More than a third of
the world’s people live in countries where there is no
press freedom. Reporters Without Borders works constantly to restore
their
right to be informed. Fourty-two media professionals lost their lives
in
2003 for doing what they were paid to do — keeping us informed. Today,
more than 130 journalists around the world are in prison simply for
doing
their job. In Nepal, Eritrea and China, they can spend years in jail
just
for using the "wrong" word or photo. Reporters Without Borders believes
imprisoning or killing a journalist is like eliminating a key witness
and
threatens everyone’s right to be informed. It has been fighting such
practices for more than 18 years.
Defending
press freedom... every day
Reporters
Without Borders, kept on constant alert via its network of over 100
correspondents, rigorously condemns any attack on press freedom
world-wide by keeping the media and public opinion informed through
press releases and public-awareness campaigns.
The
association defends journalists and other media contributors and
professionals who have been imprisoned or persecuted for doing their
work. It speaks out against the abusive treatment and torture that is
still common practice in many countries.
The
organisation supports journalists who are being threatened in their own
countries and provides financial and other types of support to their
needy families.
Reporters
Without Borders is fighting to reduce the use of censorship and to
oppose laws designed to restrict press freedom.
The
association is also working to improve the safety of journalists
world-wide, particularly in war zones. It is committed to assist in the
rebuilding of media groups and to provide financial and material
support to news staffs experiencing hardships.
Finally,
since January 2002, when it created the Damocles Network, Reporters
Without Borders acquired a judicial arm. In order to ensure that
murderers and torturers of journalists are brought to trial, the
Network provides victims with legal services and represents them before
the competent national and international courts, so that proper
judicial procedures can be implemented.
Reporters
Without Borders : an international organisation
The organisation’s
initiatives are
being carried out on five continents through its national branches
(Germany, Austria, Belgium, Spain, France, Italy, Sweden and
Switzerland) and its offices in Abidjan, Bangkok, Montreal, New York,
Tokyo and Washington. It also works in close co-operation with local
and regional press freedom organisations and with members of the
"Reporters without Borders’ Network," who represent Afghanistan,
Argentina, Bangladesh, Myanmar ("Burma"), Cuba, Eritrea, Peru, the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Russia, Tunisia and the Ukraine.
Complete contact
information about the organisation’s various branches is available
at : www.rsf.org
www.rsf.org :
a news website devoted to press freedom
Reporters Without
Borders’ maintains
this trilingual (French, English and Spanish) website in order to keep
a daily tally of attacks on press freedom as they occur throughout the
world. Updated several times a day, it functions like a press-freedom
news agency. It gives Internet users an opportunity to act as a group
to demand the release of jailed journalists by signing on-line
petitions. To circumvent censorship, it presents occasionally articles
that have been banned in their country of origin, hosts newspapers that
have been closed down in their homeland and serves as a forum where
journalists who have been "silenced" by authorities can voice their
opinions. This website, which welcomes 150,000 to 200,000 visitors per
month, also provides complete reports on cases covered in the press, as
well as a daily "barometer" summarising the most recent attacks on
press freedom.
Three
key events support the cause of press freedom
Every year, on 3 May,
Reporters Without
Borders celebrates World Press Freedom Day. On this occasion, it
publishes a full report of the status of press freedom in more than 150
countries. In addition, the association offers news staffs around the
world an opportunity to support incarcerated journalists through its
"sponsorship" programme. Once a year, Sponsorship Day provides an
occasion to break the silence and openly discuss the situation of these
journalists who have been jailed because they chose to keep us
informed. On 10 December of every year, the association awards the
Reporters Without Borders - Fondation de France Prize to the journalist
who has contributed the most to the cause of press freedom in his(her)
country. The funds that make it possible for Reporters Without Borders
to carry on its daily fight are derived from the annual sale of two
photo magazines, public donations and the support provided by various
institutions.
