Press
Release
World Day of Information: IPC
launches Nigerian Journalists’ Internet Rights Initiative (NJIRI), calls for
safety of journalists Online
For
immediate release, Thursday September 28th, 2017
As
the global community marks the “International Day for Universal Access to
Information” (IDUAI), today, the International Press Centre (IPC),
Lagos-Nigeria has announced the launch of the “The Nigerian Journalists
Internet Rights Initiative (NJIRI)”.
Director
of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade said the main objectives of the NJIRI are to
defend Internet and digital rights as well as the safety of journalists online.
Mr.
Arogundade explained further that the one-year campaign will aim to advance the
right of freedom of expression for online journalists in Nigeria based on the
premise that internet spaces and online platforms should be safe and free of
institutional limitations for journalists and other media practitioners to use
as mediums of information and engagement.
Mr.
Arogundade said it was imperative to demand for the safety of journalists
online on the occasion of the #AccessToInfoDay given the worrisome trend of
indiscriminate attacks on journalists, bloggers and others.
He
said these objectives accord with principles of #AccessToInfoDay given its relevance
to the new 2030 Development Agenda, and in particular the Sustainable
Development Goal (SDG) target 16.10 which calls for ensuring public access to
information and protection of fundamental freedoms.
NJIIRI
is being supported by International Freedom of Exchange (IFEX), an
international freedom of expression organization headquartered in Toronto,
Canada. It
is expected that through the project, the right to freedom of expression for online journalism in Nigeria
is respected, protected and guaranteed within the medium and
long term.
As
part of the project a research report titled
“Issues in frameworks, freedom of expression and Internet rights in Nigeria: A
baseline research by the Nigerian Journalists Internet Rights Initiative
(NJIRI)” has been commissioned and is being reviewed following which there will
be a public presentation and dissemination to stakeholder groups in the freedom
of expression community.
It is also envisaged that the research
report would play a critical role in the NJIRI campaign as it shall serve as
referral document for engagement with statutory bodies and related stakeholders
groups under the NJIRI.
The
IPC project recognizes that Universal access is central to the UN’s World
Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), which recognized the ambition of
developing inclusive Knowledge Societies. “Accessibility” is also recognized as
one of the four principles in UNESCO’s ROAM model of Internet Universality.
Universal
access to information is bound up with the right to seek and receive
information, which is an integral part of the right to freedom of expression.
It is covered by Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and
Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Toyin Ayoade
Social Media/Communications Officer
IPC, Lagos-Nigeria
Tel: +234 (0) 8114503887
International Press Centre (IPC),
Lagos, Nigeria
IPC is Nigeria’s foremost media capacity development organization.
www.ipcng.org l www.twitter.com/IPCng l www.facebook.com/ipc.nigeria lwww.youtube.com/ipcng l Google+ : Ipc Ng
IPC is Nigeria’s foremost media capacity development organization.
www.ipcng.org l www.twitter.com/IPCng l www.facebook.com/ipc.nigeria lwww.youtube.com/ipcng l Google+ : Ipc Ng
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