Nouakchott—AMI:
The Mauritanian Journalists’ Union, the International Federation of Journalists and other national press, rights and trade union organisations signed the Media Freedoms Charter in the Arab World in Nouakchott this Thursday morning, in the presence of Mr Issa Ould El Yedali, Director of Print Press at the Ministry of Relations with Parliament and Civil Society.
The document, prepared by the International Federation of Journalists, affirms that freedom of expression is a fundamental human right protected by international and regional instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The signing ceremony gave the President of the Mauritanian Journalists’ Union, Mr Mohamed Salem Ould Dah, an opportunity to highlight Mauritania’s achievements in media freedoms and liberalisation of the audiovisual sector.
He outlined the Union’s efforts to strengthen these achievements by organising several training events for journalistic teams.
The President of the International Federation of Journalists, Mr Philippe Leruth, welcomed the development of media freedoms in Mauritania, which had placed it at the forefront of the Arab world in this field.
He highlighted the importance of the Media Freedoms Charter in the Arab World and the need to raise awareness of it.
He also noted the challenges facing traditional press structures in the era of expanding social media.
The International Federation of Journalists’ policy and programmes officer, Mr Mounir Zaarour, also stressed the importance of signing this charter to strengthen media freedom in the Arab world.
The Media Freedoms Charter in the Arab World has been signed by several Arab governments and media, rights and trade union organisations.