THE INTER-AMERICAN Press Association (IAPA) announced on Monday its annual essay contest on free speech inspired by the Decalaration of Chapultepec, a document containing ten fundamental principles on freedom of expression necessary for the survival of a democracy.
The objective of Chapultepec Essay Contest 2003 is to raise public awareness on the importance of freedom of the press, has a cash prize of US$2,500 for the winner who will be invited to attend a special ceremony in Chicago during the IAPA General Assembly scheduled in early October.
Participants will be asked to write a 500-word essay on the importance of access to public information in their lives considering Principle 3 of the Declaration of Chapultepec, which states: "Authorities must be compelled by law to make available in a timely and reasonable manner the information generated by the public sector."
The IAPA plays a fundamental role in the promotion of "access to public information" which has been included in legislation approved last year in Mexico, Panama, and Peru, and which is on the way to being passed by Congresses in Argentina, Guatemala, Ecuador, and Uruguay, among others.
Since the contest's beginning in 1998, winners have included men and women from Brazil, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and the United States.
Adopted in 1994, during an IAPA-organised meeting at Chapultepec Castle, in Mexico City, the Declaration of Chapultepec has been endorsed by international organisations, government leaders, and thousands of private citizen from throughout the Americas.
Those interested in participating should read the following contest rules:
DECLARATION OF CHAPULTEPEC
Adopted by the Hemisphere Conference on Free Speech, Mexico City, March 11, 19941.
PRINCIPLES
No people or society can be free without freedom of expression and of the press. The exercise of this freedom is not something authorities grant, it is an inalienable right of the people.
Every person has the right to seek and receive information, express opinions and disseminate them freely. No one may restrict or deny these rights.
The authorities must be compelled by law to make available in a timely and reasonable manner the information generated by the public sector. No journalist may be forced to reveal his or her sources of information.
Freedom of expression and of the press are severely limited by murder, terrorism, kidnapping, intimidation, the unjust imprisonment of journalists, the destruction of facilities, violence of any kind and impunity for perpetrators. Such acts must be investigated promptly and punished harshly.
Prior censorship, restrictions on the circulation of the media or dissemination of their reports, forced publication of information, the imposition of obstacles to the free flow of news, and restrictions on the activities and movements of journalists directly contradict freedom of the press.
The media and journalists should neither be discriminated against nor favoured because of what they write or say.
Tariff and exchange policies, licenses for the importation of paper or news-gathering equipment, the assigning of radio and television frequencies and the granting or withdrawal of government advertising may not be used to reward or punish the media or individual journalists.
The membership of journalists in guilds, their affiliation to professional and trade associations and the affiliation of the media with business groups must be strictly voluntary.
The credibility of the press is linked to its commitment to truth, to the pursuit of accuracy, fairness and objectivity and to the clear distinction between news and advertising. The attainment of these goals and the respect for ethical and professional values may not be imposed. These are the exclusive responsibility of journalists and the media. In a free society, it is public opinion that rewards or punishes.
No news medium nor journalist may be punished for publishing the truth or criticising or denouncing the government.
Write on the importance of access to public information in your life considering Principle 3 of the Declaration of Chapultepec which states: "Authorities must be compelled by law to make available in a timely and reasonable manner the information generated by the public sector."
RULES
The contest is open to everyone without any restrictions.
Essays are limited to 500 words. All essays must contain the following information clearly marked on the first page: name, address, telephone/fax, e-mail, profession, where you saw the contest announcement, and essay title. Essays will be disqualified if any of this information is omitted.
Essays must be received at the IAPA headquarters address: Jules Dubois Building, 1801 S.W. 3rd Avenue, Miami, Florida 33129, USA, or via e-mail: scasey@sipiapa.org, before the deadline of July 1, 2003. All essays received after this date will not be considered in the competition.
The winner will receive US$2,500 and will be invited to participate in the IAPA General Assembly in Chicago, Illinois, from October 10-14, 2003. The winner will be announced on the IAPA web site on August 1, 2003.
- For more information:
www.sipiapa.org.
