New IFEX member in Turkey

The International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX) held a General Meeting in Urugay, Montevideo last week. At the meeting the NGO was able to increase its number of member organisations by 10, resulting in 81 members.

bianet became a member last year, and another group from Turkey, the Initiative against Crimes of Thought, headed by activist Sanar Yurdatapan, joined at the meeting.

Other groups which joined last week were the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Security (IRFS) and the Mizzima News Agency (Burma Focus), which runs in exile from Burma. Also new members are, from the Lebanon the Maharat Foundation, from Brazil the Investigating Journalism Association (ABRAJI), from Somalia the National Union of Journalists (NUSOJ), from Argentina the Journalists' Forum FOPEA, from Mexico the Journalists' Centre and Public Ethics (CEPET), from the Ukraine the Mass Media Institute (IMI), and from Bahrain the Centre for Human Rights (BCHR).

IFEX is the biggest NGO worldwide defending the freedom of expression. It was founded fifteen years ago. International foundations such as the International Journalists' Federation (FIJ), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the Committee for the Protection of Journalists (CPJ), Article 19 and Index on Censorship are also members.

During the week of the General Meeting, there were panels and forums for technical and practical advice, as well as campaigns. (EÖ/TK/AG)