The Mauritanian Journalists' Union (SJM) announced that it will host, in cooperation with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the federation's regional meeting for the Arab world and the Middle East from January 11 to 13, 2027, in Nouakchott, with 21 heads of journalists' unions and organisations from the region, as well as the IFJ president, its general secretary and members of its staff.
At a press briefing, the union described hosting the meeting as a major professional event and the first gathering of its kind and size held in Mauritania in journalism and trade unionism, saying the level of participation and the issues on the agenda reflect its regional and international importance.
The union said it organised the event in the belief that Mauritania's standing on freedoms at Arab, African and international levels qualifies it to play an active role in hosting international professional conferences and to be a place where media decisions are made, not merely a guest at conferences organised elsewhere.
According to the briefing, the meeting will discuss the main challenges facing journalists and their unions in the region, ways to develop joint union work, follow-up on decisions concerning the region adopted by the IFJ congress last May, a review of the regional action programme and the launch of new regional campaigns.
It will also address strengthening regional union solidarity, defending journalists' rights and professional freedoms and monitoring violations against them, as well as the impact of artificial intelligence on journalism jobs and the challenges technological change poses for media organisations and their staff.
