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The following is from the IFEX  COMMUNIQUE # 5-31  5 August 1996
AFRICA: IFJ REGIONAL CONFERENCE DISCUSSES ACCESS TO
INFORMATION

Improving access to information was the topic of an African
Regional Conference held by the International Federation of
Journalists (IFJ) in Harare, Zimbabwe from 25 to 27 July 1996.
The meeting was also hosted by the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists.
The Conference, entitled "The Right To Know: Access To
Information in African Countries", brought together journalists
from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Ethiopia,
Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda
and Zimbabwe. In their Final Declaration, they maintain "that
democracy cannot exist without freedom of expression, access to
information and independent journalism." According to the
Conference Declaration, "The right to know guarantees freedom of
expression, protects human rights, and is the cornerstone of
democracy. Governments, media and all sections of civil society
should work together to promote openness and transparency as a
key to future prosperity and peaceful co-existence throughout
Africa." The meeting recommended "that further meetings to
evaluate the progress towards freedom of information on the
African media landscape should be organised on a sub-regional
basis in the coming year." For the full Declaration or more
information, contact Cailin Mackenzie at the IFJ, Rue Royale,
266, B-1210 Brussels, Belgium; Tel: +322 223 2265/219 7780; Fax:
+322 219 2976; E-mail: ifjsafenet@gn.apc.org.


** ** **

The IFEX "Communique" is published weekly in English, French and
Spanish by the IFEX Clearing House, Toronto. The facility is
operated by the Canadian Committee to Protect Journalists (CCPJ)
in partnership with the member organizations of the International
Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX). Material for the
"Communique" may be submitted to the CCPJ, 490 Adelaide Street
West, Suite 205, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 1T2, CANADA; E-mail:
ifex@web.net; Tel: (1-416) 703-1638; or Fax: (1-416) 703-7034.
Editor: Kristina Stockwood. Subscriptions are available by e-mail
and surface mail. The views expressed in the "Communique" are the
responsibility of the sources to which they are attributed.


___________________________________________________
Bruce Girard
Pulsar - AMARC
Email: bgirard@pulsar.org.ec
http://www.web.net/amarc/pulsar.html
Tel: +593-2-525521    Fax: +593-542818
Av. America 3584, Casilla 17-08-8489, Quito, Ecuador