Baku, CASCFEN, 21 AUG 2012 – Launched 9 years ago in Baku, Central Asian & Southern Caucasian Freedom of Expression Network (CASCFEN) was registered in the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan as a public association. This news was shared by its Chairman Azer Hasret.
As told Azer Hasret to national media organizations, CASCFEN was existing as a structure unit of the Journalists` Trade Union (JuHI) and deals with freedom of expression issues in the region of Central Asia & Southern Caucasus: “But last times we felt need to act as an independent organization in order to ensure free and full coverage of the region. Being inside other NGO and acting for such a big region was causing problems. So we decided to get independence and are thankful for this to JuHI leadership as they met our decision with understanding”.
CASCFEN Chairman said, that organization`s objectives remain as before: “We`ll act for freedom of expression culture in the region and protection of this value. We will be happy to coordinate our activities with major international organizations such as OSCE, CoE, EU, IPI, CPJ, Article 19, IFJ, WAN, RSF, Freedom Forum, Human Rights Watch, Freedom House, NED and other US institutions. Of course it will not be easy to start as for now we have no funding, no equipment to act properly. But we believe that in quite a short time we`ll get support from those interested in implementation of international standards on freedom of expression”.
CASCFEN, which was awarded with Vienna based International Press Institute`s Free Media Pioneer in 2004 seems to be one of them main freedom of expression actors in the region. Its Chairman, an IPI member Azer Hasret was a founder and Chairman of Journalists` Trade Union, later Secretary General of Azerbaijan Journalists Confederation. He served as an International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX) Council member in 2001-2005. Later he served as a Board Member of the International News Safety Institute.
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