Reporters Without Borders (RSF) opens its first Asia bureau in Taipei

RSF is an international non-profit organization that holds a consultative status at the United Nations, UNESCO and the Council of Europe. More than 30 years after its creation, it is comprised of headquarters in Paris, 11 offices (Berlin, Brussels, Geneva, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro, Stockholm, Tunis, Vienna and Washington D.C.) and correspondents in 130 countries. The new bureau in Taipei will focus on the east Asian territories including China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, North Korea, South Korea and Mongolia.

"The opening of an East Asia office corresponds to the ongoing international expansion of our association and aims to better address the new challenges of media freedoms in this increasingly influential region of the world, explains RSF Secretary General Christophe Deloire. The choice of Taiwan was made not only with regards to its central geographic location and ease of operating logistics, but also considering its status of being the freest place in Asia in our annual Press Freedom Index ranking."

A strategic platform to defend freedom of information

As a leading defender of the freedom of information, RSF alternates public interventions and effective behind the scenes action. The Taipei bureau will serve as a strategic platform for exercising influence and action on the multiple fronts in which RSF is engaged: advocacy on behalf of press rights; awareness building in support of specific campaigns, missions and actions; assistance, grants and legal aid to journalists; and capacity building for journalists and local partner organizations (e.g. education and training on cyber-security).

RSF announces the appointment of Cedric Alviani to serve as the Taipei bureau Director, under the supervision of the Paris headquarters. Cedric Alviani is a French national and graduate from the CUEJ journalism school in Strasbourg. He has lived in Asia over the past 18 years, initially recruited to serve as an audio-visual specialist at the French Embassy in Thailand. In 2000, Cedric relocated to Taiwan to serve as Cooperation Officer for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2005, Cedric founded the Taiwan European Film Festival (TEFF) and from 2010 to 2012, served as General Manager of the France Taiwan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIFT).

“Cedric brings to the organization a diverse and well-rounded management skill set that will serve the organization in its Asian development ambitions,” says Ronny Rubin, responsible for RSF's International Development, adding that "Cedric's entrepreneurial skills, management experience and regional insights represent real assets to the organization.”

RSF efforts in the region will be further boosted thanks to the deep and long-running support of Taiwan-based activist Wu’er Kaixi, a prominent advocate of human rights and defender of media freedoms, who will assist the Asia bureau in its international strategic development. The organization is grateful to him for all the ground work he has laid. Wu’er Kaixi, of Chinese origin, is also a member of the RSF Emeritus Board, along with other renowned figures such as Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Prize laureate in literature Wole Soyinka, current Secretary-General of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie Michaelle Jean and prominent journalists, writers and freedom fighters such as Adam Michnik, Taslima Nasreen and Roberto Saviano.