New organization formedFreedom of press in Gulf gets boost [Archives:2003/686/Front Page]

Mohammed Al-Qadhi
A new organization for freedom of the press in the Gulf has been recently launched with the aim to promote human rights and press freedom values in the region, as well as defend the rights of journalists in these countries.
The association has come as a result of the Gulf Forum for the Democratic Political Action which was organized by the US National Democratic Institute in Sana’a during 18-22 October.
It has been named the “Gulf Press Freedom Organization” (GPFO). It is based on an initiative by some journalists who took part in the event. Mohammed al-Yayai, an Omani journalist and writer and coordinator of the GPFO, told the Yemen Times that the organization is meant to promote the values of a free press, and its independence, as well as human rights and how to defend them among journalists in the region.
Al-Yahiyai pointed out that the GPFO will work to promote the professionalism of journalists, helping them to promote their skills in different genres of reporting so that they can be competent to report the truth, voicing the concerns of the voiceless in the society in an objective and professional manner.
He said that there will be workshops and training courses for journalists in cooperation with similar regional and international NGOs, debating of press and publication laws and working to abolish or amend articles that restrict press freedoms.
The organization will work, through these workshops, to promote the skills of journalists in using international protection mechanisms to defend their rights being violated in their countries and encouraging journalists in the region to exchange views on various forms of pressures, violations and harassment.
He said that founding members are now discussing possibilities in getting the GPFO registered in any of these countries, and setting up an office in accordance laws for similar regional NGOs in these countries.
However, membership is open to all professional journalists in Yemen and the Gulf countries. The coordinator can be for the time being contacted at [email protected].
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