PROJECT TITLE: FONI - Freedom of New Ideas
COUNTRIES: Moldova
OVERALL OBJECTIVE: To promote the freedom of expression, freedom of press and freedom of speech among the youth of Moldova. Specifically, the students attending the Master Program at the Faculty of Journalism and Communication Sciences of Moldova State University and Transdnistria State University of Tiraspol improved their professional capacities and became aware of the related rights and duties.
ACTIVITIES:
The Moldovan civil society had expressed serious concern over the deterioration of the media situation in the country, including the violations of the right of access to information and incidents of harassment and violence against journalists. A number of incidents in recent years may have put Moldova under the spotlight of the international community, particularly with regard to its failure to guarantee the enjoyment of freedom of expression and freedom of press.
With the project “FONI”, the EPLO worked on raising the understanding of these rights. The project activities included the organization of lectures addressed to students of the Faculty of Journalism and Communication Sciences of Moldova State University and the Institute of Languages and Literature of the Transdnistria State University, faculty members of those two Universities, officials of the Ministry of Education of Moldova, representatives of local mass media organizations and non-governmental organizations that promote freedom of expression, freedom of press and peaceful assembly. In addition to the lectures, the students that attended the lectures, as well as other interested researchers, were invited to submit papers covering outstanding issues of realization of freedom of press and freedom of expression in Moldova, analyzing the gaps and the current state of affairs and offer appropriate solutions based on examples presented at the lectures.
The three best papers were awarded, published and distributed among the project digests and information material. In addition, the authors of the awarded papers were offered a four-month long internship opportunity at the Periodical Publication Law.
FUNDING AGENCY: European Commission
LEADER: EPLO
PARTNERS: Moldova State University, the periodical publication “Law” and the Transdnistria State University as associate partner.
TIME FRAME: 2011-2012
