fund against censorship

Why it is needed:

Increasingly, officials are (mis)using courts and legal procedures to cloak their attempts to stifle news.

Picture this scene. A journalist in a place where it is dangerous to report the truth is brought before a hostile magistrate or court. The charge could be "insulting the president," "revealing secrets," "defamation" or something else. The real crime is that the journalist did his or her job. In such a situation, where a free press itself really is on trial, a person without effective legal representation can be almost helpless.

For 10 years, the Fund Against Censorship has tried to help. A joint activity of nine international press freedom organizations, it provides self-help legal assistance grants to news media and journalists in trouble. Grants go primarily to help pay local lawyers where this is needed.

Investigatory or protest missions, as well as friend-of-the-court briefs or appearances, also are within the Fund’s purposes.

A Fund Against Censorship was the top recommendation of the 1987 Voices of Freedom conference held by the World Press Freedom Committee in London on how best to fight censorship. Journalists from 34 countries took part.

Organizations participating include:

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Commonwealth Press Union (CPU), International Federation of the Periodical Press (FIPP), International Association of Broadcasting (IAB), Inter American Press Association (IAPA), International Press Institute (IPI), North American  Broadcasters Association (NABA), World Association of Newspapers (WAN), World Press Freedom Committee (WPFC).

The joint activity is administered by the World Press Freedom Committee.

Those seeking help can approach the Fund Against Censorship through any of its member groups. Consensus, plus availability of funds, is required for action.

It is time for this proven, practical program to do more. The need is great. A reported 185 journalists were in jails and prisons at the end of 1996. The comments presented here indicate the Fund’s impact. Please help us broaden its work through your support.