Miami (August 28, 2009)—During a meeting of 15 global and regional press freedom organizations the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) and the Venezuelan Press Bloc announced a September forum to be held in Caracas to review and discuss the current state of freedom of expression in the Americas.
Titled “Emergency Forum on Freedom of Expression” the event, to be held in the Venezuelan capital September 18, will feature representatives of NGOs, journalists, authors, academics and special guest speakers, including former Mexican Foreign Minister Jorge Castañeda and former Bolivian President Carlos Mesa, among other prominent figures and opinion-makers.
“Our mission,” IAPA officers said, “is to provide a forum where the major problems faced by practicing journalists can be considered and discussed with respect, and at the same time show our concern for the dangers being faced by the Venezuelan press and solidarity with their dangerous situation, as evidenced by the attacks that journalists and new media have suffered in recent weeks.”
The forum is convened by the International Association of Broadcasting (IAB); International Federation of Journalists (IFJ); International Press Institute (IPI); International Center for Journalists (ICFJ); World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN/IFRA), the World Press Freedom Committee (WPFC) and national press associations such as the Association of Argentine Press Entities (ADEPA); National Association of Newspapers of Brazil (ANJ); National Press Association of Bolivia (ANP); Ecuadorian Association of Newspaper Publishers (AEDEP); Association of Colombian Newspapers (ANDIARIOS); Mexican Publishers Association (AME); National Press Association of Chile (ANP) and Peruvian Press Council (CPP).
The program features panel discussions, roundtables and presentations by prominent members of the Venezuelan press, from all editorial stances, who have been invited, informed the IAPA.
