| Mission Statement : |
The Media Foundation for West Africa is a regional independent, non-profit, non-governmental organisation based in Accra, Ghana. It was established in 1997 to defend and promote the rights and freedoms of the media, and generally, to help expand the boundaries of freedom of speech and expression in West Africa through: * Advocacy and promotion of Media Rights and Freedom of Expression * Monitoring, alerting and publicising violations of and attacks on freedom of thought and expression. * Defence and support of Journalists, Writers, Artists and other Communicators against intimidation and other controls that could undermine free expression. * Research into issues affecting Media Rights and Freedom of Expression. * Training and support for professional practice and media capacity building. * Promoting and facilitating programmes of informed political debate, civic empowerment and popular participation. VISION The vision of the MFWA is for a sub-region in which the fundamental human rights of freedom of thought and expression are guaranteed; and in which free mass media serve first, as the repository, and then, as the “conveyor belt” for bringing to fulfilment, all the other universally subscribed rights and freedoms for all persons. MISSION The MFWA seeks to advance the development of civil society using media strategies and networking to foster interaction and collaboration with other sectors of society around the issues of human rights, democracy, peace, security and development. Significant progress has been made in the development of a durable democratic culture and the exercise of Media Rights and Freedom of Speech. Threats to these gains, however, remain. Attempts to reverse them are still strong. And the old tyrannical methods of undermining media autonomy and silencing critical voices persist in places. Extant laws and regulations from the past, inimical to the strengthening and expansion of these rights and freedoms, must be repudiated. New and emerging dangers and threats to silence Media and Expression must be exposed and averted. Victims of abuse and repression need support. Direct interventions and continuous Monitoring, Alerts and Mobilization of local and international opinion for Support and Solidarity can provide Defence, Protection and Security. Continuous and well-informed research can provide the basis for responsible and democratic alternatives. __________________FRANCAIS La Fondation pour les Médias en Afrique de l’Ouest est une organisation régionale, non-gouvernementale et à but non-lucratif basée à Accra. Fondée en 1997, La Fondation pour les Médias en Afrique de l’Ouest cherche à protéger et promouvoir les droits et libertés de médias, ainsi que toute forme d’expression au sein de la région. On espère que ce site internet servira d’un point de ralliement international grâce auquel les organisations de médias peuvent rendre publiques les violations des droits des médias de même que les atrocités commises contre les médias en Afrique de l’Ouest. Ce site internet est supposé aider à prévenir de telles violations et pour tirer l’attention sur les anciennes et tyranniques méthodes de baillonnement des médias qui sont toujours en vogue dans certaines zones. Ce site présentera des recherches effectuées sur les questions relatives aux droits des médias et à la liberté d’expression. Le site servira également de source d’information et fournira les resultats des recherches, des données et des informations aux médias, aux institutions professionnelles, aux ONGs, et aux agences gouvernementales et inter-gouvernementales. Il servira aussi de forum pour stimuler la discussion et l’éducation en vue du développement des idées sur les droits des médias et la liberté d’expression |
