The International News Safety Institute is to launch INSI Asia Pacific with a regional office based in Singapore to focus on one of the the most dangerous regions in the world for journalists and media workers.
This is an initiative of Australian and New Zealand journalists and media workers through their unions Media Safety and Solidarity Appeal together with the global unions for media workers, UNI Global Union and the International Federation of Journalists Asia Pacific.
Journalists and media personnel working in the Asia-Pacific region confront targeted attacks, threats and intimidation, work-related injury and the dangers of reporting in areas of conflict.
India, Pakistan, the Philippines and Afghanistan are often ranked in the top ten deadliest countries in the world for journalists with Nepal and Sri Lanka ranking amongst the worst countries for impunity. Next month will mark the third anniversary of the Maguindanao Massacre in the Philippines, when 32 journalists were among the 58 killed in 2009.
Already, more than 20 journalists have been killed in the Asia-Pacific region since January 2012.
The International News Safety Institute (INSI) was established 10 years ago by the IFJ and the International Press Institute with major news organisations to create a global safety network for journalists and other news gatherers. INSI operates on the premise that creating a culture of safety in journalism enhances the capacity of media to contribute to building prosperous and confident democracies.
To address these challenges in the Asia-Pacific, a regional INSI office will be established in Singapore to boost and coordinate efforts to improve safety and security for journalists and media personnel working throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
The office will serve a number of important functions including a single point of contact and rapid response to threats and attacks on journalists, standardised safety-related training materials and trainings and the on-going monitoring and reporting of conditions throughout the region.
“We are delighted to work with IFJ Asia-Pacific and UNI Global Union on this initiative,” said INSI Director Rodney Pinder. “This will enable us to develop safety measures in areas of great danger and provide practical help where it is most needed.”
For further information contact Rodney Pinder +44 7734709267