IAWRT - International Association of Women in Radio and Television

11/11/2024

IAWRT Philippines is elated to see young student journalists and leaders show their support to our sister Frenchie Mae Cumpio.

For the first time in nearly five years, Frenchie was able to take the witness stand to debunk police claims against her and four other human rights defenders arrested back in 2020.

Watch Frenchie and church worker Marielle Domequil give journalists and supporters a small wave as they headed out of the court. Both were heavily guarded.

📸 An Lantawan
🎥 IAWRT Philippines

10/11/2024

The International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) calls on the Philippines government to, once and for all, drop the trumped up- charges against Frenchie Mae Cumpio and set her free.

On November 11, 2024, Frenchie will finally take the stand in a local court to defend herself after over four years in detention. A member of IAWRT Philippines, Frenchie has become the world’s youngest journalist in prison and was only 21 when accused of illegal possession of fi****ms and financial terrorism. Now 25 years old, Frenchie is standing firm against these baseless charges.

No doubt, a grave injustice has already been done to her, and also to her two companions, Mariel Domequil and Alexander Abinguna who were arrested along with her. Her incarceration is a gross violation of the principles of fairness and due process, and meant to render her speechless and stop her from exposing the abuse of power and human rights violations in her own community.

We firmly believe that the right to free speech and the freedom to dissent are fundamental rights that must be protected, and celebrated, rather than penalized.

We stand in solidarity with Frenchie and demand her immediate release. It is time to rectify such injustice. No one must be punished for standing up for what is right.

IAWRT International

03/11/2024

On the occasion of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists

Today, we gather to shed light on a harrowing reality faced by many courageous individuals who dare to speak truth to power. Among them is a remarkable journalist, a young woman whose journey from survivor to storyteller encapsulates the struggle for truth in a world rife with oppression.

Frenchie Mae Cumpio is not just a name; she is a symbol of resilience. As a survivor of the powerful Typhoon Haiyan, she witnessed firsthand the ineptitude of the government response.

It was in that moment of chaos and vulnerability that her political awakening began—a spark ignited by the glaring failures of those in power to provide what is due to the people. The impact of that experience transformed her, propelling her into the world of campus journalism, where she witnessed, covered, and wrote stories on harsher realities and injustices that are often ignored by the mainstream narrative.

In 2015, she trained to become a radio journalist under the International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT). Two years later, she became the program manager of a radio project under IAWRT. Here, we saw her commitment to a path of community journalism that sought to amplify the voices of the marginalized and the oppressed. She understood that the truth is not merely a collection of facts; it is a lifeline for those who suffer in silence.

Through her reporting, she has put a spotlight on the continuing sufferings of the survivors of Typhoon Haiyan and the militarization of farming communities in her region. These stories often go untold. She bravely reported on the widespread red-tagging and surveillance of activists—an act that placed a target on her back.

In early 2020, Cumpio was among the five activists who were arrested in Tacloban. Planted evidence were used to justify her arrest.

Today, she stands as one of the youngest detained journalists in the world, a poignant reminder of the lengths to which those in power will go to silence dissent. Her detention is not merely an affront to her freedom; it is an attack on free speech, a chilling message to all who seek to expose the truth and hold the powerful accountable.

We must remember that journalism is not a crime; it is a public service. The stories she reported were not just her own—they were the cries of the silenced, the narratives of those who suffer. Her courage to confront these injustices inspires us all to take action, to speak out, and to advocate for the release of all journalists unjustly detained.

Let us raise our voices for Frenchie and all those who continue to face persecution for their commitment to truth and social justice. Together, we can ensure that they are not silenced, that the voices of the oppressed are heard, and that our collective fight for genuine freedom prevails.

Reference:

Executive Board
International Association of Women in Radio and Television - Philippines

02/11/2024

LIVE: This webinar focuses on Frenchie Mae Cumpio, a young Filipino journalist who was arrested four years ago on trumped-up charges. She will appear in court as a witness in her case on November 11.

31/10/2024

IAWRT International invites you to join our webinar on November 2 at 6 PM Manila time and 6 AM New York time. The webinar will focus on Frenchie Mae Cumpio, a young Filipino journalist who was arrested four years ago on trumped-up charges. She will appear in court as a witness in her case on November 11.

Register here: bit.ly/3YGsGTh

12/09/2024

Aparna Sanyal is the new IAWRT India managing trustee for 2024-26.

IAWRT India chapter elected its new board for 2024-26.

06/09/2024

Tribute to our member Aruna Vasudev was part of the IAWRT India board between 2022-24, besides being a member.
Dr. Aruna Vasudev, often referred to as the Godmother of Asian Cinema, was a filmmaker, festival director, academic, and a journalist. She established Cinemaya, a journal on Asian Cinema, and was the Founder/Festival Director of Cinefan, a festival of Asian and Arab cinema, in New Delhi. Her foresight and vision to pay close attention to Asian films and bring them to a larger viewing public was shape-shifting. Aruna also established NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asia Pacific Cinema) which currently has almost 150 members across the globe, and has instituted awards in over 30 film festivals for young filmmakers.

At a time when women were hardly present in cinema, she was a force to reckon with. She was a loving friend, guide and a mentor to people in the film community and beyond. She will be deeply missed.

HONOURS AND AWARDS:
2019 - She was honoured by the French Government as Officier des Arts et des Lettres, and appointed Cavaliere della Stella della Solidarietà Italiana in 2004, the highest accolades from two major film-producing countries, Italy and France.

2015 - She was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the International Film Festival of Colombo for her contributions towards putting Asian cinema on the international map. At the Hawaii International Film Festival the same year, Aruna received the Vision in Film Award.

2006 - She received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Cinemanila International Film Festival.

1997 - She won the Korean Cinema Award at the Pusan International Film Festival.

08/08/2024

Call for Participation: 5th IAWRT Nepal Short Film Competition 2024, To all the ladies who created!

IAWRT Nepal Chapter is once again organizing 5th Short Film Competition with the theme "Stories Woven by Women".

Please submit your short film (3-15 min) before 25th October 2024 and participate in largest short film events of Nepal by the women in media to the world.

Any fictional, non-fictional, biography, autobiography, musical film or animated movies are welcomed. Also, movies created with mobile phones are equally encouraged to apply.

Remember, movies must be mandatorily directed by woman.

Email your short films to: [email protected]
For more details call us at:
9849827211, 9851192728, 9851092446

08/05/2024

IAWRT Statement on Shutting Down of Al Jazeera by Israel

The International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) strongly denounces the Israeli government’s unilateral decision to shut down Al Jazeera’s operations within its territory. Al Jazeera has been a prominent voice reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, documenting the civilian cost, including women and children, of the ongoing war on Gaza.

The current move by Israeli PM Netanyahu, utilizing new legislation to shut down Al Jazeera, is a serious abrogation of the freedom of the press and the right to information. This move, coming shortly after World Press Freedom Day, indicates the Israeli government’s intention to control the narrative surrounding its actions in Gaza. This sets an ominous precedent for all international news outlets operating within Israeli territory.

As is evident from investigations by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), at least 97 journalists and media workers have lost their lives reporting about war in this region. Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which released the annual Press Freedom Index last week on World Press Freedom Day, pointed to the “record number of violations against journalists and media” in the past 8 months. This targeting of journalists and independent news channels is unacceptable in any nation that calls itself a democracy.

IAWRT urges the United Nations and the international community to pass strictures and take decisive action against Israel’s actions, both regarding its conduct in Palestinian territories and its suppression of press freedom. Such behavior not only undermines the democratic values but also threatens the fundamental rights of journalists and the public’s right to access information.

03/05/2024

A Press for the Planet
IAWRT Statement on 2024

To commemorate World Press Freedom Day, the International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) would like to amplify the call for international environmental justice that goes hand in hand with freedom of expression. All across our environmentally precarious planet, we see that dictatorial regimes, as well as so-called democratic governments that restrict free speech, are the most severe violators of environmental norms for a sustainable future. Nations whose governments are involved in climate change denial, depletion of forests, reckless extraction of non-renewable natural resources, and persecution of those who uphold environmental sustainability are also the ones that clamp down on journalists and media practitioners, whether through overt or covert censorship. Even in the democratic nations of Europe, we see that peaceful citizen-led environmental activism is opposed by governments in power, so much so that in February 2024, Michel Forst, the UN Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders under the Aarhus Convention, observed the following:

"The repression that environmental activists who use peaceful civil disobedience are currently facing in Europe is a major threat to democracy and human rights. The environmental emergency that we are collectively facing, and that scientists have been documenting for decades, cannot be addressed if those raising the alarm and demanding action are criminalized for it. The only legitimate response to peaceful environmental activism and civil disobedience at this point is that the authorities, the media, and the public realize how essential it is for us all to listen to what environmental defenders have to say."

Against this alarming backdrop of the unprecedented effects of climate change, pollution of our air, water and land, and biodiversity destruction, IAWRT calls on all journalists, press and media organizations to highlight these disastrous impacts and to hold states and corporations accountable for the environmental destruction that is pushing the planet beyond a point of no return.

According to Media Defence, "Reporting on the environment has become one of the most dangerous jobs in journalism. Over the past decade, at least 13 journalists investigating environmental issues have been killed as a direct result of their work. Countless others have suffered violence, harassment, intimidation and SLAPP lawsuits

IAWRT salutes the efforts of so many courageous journalists who, despite risks to their lives, continue to report on sensitive issues across the planet, such as war, environmental crimes, and persecution of citizens. May the struggles for a safer planet for all of us, which goes together with upholding press freedom, see positive results as individuals, organizations and networks work in solidarity for a sustainable future.

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IAWRT is a global network with 14 country chapters and over 400 members in 54 countries.

03/05/2024

Press for the Planet

02/04/2024

02/04/2024

IAWRT Mentorship Program Day 1 in Kathmandu.

"Crafting stories and creative script writing"
by international Guest Mentor Dr. Shilpi Gulati.

01/04/2024

Opening Ceremony of the IAWRT Mentorship Program 2024 in Kathmandu from Iawrt Nepal https://www.facebook.com/IAWRTNEPAL/posts/pfbid024dzpbcbMMNq8xuV5sb8rEFePe5EjRw4fp7dcrSVftqBBRDaT2nqZrSb3TxNN5m3Ql

01/04/2024

Happy Easter!

30/03/2024

Finally Today we are starting program with Iawrt Nepal at Kathmandu, Nepal.