The October 2009 conference, “The War on Words – Terrorism, Media, and the Law” held in Vienna, Austria, brought together leading journalists, lawyers, human rights advocates, and security and counterterrorism experts from Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa. These noted experts participated in a series of panels where they discussed the impact of the fight against terrorism on civil liberties, in particular freedom of expression and freedom of the press.
A key feature of the conference was the creation of the Vienna Declaration, endorsed by 32 freedom of expression groups, which called on governments to respect media freedom in the fight against terrorism. Conference participants reiterated that freedom of expression and of the media are fundamental human rights.
In its preamble, the Vienna Declaration noted that “a free and independent media, including new media, can play an indispensable role in holding those wielding power to account. A robust media sector, able to exert an effective watchdog role over security policies and bodies, and thereby help prevent abuse and wrongdoing, is key to combating terrorism.”
Click here to read the complete preamble along with the full text of the Declaration and its list of signatories.
Shown (left to right):
Joseph D. Steinfield, Partner, Prince Lobel
N.S. Mueen, Public Affairs Committee, Muslim Council of Britain, London, England
Endy Bayuni, Chief Editor, Jakarta Post, Jakarta, Indonesia
