| |
Back to Index
Strengthening
civil society dialogue and democratic discourse in SADC
MISA
June 11, 2008
Download
this document
- Word
97 version (36.5KB)
- Acrobat
PDF version (186KB)
If you do not have the free Acrobat reader
on your computer, download it from the Adobe website by clicking
here.
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) and the European Commission
(EC) in Namibia launched the Strengthening the basis for civil society
dialogue and democratic discourse: Freedom of Expression programme
on 11 June 2008 in Windhoek Namibia.
Targeted at media practitioners, civil society and government, the
project is aimed at creating an environment which promotes and protects
media freedom and freedom of expression as well as strengthening
and supporting the development of a vibrant, professional and participatory
media sector as an essential part in deepening of democracy in southern
Africa.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Head of Delegation of the European
Commission Delegation to Namibia Ambassador Elisabeth Pape, pointed
out that the right to information and freedom of expression are
at the heart of an effective media as a central actor for development
and democracy.
This initiative aims to promote the values of respect for human
rights and democratic processes globally, as these are key values
on which the European Union was funded 50 years ago. The support
provided to MISA aims to benefit all 11 SADC countries, most of
which are still young and sometimes fragile democracies.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Head of Delegation of the European
Commission Delegation to Namibia Ambassador Elisabeth Pape, pointed
out that the right to information and freedom of expression are
at the heart of an effective media as a central actor for development
and democracy.
"A pluralistic media is an essential component of good governance,"
Pape added.
MISA Regional Director Kaitira Kandjii noted that the project launch
comes at a time when the protection of media freedom and freedom
of expression in the region remains a huge challenge in some countries.
"At present the most worrying situation is in Zimbabwe where
after the March elections there has been a rapid closing up of space
for dialogue, engagement and serious repression of alternative voices,"
said Kandjii.
The programme will undertake a number of information, education,
awareness, advocacy and lobbying activities in order to create a
public culture that supports media freedom and freedom of expression
issues and therefore raise the bar in the fight for these rights.
Through this project, MISA also hopes civil society and the public
at large will realise that a free media is essential to the democracy
process and that civil society needs a free media for their voices
to be heard and have an influence in the adoption of laws and policies
in their countries.
Representatives from Namibia's Ministry of Communication and
Information Technology, Parliament, diplomatic community, civil
society and members of MISA attended the launch.
Download
full document
Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.
TOP
|
