Croatian journalist Maja Sever known for her significant contribution to gender equality and social justice in Croatia has been elected as the president of European Federation of Journalists. She will be the first female president of the Federation.
European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), representing more than 320 thousand journalists in 45 countries has elected a new steering committee today on June 14) at the general assembly held in İzmir’s historical Alsancak Coal Gas Factory.
Maja Sever from Croatia has been elected as the first EFJ president, and Mustafa Kuleli, the executive director of the Journalists’ Union of Turkey (TGS), has been elected as the vice president.
For the first time in EFJ’s history, a female president and a vice president from Turkey will serve.
In 2018, Maja was elected “Journalist of the Year” by the professional journalists’ Association (HND). She was also a winner of the Pride of Croatia award for humanitarian work in 2020. Last year, she was awarded the Fierce women prize for her significant contribution to gender equality and social justice in Croatia.
“I believe we are all here with a sincere will to fight for independent strong and quality journalism, to fight for journalists’ labour and social rights, to empower female journalists and to fight for journalism as a public good. And I believe you elected me to do that, for which I’m thankful” said Sever during her speech at the general assembly.
Mustafa Kuleli stated the following:
“We will fulfill this responsibility with even greater enthusiasm and courage in the new term on behalf of EFJ, one of the leading defenders of press freedom all over the world, who has been fighting for the rights of journalists for many years.”
“In a period that journalism is facing countless threats and unique opportunities all over the world, the steps we will take as EFJ will be decisive in bringing our profession into the future.”
“We will strengthen solidarity through our member unions and professional organizations; we will create a qualified, independent, and democratic media environment all over Europe and inspire the world.”
Solidarity with detained journalists
Also at the general assembly, the motion of DİSK Basın İş on solidarity with Kurdish journalists and the solidarity call for journalists from Turkey regarding the new disinformation bill against press freedom in Turkey was unanimously accepted.