Commemoratives Events of International Day to End Impunity held in Puntland, Mogadishu
MOGADISHU, Somalia, November 24, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The first-ever International Day to End Impunity was yesterday, 23 November, commemorated in Mogadishu and Bossasso, Puntland.
The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) organized roundtable discussions in Mogadishu on protection of safety of journalists and struggle against impunity.
Abdi Aden Guled, Senior Vice President of NUSOJ Supreme Council said the union organised the event “to protect journalists and the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to Somali journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty”.
In this roundtable, journalists and media owners discussed the safety of journalists and intimidations they are currently receiving warring sides. The participants of Mogadishu roundtable urged the Transitional Federal Government to give its full political support to the strengthening of press freedom by promoting safe and unhindered conditions for journalists to perform their professional duties.
The Mogadishu journalists and media owners similarly appealed to parliament to promote safe working conditions for journalists by developing legislation that fosters media freedoms.
In Bossasso, NUSOJ organized roundtable discussions, which was attended by journalists, media owners and civil society representatives.
Puntland journalists hailed the bravery of journalists, who were murdered, assaulted and subjected to various forms of harassment because of their journalistic activities work.
Bossasso roundtable participants underlined the importance to protect safety of journalists because of the indispensable role that journalists play in peace building and national reconciliation by providing objective and pluralistic information to the people.
Puntland government was urged to handle violence against journalists as a direct attack on freedom of expression, press freedom and the stability of Puntland, and openly negate any effort to curb critical or differing voices in the society.
NUSOJ is a member of International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) community and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) which commemorated this day worldwide.