BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, May 03, 2018 – UN Secretary-General, António Guterres has called on governments and leaders “to strengthen press freedom, and to protect journalists”.
Guterres, while delivering an address to recognize today, May 3 as World Press Freedom Day, says a free press is essential for peace.
“Their service to the public is invaluable,” he said. “Laws that protect independent journalism, freedom of expression and the right to information need to be adopted, implemented and enforced. Crimes against journalists must be prosecuted.”
Guterres said too that a free press is also essential for justice and human rights for all, noting that it is crucial to building transparent and democratic societies and keeping those in power accountable.
“It is vital for sustainable development,” he stated.
According to the Secretary General, journalists and media workers shine a light on local and global challenges and tell the stories that need to be told.
Against that backdrop, he stated that “promoting a free press is standing up for our right to truth”.
President of the Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM), Anika Kentish said that the body joins with its regional affiliates in observing the day.
She stated that this year’s theme: “Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and the Rule of Law,” speaks specifically to the media’s fundamental role in bringing about justice, promoting transparency and strengthening democracy.
“The ACM is concerned that there is still work to be done in bringing about more transparency in the political process and creating a Caribbean society that is more embracing of freedom of expression.
“Justice is not served when antiquated legislation remains on the books and politicians can use criminal defamation laws and other regulations that criminalise expression to threaten and intimidate journalists,” she noted.
The rule of law, she lamented, cannot be upheld when journalists are denied access to information or are punished for disseminating it.
“As an organization committed to press freedom, we must be concerned when cybercrime, data protection and other legislation designed to address the new reality threaten to adversely affect the work of journalists in their respective countries.
“We therefore make a fervent appeal to all governments throughout the region to remove laws that encumber freedom of expression, deny access to information and prevent journalists from shining light on the truth without the threat of prosecution.”
To this end, the ACM urged media workers to become more aware of laws that could curtail access to information or put them at risk of facing criminal penalties.
“I encourage everyone to use World Press Freedom Day to highlight press freedom challenges via social media with the hashtag “#pressfreedom” or “#worldpressfreedomday.”
This year, the entity has partnered with the Media Institute of the Caribbean to mount a five-day investigative journalism workshop coinciding with World Press Freedom Day.
