The forum is being co-hosted by the South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF) and the Inter Press Service (IPS) Africa with support from the Government Communication and Information Services (GCIS) and the World Bank. The programme includes a range of discussions on the impact of IBSA, media challenges in the three countries and a special briefing on the COP 17 preparations.
"By meeting with our colleagues from India and Brazil, SANEF is hoping to strengthen and amplify coverage of IBSA and contribute to the creation of greater South-South co-operation," said SANEF chairperson Mondli Makhanya. "This forum is a platform for frank and intense dialogue between the participating Indian, Brazilian and South African editors, journalists and civil society stakeholders."
"India, Brazil and South Africa have emerged as confident leaders in South-South cooperation. Yet, even as new maps of political and economic relations have emerged, the flow of information remains focused on the north," adds IPS Africa regional director, Paula Fray.
"This is an opportunity to communicate the changing political landscape and gain a greater understanding of what IBSA can mean - and represent - for ordinary citizens," she added.
This is a follow-up to the first IBSA editors' forum held in Brasilia, Brazil, during the IV IBSA Summit in April last year.
The outcomes of the forum discussions will be presented to the IBSA Summit in Pretoria on Tuesday, October 18. India, Brazil and South Africa agreed on the initial IBSA concept at the G-8 meeting in Evian, France. The IBSA Dialogue Forum was formalised and launched through the adoption of the 'Brasilia Declaration' in Brasilia on June 6 2003. IBSA promotes South-South Dialogue and fosters inter-regional cooperation.
