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Declaration adopted at the 8th International Conference of the World
Associations of Press Councils (WAPC) held in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 19-21
February, 2001
Eminent media persons and heads of different Press Councils assembled in Dhaka
on February 19-21, 2001 for the 8th International Conference of World
Association of Press Councils (WAPC). Hosted by Bangladesh Press Council, the
WAPC Conference was inaugurated by Sheikh Hasina, Honorable Prime Minister of
the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. The inaugural Session was
chaired by Justice Habibur Rahman Khan, Chairman of Bangladesh Press Council.
The three - days WAPC Conference was also addressed by Justice Latifur Rahman,
Chief Justice of Bnagladesh; Mr. Abdul Matin Khasru, MP, Minister for Law,
Justice and Parliamentary Affairs; Barrister Abul Hasan Chowdhury, State
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Professor Abu Sayeed, State Minister for
Information of the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.
Eminent persons, among others, Barrister Amir-ul Islam, Vice Chairman of
Bangladesh Bar Council; Barrister Mainul Hosein, President of Bangladesh Supreme
Court Bar Association; Justice K. M. Sobhan; Professor Ali Ashraf MP; Member of
Bangladesh Press Council; Mr. Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Editor of the Bangladesh
Observer; Mr. Mahbubul Alam, Editor of the Independent; Mr. Mahfuz Anam, Editor
of the Daily Star; Economist Dr. Atiur Rahman; Ms. Khushi Kabir; Chairperson of
the Association of Development Agencies in Bangladesh (ADAB) ; Barrister Shafiq
Ahmed, Member of Bangladesh Bar Council; Professor Ahaduzzaman, Chairman and
Professor Dr. Golam Rahman of Mass Communication and Journalism Department of
Dhaka University and Professor Syed Anwar Hossain of Dhaka University and Member
of Bangladesh Press Council addressed the Conference.
Among the foreign delegates, Mr. C. R. Irani, Chief Editor of the Statesman,
India, Mr. M. J. Akbar, Chief Editor of the Asian Age, India, Mr. Hadj Alade
Odunewu, Vice President - WAPC & Chairman, Nigerian Press Council, Mr. Salah
Muntaser, Deputy Chairman of Supreme Press Council of Egypt, Mr. W. Rajapakshe,
Vice President - WAPC & Chairman of Sri Lanka Press Council, Mr. Mesut Gunsev,
Vice Chairman of KIBRIS Turkish Press Council, Mr. Joseph Masanilo, Vice
President - Media Council Of Tanzania, Mr. D.F. Kariyakarawana, President - Sri
Lanka Press Association & Secretary General - Confederation of Asian Journalist
Unions, Ms. Norila Mohd Daud, President - National Union Of Journalists Malaysia
& Director Confederation of Asean Journalists, Mr. Saffet Soykal, Chairman,
KIBRIS Turkish Journalists Association and Mr. Godwin E. Omole, Secretary,
Nigerian Press Council addressed the WAPC Conference.
Justice P. B. Sawant (India) the President and Justice Habibur Rahman Khan,
Chairman of Bangladesh Press Council also addressed the Conference.
The WAPC Conference discussed and deliberated on issues like:
(1) The Promotion of Media Freedom & Code of Ethics.
(2) Right to Freedom of Information with reference to Official Secrets Act and
other related laws.
(3) Media & Development.
(4) The Role of Media in Promoting International Peace, Understanding & Co-operation.
The World Association of Press Councils (WAPC) is an umbrella organization of
Press Councils and similar bodies committed to championing the cause of Freedom
of Press.
The Conference was attended by about 100 delegates including 60 foreign
delegates from Egypt, Tanzania, Malaysia, KIBRIS - North Cyprus, Nigeria, Sri
Lanka, India, Canada and Sweden representing various press and media Councils,
print and electronic media, legal profession, judiciary, politics, NGOs and
intelligentsia.
The recommendations of the Conference adopted as WAPC Dhaka Declaration are as
follows:
The delegates at the 8th International Conference of the World Association of
Press Councils, hosted by the Bangladesh Press Council, in Dhaka on 19 - 21
February, 2001:
Recorded their appreciation to Press Council of Bangladesh, its Chairman and
Members for successfully hosting the WAPC Conference.
Expressed their gratitude to Sheikh Hasina, Hon'ble Prime Minister of the
Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, for inaugurating the WAPC
Conference and appreciated her very thoughtful inaugural address.
Acknowledged the warm hospitality extended by the government and the people of
Bangladesh to the delegates and participants from foreign countries.
Expressed satisfaction over the existence of a very free and vibrant press and
also an effective as well as a credible Press Council in Bangladesh to promote
and defend Freedom of Press.
The WAPC Conference in Dhaka reaffirms and reiterates :
Freedom of Press and Expression is an inviolable human right and the cornerstone
of democracy and development,
That the States of the World have on several occasions solemnly declared their
support for freedom of expression;
That under international law freedom of expression and its corollary, freedom of
press, have emerged as a right of all humanity;
That freedom of the press is recognized not simply as a freedom for journalists,
editors or proprietors but rather as a right of all citizens to be informed on
all matters of public interest;
That it is implicit and inherent in the institution of a free media, the press
exercises its powers and duties in a responsible manner;
That it is recognized free press must be accountable to the public, not to
government;
That the right to information from the authorities and organizations whether
public or private whose activities have a bearing on public interest and welfare
is an essential part of the freedom of speech and expression.
That the media has to play its due role in promoting economic development of the
country in which it operates, to ensure basic economic right to every individual
to enable him to participate effectively in the affairs of the state to make
democracy real. Without an effective democracy, the freedom of the media cannot
be preserved and promoted. The economic development is also necessary for the
growth of the media itself.
That the media has an important role to play in building bridges of
understanding between countries and in uniting the nations to promote peace and
cooperation. Without peace and unity, neither democracy can be promoted in the
world nor welfare of the humanity be secured.
That the creation of such organs as independent Press Councils are recognized as
methods whereby the freedom, the responsibility and the accountability of the
press may be maintained and enhanced;
That independent Press Councils provide, inter alia, a democratic, efficient and
inexpensive forum for the hearing of complaints against and by the press, and
for maintaining and assisting the enhancement of its freedom, responsibility and
accountability;
That the creation, development and strengthening of independent Press Councils
should be encouraged;
That the WAPC, particularly through the Press Councils accepting responsibility
for a particular zone or region, should lead to the creation and development of
Press Councils including adoption of a uniform code of ethics for journalists
and media professionals.
That a responsible media should respect the privacy of all people;
That the media will only intrude on the privacy of a person including a public
figure where it is clearly in the public interest;
That it is recognized, fundamentalism of any kind is opposed to peace, progress,
democracy and development in any society or country and as such this menace
should be curbed and fought in a united way.
That the principles of a free and a responsible media apply equally to new
technological methods for the delivery of news and information, education and
entertainment, including the internet and satellite transmission;
That the above principles also apply to news and information transmitted,
published or sold across national boundaries;
That the governments of all countries should take urgent necessary measures to
guarantee safety and security of the journalists and to ensure that the crimes
against journalists do not go unpunished and WAPC should regularly monitor it.
This WAPC Conference expresses concern over and condemns the incidents in which
journalists are either killed or injured while discharging their professional
duty. It stressed on necessary laws to ensure compensation for any media man
killed or injured while on duty.
That with a view to making journalism attractive the talented young people and
improving the competence of the working journalists bilateral and multilateral
exchange programs should be introduced by Press Councils.
Made in Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh on the 20th day of February, 2001.
Justice P.B. Sawant
President WAPC
World Association of Press Councils
Justice Habibur Rahman Khan
Chairman
Bangladesh Press Council
R. Gunasingam
Secretary-General, WAPC
World Association of Press Councils
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