘Solidarity March’
19h30 Free evening
Thursday 2nd June, 2022
09h00 Honorary Treasurer’s Report
10h30 IFJ Finance Commission Report
10h50 [Solidarity message: Jennifer Robinson, Julian Assange’s lawyer]
11h00 Presentation and election of elected officers
13h00 Lunch
14h00 Debate on statutory motions then regular motions
16h50 [Solidarity message: Zara Nazarian, GS/UPF]
17h00 Discussion: “Afghanistan/Ukraine/Yemen: journalism in crisis”
Moderator: Jeremy Dear (DGS/IFJ)
Panel: Hadi Rashed (Afghanistan/ANJU), Karine Barzegar (France/SNJ), Serhiy
Shturkhetskyy (Ukraine/IMTUU), André Cairola (Unesco) + ?? (IJS/Yemen)
19h30 Social programme
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Friday 3 June, 2022
9h00 Deliberations on regular motions
11h00 [Solidarity message: Collectif Mumia Abu Jamal]
13h00 Lunch
14h30 Continuation of Deliberations on regular motions
17h00 Discussion: “Pegasus: Journalists under Surveillance”
Moderator: Tim Dawson (Chair of the IFJ Surveillance Experts Group)
Panel: Judith Calderón Gómez (Mexico/SNRP), Agbanda Akillisso (Togo/UJIT),
Soraya Morvan-Smith (France/SNJ-CGT)
18h30 Closing speech by the new IFJ President
18h45 Meeting of the new Executive Committee
19h30 Gala diner
Saturday 4th June, 2022
Departure of delegations
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