An international convention to ensure the safety and freedom of journalists and media professionals!
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has already submitted a draft charter for adoption to the United Nations to ensure the safety and freedom of journalists and media professionals in the next assembly.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has urged all member organizations to press their governments to adopt this draft, which the Greek government has already ratified and implemented even before the UN adopted the resolution.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has submitted the draft of this charter to other countries, including Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s member unions, the Federation of Media Employees’ Trade Unions (FMETU), the Free Media Movement (FMM), and the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA), have submitted this drafted charter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka. They requested that the Sri Lankan government take necessary steps to give its consent.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs invited us to a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 21 April 2025 to discuss the matter. The meeting was attended by the Convener of the Free Media Movement, Ms. Hana Ibrahim, Vice President of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association, Mr. Pabudu Dushyantha, National Organizer of the Media Workers Trade Union Federation, Mr. Tharindu Uduwaragedara, and Deputy General Secretary, Ms. Indira Nawagamuwa, representing the media organizations.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath, who entered the discussion in a very cordial manner and expressed his agreement to take necessary steps after further discussions regarding the proposal for a charter on the safety and freedom of journalists and media professionals submitted to the United Nations by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) for approval. The Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed his agreement to take the necessary steps after further discussions regarding the support for its adoption at the United Nations.