African press committed to Year of Peace

(Pana)-- The press in Africa is committed to the successful Year of Peace and Security, proclaimed by African heads of State and government at their summit in February 2010 in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.

To press home this point, the African Union (AU) and the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) are to organise a regional workshop on 2-3 September on the theme ‘Safety and protection of journalists’ in fulfilment of the proclamation ‘The Year of Peace and Security’.

Sources close to the organisers say the workshop will bring together African journalists and civil society partners to discuss the protection of journalists and impunity, leading to the drafting of a resolution that will recognise the protection of journalists in accordance with international law, including UN charters, the constitution and resolutions adopted by the AU.

According to the sources, FAJ and the AU are to put pressure on member states to take responsibility and put an end to intentional attacks on media professionals. They are also to respect professional independence of journalists.

The sources said African leaders had proclaimed 21 September as the ‘Day of Peace’, and called on the international community to, among other things, stop hostilities in all conflict areas still experiencing various levels of violence, provide humanitarian assistance, equipment and other services to communities living in conflict areas and to those not plagued by conflicts but would need such services.

Organisers called on all AU member states to ‘stand up for peace’ by observing a minute silence at 1000 GMT that day, saying that Sports would also be used in the commemoration of the ‘Year of Peace and Security’.

Under the theme, ‘One day, One goal’, organisers have scheduled many football matches as part of the commemoration. Educationally, they said, the lesson - Taking Action for Peace - must be taught in all schools during the Peace Day.

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