Location: Ulaan Baatar
Dates: 17 and 18 December 2005
Trainer: David Cozac, PEN Canada (contracted by IFEX Clearing House)
Summary: the training took place over the course of two days. The overriding objective was to familiarise Globe International with the operation of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) and, in particular, to train them on the investigation, research and drafting of alerts and other advisories for circulation on the IFEX network.

DAY ONE

Goal: Awareness of the IFEX network

-The trainer gave an overview of the structure and programs of the IFEX network.

-He discussed the Action Alert Network (circulating news on violation of freedom of expression); the IFEX Communiqué (a weekly e-bulletin on freedom of expression issues); the Development Outreach Programme (bringing member organisations from the South into the IFEX community); strategising through regular meetings and conferences; and the IFEX Web site (an on-line portal for information on freedom of expression).

Goal: Freedom of expression: types of and the obstacles to it

-Freedom of expression as a concept can be broken down into three general areas: press freedom (print, broadcast and Internet-based media outlets); artistic freedom (the written literary and visual media); and academic freedom (for both teachers and students)

-There are many obstacles to the right to freedom of expression:

a.. Assault: it can take place against individual writers and journalists or against the infrastructure of media
b.. Threats: verbal or written attempts to silence an individual or media outlet. They often take the form of death threats
c.. Murder: the most heinous way of silencing someone. Impunity - the unpunished crime - is a common problem in the murder of writers and journalists
d.. Censorship: common in authoritarian regimes, especially
e.. Self-censorship: difficult to quantify and document, but a very widespread problem, even in ostensibly democratic countries
f.. Imprisonment: an easy way for authorities to silence a writer or journalist. The charges are often trumped-up
g.. Judicial harassment: can take the form of individual lawsuits against writers or the imposition of legislation - particularly against the independent media - that restricts their freedom to operate
h.. Labour issues: sometimes a grey area, but a cause for concern when the root of the matter is reprisal for the work of the journalist

Goal: Discussion on the nature of alerts and the protagonists in them

-The trainer generated discussion around the following questions in order to ensure the trainees were aware of when to issue an alert, how to maximise impact and how to be accurate:

-What is the purpose of an alert?

-Who is your intended audience?

-Which key events throughout the year could you take advantage of to issue an alert and highlight a freedom of expression violation?

-When would you not issue an alert?

-Who might be the victim of a freedom of expression violation?

-When is a writer not a writer?

-What if someone, who is a writer/journalist, writes something defamatory, untrue or even hateful?

-Was the writer/journalist targeted for his work or for some other reason?

Goal: to distinguish between legitimate free expression violations and those that are not; to ensure that all required details in the alert are provided; to consider ethical implications in researching and investigating cases

-The trainees were divided into four groups and asked to discuss two case summaries each. Although the names and countries were altered, the incidents did take place and were reported on the IFEX network over the past several years.

-They were to keep the following questions in mind when analysing the cases:

a.. Does this incident constitute a freedom of expression violation?
b.. Would you issue an alert on this case? Why or why not?
c.. Is there enough information to assess this properly? If not, then what information is needed and how would you go about obtaining it?

DAY TWO

Goal: to impart details on constructing a proper alert for the IFEX network; to be aware of the key information required before the alert can circulate

-The trainer highlighted the information needed:

a.. Basic details: important dates, full name, spelling out of acronyms, etc
b.. Personae: who is the victim? His/her profession? Where did s/he work? Who is responsible for the violation?
c.. Violation: what happened? Why? What was the official reason for the violation?
d.. Recommended action: an option for IFEX members. Action should include guidelines on how to write a letter of protest and what to say. Contact addresses for authorities should also be given

Goal: to have the trainees made aware of important factors to consider before issuing an alert

-Thorough investigation: the research must be original. Sources must be authentic

-Reviewing other IFEX material: your alert might be an update, so consider the original source alert for consistency of information

-Write for an international audience: avoid slang. Write in a clear and concise manner. Make no assumptions on the part of the reader of the alert

-Be complete, but succinct: Ensure that all essential information appears, but try to restrict the alert to one page. Engage the reader, but do not bore him

-Follow-up: do not forget to monitor the case as it develops. Circulate those updates to the IFEX network.

-Consider the victim's security: the material might be so sensitive that the victim does not wish his case to be publicised

Goal: knowledge of the hierarchy of IFEX alerts

-There are three levels of importance to an alert that circulates on IFEX:

a.. Flash: a writer is killed, imprisoned or kidnapped. Serious death threats are also classified here. Some life-threatening attacks are considered as "flash".
b.. Threat: a writer is brought to court. Minor altercations.
c.. Bulletin: updates to a case. The release of an imprisoned writer. Legislative threats to freedom of expression

Goal: to provide the trainees with practical training on drafting an alert from scratch so that they have some experience of it before engaging in it on a regular basis

- The trainees were divided into three groups and given a couple of hours to prepare each an alert based on skeletal detail on a case

- They had to construct an alert based on the guidelines given in earlier in the training and had to provide information that was necessary but lacking in the original detail

-Once they were completed, the entire group reviewed each alert with the trainer