FAPaJ is an IFJ regional group, comprising representatives from Pacific, Western Asia, Eastern Asia, Southern Asia and Central Asia. Its first in-person meeting was attended by the IFJ leadership, including President Dominique Pradalié, Vice-Presidents Nasser Abu Baker and Sabina Inderjit – FAPaJ’s president – as well asIFJ Honorary Treasurer Jim Boumelha. Representatives from UAE, Syria, Lebanon, Australia and the Philippines also attended.
To address pressing challenges and enhance solidarity in the region, FAPaJ representatives agreed five decisions:
- Digital laws and press freedom: FAPaJ will coordinate with its affiliates a comprehensive database and reporting system to address governments tactics enacting digital laws that hinder press freedom, such as personal data protection laws, digital security laws, and anti-cybercrime laws, as well as internet shutdowns.
- Attacks on journalists: As a response to the increasing number of attacks on journalists, including imprisonments, FAPaJ will address these issues at international forums such as the Human Rights Council and engage institutions like the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and regional offices of the UN Human Rights Commissioner.
- Campaigns against impunity: FAPaJ will work on campaigns in countries and across the region to fight impunity for crimes against journalists, in cooperation with the IFJ Secretariat in Brussels. Preparations for the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists in November will also begin.
- Gender equality and women’s rights: FAPaJ will enhance its efforts to promote women’s rights and gender equality through more effective action in this area across the region.
- Journalists' training resources: FaPaJ will increase its efforts to secure the necessary resources to train journalists and media workers.
Additionally, members of FAPaJ’s Steering Committee will create five sub-regional groups, given the vast diversity of the region, to better respond to journalists’ needs and respond to partnership opportunities. It is noteworthy that these administrative subdivisions will be recognised by international organisations as World Health Organisation (WHO), and other UN agencies.
A founding committee was formed during the meeting to prepare the necessary groundwork to launch a group for the Western Asia sub region. The committee is expected to meet within two months and prepare the launch of the mentioned group.
FAPaJ President, Sabina Inderjit, said: “The meeting has been positive and successful in addressing the gaps faced by FAPaJ given the region’s vast diversity. I’m confident that FAPaJ’s efforts to strengthen its position as a powerful body within the IFJ have received a significant boost from this meeting”.
IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger, who took part in the meeting online, said: “This meeting is crucial for our largest IFJ geographical region, which is still terribly divided, still terribly weakened by governments hostile to good journalism [...] FAPaJ members must continue working on concrete actions, and launching campaigns to support unions in crisis. This region will work best if all affiliates are fully involved in the IFJ Asia-Pacific regional group, with the support of our regional office in Sydney”.