Yemeni reporter accused of al-Qaeda links freed from prison after three years July 25, 2013 The International Press Institute (IPI) expressed satisfaction today at the release of Yemeni journalist Abdulelah Haider Shaye from prison after three years, but urged authorities in Yemen not to further restrict the journalist by placing him under house arrest. Previously, the United States government had reportedly pressured Yemeni authorities not to free Shaye, who covered […] Read more »
Group launches campaign in response to deteriorating press freedom in Gambia July 22, 2013 The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) today marked the 19th anniversary of Gambian President Yahya Jammeh’s rise to power with the launch of a campaign to highlight the continued deterioration of press freedom in the country. The MFWA’s “Gambia Day of Action” calls on Internet users worldwide to protest a “new draconian Internet law” […] Read more »
In Americas, the power of advocacy still strong July 11, 2013 Scott Griffen Sometimes making a little noise can make a big difference. That may have been the case yesterday in the Caribbean island nation of Grenada, where members of the upper house of Parliament, the Senate, have reportedly returned a controversial electronic defamation bill back to the lower house (House of Representatives) for further deliberations. IPI warmly […] Read more »
Coordinating committee resolution expresses concern over Ecuador media law July 3, 2013 A number of members of the Coordinating Committee of Press Freedom Organizations have approved a resolution expressing concern over a new media law recently implemented by the Republic of Ecuador. Among other troubling provisions, the law establishes a state media council with the power to punish the press. IPI will shortly publish a comprehensive analysis […] Read more »
IPI and partners complete joint Jordan emergency press freedom mission June 26, 2013 The International Press Institute (IPI) last week completed a two-day emergency press freedom mission to Jordan, as a direct response to the suspension of more than 200 online news websites by the Jordanian authorities. The move came just two weeks after IPI’s World Congress in Amman May 19-21, and appears to place Jordan at odds […] Read more »
Freelance photographer detained by Chinese authorities June 19, 2013 Sasu Siegelbaum The International Press Institute (IPI) today strongly condemned the recent detention of freelance photographer and filmmaker Du Bin by Chinese authorities and called for his immediate release. Du Bin, 41, a past contributor to numerous Western media outlets, disappeared days before the 24th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown on June 4, and was later […] Read more »
IPI Turkish National Committee, other groups protest alleged police targeting of press June 13, 2013 Scott Griffen The Freedom for Journalists Platform, an Turkish umbrella group that includes the International Press Institute’s (IPI) Turkish National Committee, released a statement today demanding an end to alleged police brutality against journalists covering the ongoing protests in Istanbul. The statement details recent reported incidents involving both local and foreign journalists, and strongly criticised Prime Minister […] Read more »
Angolan journalist faces criminal libel charges June 11, 2013 Sasu Siegelbaum The International Press Institute (IPI) today denounced criminal defamation proceedings brought by Angola’s attorney general against Angolan journalist and activist Rafael Marques on June 6. IPI calls on Angolan authorities to drop all charges against Marques and to ensure that journalists are not targeted for publishing information of public importance. In 2011 Marques published a […] Read more »
Daily Monitor, other media outlets re-open in Uganda after 10-day police occupation May 31, 2013 Sasu Siegelbaum The International Press Institute (IPI) welcomed the news that four Ugandan media outlets were allowed to re-open in the capital Kampala after 10 days of police occupation, protest, and physical confrontations between journalists and press freedom organisations on the one hand, and the police on the other. IPI urges the Ugandan government to respect the rights […] Read more »
Security forces suspend Sudan daily May 24, 2013 The International Press Institute (IPI) today condemned the Sudanese government’s suspension of a newspaper that has reported on allegations of high-level corruption, the latest move by the authorities to muzzle independent news media. Sudan’s state intelligence agency, or NISS, announced the suspension of the Al-Sayha daily on May 20 after confiscating its press run. It […] Read more »
IPI releases 2013 Ecuador press freedom report on heels of controversial new media law May 21, 2013 Excessive state regulation established by Ecuador’s newly passed media law poses a serious and immediate threat to independent journalism, the International Press Institute (IPI) stated in a special report released today. The report, a comprehensive review of press freedom developments in Ecuador since IPI’s visit to the country in May 2012, concludes that the situation […] Read more »
IPI General Assembly Resolution 2018 Members of the International Press Institute (IPI), meeting at their 67th General Assembly during the 2018 IPI World Congress in Abuja, Nigeria, unanimously passed four resolutions urging action on press freedom issues in Africa, Egypt, Turkey and in relation to the online harassment of journalists. IPI members: – called on African governments to protect the […] Read more »
International Declaration on the Protection of Journalists The International Press Institute (IPI), in cooperation with the Al Jazeera Media Network, the International News Safety Institute (INSI) and the Africa Media Initiative (AMI), is leading a global effort to promote a culture of safety within the media industry both by raising awareness among journalists about international standards in this area as well as […] Read more »
IPI General Assembly Resolution 2014: Ethiopia The members of the International Press Institute, meeting at their 63rd Annual General Assembly during the IPI World Congress on April 14, 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa, adopted by unanimous vote a resolution calling on the Ethiopian government to end its practice of arresting journalists under anti-terrorism laws and to review its anti-terror statutes […] Read more »
IPI General Assembly Resolution 2013: Journalist Safety The members of the International Press Institute (IPI), meeting at their 62nd Annual General Assembly during the IPI World Congress on May 20, 2013 in Amman, Jordan, adopted by unanimous vote a resolution calling on states to implement laws and policies aimed at promoting a safe environment for journalists and fighting impunity in cases of […] Read more »
Colombian officials uncover assassination plot against investigative reporters May 15, 2013 Scott Griffen The International Press Institute (IPI) today urged Colombian authorities to remain vigilant in helping ensure the safety of the country’s journalists following the revelation Monday of a plan to assassinate a respected reporter together with two civil society researchers. Officials at Colombia’s national journalist-protection unit announced they had raised security for freelance reporter Gonzálo Guillén […] Read more »
IPI urges Azerbaijan’s president to veto criminal defamation expansion May 15, 2013 Steven M. Ellis The International Press Institute (IPI) today urged Azerbaijan’s president to veto a bill that would expand the criminal offences of slander and insult to apply to information posted online. The country’s National Assembly on Tuesday approved the proposal, which now goes before President Ilham Aliyev, who in 2011 set forth a National Action Plan on […] Read more »
IPI urges Azerbaijan to repeal criminal defamation, not broaden it May 3, 2013 Steven M. Ellis Azerbaijan should decriminalise defamation, not broaden it to target online media, the International Press Institute (IPI) said today. A parliamentary committee on Tuesday discussed a draft bill that would expand the crimes of slander and insult to apply to information posted online. The crimes currently apply to public statements and information transmitted through mass media. […] Read more »
Ruling by Ethiopia’s Supreme Court in Eskinder Nega case another missed opportunity May 3, 2013 On World Press Freedom Day, the International Press Institute (IPI) joined 13 other organizations in condemning journalist Eskinder Nega’s 18 year prison sentence, which was upheld by an Ethiopian court yesterday. The full text of the statement is below. Ruling by Ethiopia’s Supreme Court in Eskinder Nega Case Another Missed Opportunity Today, Freedom Now, Amnesty […] Read more »
Dominican Republic government signals intent to abolish criminal defamation April 29, 2013 Scott Griffen Government officials in the Dominican Republic have agreed on the need to remove criminal penalties for defamation from the national press law, the International Press Institute (IPI) reported following its second visit to the country in the last 12 months. “We are pleased that there is consensus to modernise Law No. 6132, which regulates the […] Read more »
IPI calls for investigation into killing of Somali journalist April 24, 2013 Jan Beyer The International Press Institute (IPI) today urged authorities in Somalia to conduct a swift and comprehensive investigation into the killing of journalist Mohamed Ibrahim Rageh. AFP reported that unidentified assailants fired lethal shots at Rageh as he returned home after work on Sunday, April 21 in Mogadishu. Rageh, a journalist with Somali National Television and […] Read more »
Bangladeshi journalist arrested April 15, 2013 Jan Beyer The International Press Institute (IPI) expressed concern about the arrest of Bangladeshi editor Mahmudur Rahman. Rahman was arrested on Thursday, Apr. 11, on the premises of the Bengali-language pro-opposition newspaper Amar Desh, of which he is currently the acting editor. According to reports by AP, charges brought against Rahman include sedition, cyber-crimes as well as […] Read more »
Australian journalists ordered to reveal their sources April 11, 2013 Konstantin Balev The International Press Institute (IPI) today expressed concern at Australia’s attempt to force journalists to reveal their sources – an act that contravenes a fundamental journalistic right. Five Australian journalists – Fairfax Media reporters Adele Ferguson, Richard Baker, Nick McKenzie and Philip Dorling and The West Australian’s Steve Pennells – were served subpoenas last month […] Read more »
Mission report reveals state authorities as one of the principal obstacles to press freedom in Mexico April 11, 2013 A report released by the International Press Institute (IPI) and the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) following their February joint press-freedom mission to Mexico states that the new Mexican federal government must work to fully implement recent institutional measures designed to improve journalist safety. The report also reveals that Mexican state governments […] Read more »
Cuban journalist freed April 10, 2013 Scott Griffen After 204 days in prison and two hunger strikes, Cuban journalist Calixto Ramón Martínez Arias was released yesterday following months of lobbying by the International Press Institute (IPI) and other media and human rights organisations. “Victory,” tweeted Roberto J. Guerra, director of the independent news agency Hablemos Press, where Martínez had worked prior to his […] Read more »
Press attacks across Africa April 10, 2013 Jan Beyer Violent conflicts in Mali and the Central African Republic have gravely affected the state of press freedom in these countries, but journalists in other African countries have also been subjected to recent attacks. Mali: A war on terror, a war on journalists While Mali’s general security situation might have improved to some degree after the […] Read more »
Ahead of upcoming hearing, IPI and WAN-IFRA call for release of Ethiopian journalist April 5, 2013 The International Press Institute (IPI) and the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) today reiterated their call for the Ethiopian authorities drop terrorism charges against Eskinder Nega and immediately free him from prison, along with other journalists who are currently being held in connection with their work. While Nega was supposed to have […] Read more »
World’s press calls for action as threats continue to undermine Mexican media April 3, 2013 Leer en español With media professionals across Mexico continuing to face high levels of violent crime, the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), the World Editors Forum (WEF) and the International Press Institute (IPI) call on the federal government to do more to protect journalists and reverse the prevailing culture of impunity. President […] Read more »
OAS resolution excludes changes to Special Rapporteurship March 25, 2013 Scott Griffen The International Press Institute (IPI) today cautiously welcomed the exclusion, in a resolution approved on Friday by an Organisation of American States (OAS) Special General Assembly, of provisions designed to weaken the Special Rapporteurship for Freedom of Expression, the bloc’s free-speech watchdog. Most significantly, the government of Ecuador – and its allies in Venezuela, Bolivia, […] Read more »
IPI urges investigation into killing of Guatemalan journalist March 22, 2013 Jan Beyer The International Press Institute (IPI) today urged Guatemalan authorities to conduct a swift and comprehensive investigation into the killing of journalist Jaime Napoleón Jarquín Duarte on Wednesday, March 22. According to reports, Jarquín was chatting with three friends in a small store in Ciudad Pedro de Álvaro, in the municipality of Moyuta, along Guatemala’s southern […] Read more »
OAS member states to vote on possible changes to Special Rapporteurship March 20, 2013 Scott Griffen Foreign ministers representing the 35 members of the Organisation of American States (OAS) will gather this Friday in Washington for a possible vote on proposed reforms to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) that the International Press Institute (IPI) fears would greatly weaken the OAS Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression. In a series […] Read more »
Brazilian journalist gunned down in front of his home March 11, 2013 Jan Beyer The International Press Institute (IPI) today called on Brazilian authorities to fully investigate last Saturday’s killing of journalist Rodrigo Neto de Faria. Neto de Faria, who worked for Radio Vanguarda and the daily Vale do Aço, was shot by unknown gunmen on Saturday, March 9 in front of his home in Ipatinga, a city in […] Read more »
Mexican online journalist killed, 1st under new administration March 6, 2013 Scott Griffen The International Press Institute (IPI) and the World Association of Newspapers and Newspaper Publishers (WAN-IFRA) today called for an immediate investigation into the killing of Mexican journalist Jaime Guadalupe González Domínguez in the northern state of Chihuahua on Sunday. According to reports, González, the editor of the news site ojinaganews.com.mx, was intercepted by a group […] Read more »
