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Journaliste en Danger (JED) (partner NiZA) “Journaliste en Danger” (JED) is a Kinshasa based non-governmental membership organisation with close to 175 members from the DRC media. Since its founding in 1998, it has become one of the most effective free expression groups in Africa and the number of its member journalists has been growing ever since. It became a member of the International Freedom of Expression eXchange , (IFEX), and the press freedom network of Reporters Without Borders, (RSF).
JED’s mission is twofold. First of all, it aims to defend press freedom as it has been laid out in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. Secondly, JED promotes press freedom through training and awareness raising of journalists on the role of the media in a democracy and the development, through research, of an improved legal framework for freedom of expression. JED believes that promoting free expression is essential to ensure peace and democracy in the DRC.
Today, journalists are still under threat of being arrested and convicted – and sometimes murdered - as criminals for what they write. Media outlets are often shut down and radio frequencies are blocked.
JED defends, on a daily basis, the interests of journalists as well as media organisations who are victim of imprisonment, prosecution and harassment.
JED tries to attract national as well as international attention to the state of media freedom in the DRC through issuing daily alerts of media freedom violations, engaging in research and information dissemination and networking with other organisations and entities inside and outside of the DRC. When journalists are harassed or jailed, or a news organisation threatened, JED sends an alert out locally and internationally.
Apart from the DRC, JED also hosts the secratariat from a regional network, the Organisation of Central African Media (Organisation des medias en Afrique centrale – OMAC, for which JED also issues similar alerts whenever necessary.
Apart from this daily work JED also lobbies and advocates for the rights of journalists and for reforms in media law and policy. It also provides training on professional issues and organises workshops to create debate on media-related issues.
The work of JED is recognised inside and outside of DRC. JED’s alerts generate protest letters from international sources, which is an effective way to prevent authorities from violating journalists’ rights. JED information and reports are widely used by alternative and mainstream media around the world for information about the DRC. Its devoted activities resulted in more media freedom and less imprisonment of journalists in the DRC. What is more, the alerts have pressured the government to lift bans on radio stations, obtained medical treatment for ailing journalists in prison and resulted in their release.
For more information, visit the website www.jed-congo.org or www.jed-afrique.org
Partner profile of JED on niza.nl
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