South Asia Media Solidarity Network - SAMSN

The South Asia Media Solidarity Network (SAMSN) is an alliance of journalists’ trade unions, press freedom organisations and journalists in South Asia committed to working together to promote freedom of expression, freedom of association and journalists’ rights in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, co-ordinated by IFJ Asia-Pacific.

The formation of a South Asia regional network was initially proposed at a meeting of journalists, trade unions and press freedom organisations in Kathmandu in September 2002. SAMSN was then formally established at a regional meeting in Kathmandu in September 2004. At that meeting, participants agreed to stand in solidarity and work together for media reform and an independent pluralist media and to build public respect for the work of journalists across South Asia.

This solidarity is based on a shared understanding of the importance of the craft of journalism, a commitment to good will and an understanding that journalists need to support each other to do their job in safety. Solidarity is also based on an understanding that journalists’ unions and press freedom organisations work together for these common interests and are crucial allies in this shared concern.

Follow-up meetings were held in 2006 and 2007. The 2006 meeting adopted an action plan for the next two years which identified trade union capacity building as a key issue for journalists’ organisations in South Asia. 

The network is coordinated by IFJ Asia-Pacific, which in 2004 appointed a South Asia Regional Coordinator, based in New Delhi, India, to consolidate regional interaction and programming.

SAMSN Declaration

At the September 2007 meeting, also in Kathmandu, SAMSN members adopted a joint Declaration that commits members to increase media solidarity and press freedom in South Asia. The Declaration addresses themes including the establishment of stronger trade unions, gender equality, conflict journalism and the necessity to keep the public informed on human right issues. It highlights SAMSN initiatives to be adopted to achieve region-wide respect for human rights and press freedom.

SAMSN Members

SAMSN members include: Afghan Independent Journalists' Association, Bangladesh Journalists' Rights Forum (BJRF), Dhaka Reporters' Unity, Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangbadik Forum, Media Watch, All India Newspapers Employees' Federation, Indian Journalists' Union, National Union of Journalists India, Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), National Union of Journalists Nepal, Nepal Press Union, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, Pakistan Press Foundation, Sri Lanka Working Journalists’ Association, Federation of Media Employees’ Trade Unions and Free Media Movement.

SAMSN Activities

SAMSN’s main activities include drawing attention to violations of press freedom, conducting advocacy and campaigns for journalists’ and media rights, sharing resources and information, issuing a monthly e-bulletin and preparing annual press freedom reports. SAMSN representatives promote regional solidarity by participating in country missions, training programs, forums or round-tables and Days of Action.

SAMSN Future

Participants in SAMSN activities have identified several priority areas for action:

·       Adoption of national media charters in each network country.

·       Regional cooperation and harmonising, on the basis of national media charters, a SAMSN charter.

In 2008, SAMSN representatives and partners will again meet in Kathmandu in September.

For more information, please contact ifj@ifj-asia.org