WORLD ASSOCIATION OF PRESS COUNCILS VII WORLD CONFERENCE AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY 19-21 SEPTEMBER 1998 ISTANBUL

The Delegates at the Fourth General Assembly of the World Association of Press Councils hosted by the Turkish Press Council on the 21st September in the city of Istanbul,

Recorded their appreciation to the Turkish Press Council and its Chairman Mr. Oktay Eksi for hosting the General Assembly and the Seventh International Conference on the 19th, 20 th and 21st September,

Recorded their appreciation to His Excellency Suleyman Demirel, President of Turkey for his opening address,

Recalling that in all democratic states freedom of expression 15 recognized as an inviolable human right,

That under international law freedom of expression and its corollary, freedom of the 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 press that the press exercise its powers and duties in a responsible manner;

That it is recognized that a free press must be accountable to the public, but not to government;

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 in the enhancement of its freedom, responsibility and accountability,

The Delegates reaffirmed their belief in these principles and they declared that the creation, development and enhancement of Press Councils and similar bodies at all levels should continue to be encouraged;

the proceedings of each of the working sessions of the International Conference, namely;

* Privacy and Freedom of Expression
* Debate on an International Code of Ethics for the Media
* A Voluntary Mechanism for Transnational Complaints, and
* Reporting of War and Conflict,

The delegates decided

That a Working Party of three be established to draft a model for an independent Press Council, including a code of ethics for a free and responsible press and a set of procedures for such a council, based on established codes and practices, which can be used by the Association when its advise is sought by individuals or organizations seeking to establish an independent press council and;

That a Working Party of three be established to prepare for the consideration of the Executive Council a draft of a set of model guidelines on media ethics;

That a Working Party of three persons to advise the Executive Council on the feasibility of establishing, financing and attracting wide media and especially public support for a voluntary mechanism for the mediation and resolution of transnational complaints in relation to the conduct of the media , the conduct of others towards the media and for defending and enhancing a free and responsible media;

and the Delegates decided that the Working Parties should report to a meeting of the Executive Council during the Regional Conference to be held in the city of Brisbane in Australia en 22 and 23 June 1999

Made and Declared
In the city of Istanbul on the 21st day of September 1998.

Hon. P.B. Sawant
President
WAPC

Oktay Eksi
Vice President
WAPC

Prof. David Flint
Chairman
Executive Council
WAPC