Northeast Scribes Form Umbrella Body For Security

Shillong, Jun 11 : On the concluding day of a two-day workshop-cum-seminar here on Monday, journalists from the region formed an umbrella body for their safety and security styled as Northeast India Federation of Journalists (NIFJ) and adopted a resolution demanding action against those involved in violence on working journalists.

"The objective of the newly formed federation is to strengthen freedom of expression and access to information, healthy public dialogue, conflict resolution and democratic processes through promotion of quality and independent journalism underpinned by respect for the economic and professional rights of journalists and media workers," the preamble of the NIFJ read.

"We aim to work collectively and in collaboration to promote and defend rights related to freedom of the media and the right to free association in Northeast India," it emphasized.

"By supporting the role of journalists and the media in campaigning for press freedom and media independence, we will reinforce the central role of an independent media in promoting civil society, democratic discourse and human rights for all," the preamble iterated.

The NIJF charter asserted that all journalists and media staff have the right to work in conditions of safety and security, including the right to "collectively bargain for wages and appropriate (improved) working conditions".

The new federation also seeks to "urgently respond to challenges to journalists' rights in individual countries through international missions", global days of action, and other relevant mechanisms and processes of regional and international solidarity.