BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – EVERY year, May 3 is recognised as World Press Freedom Day and, on Sunday, journalists around the world mourned their slain colleagues, empathised with those languishing in jail and were in solidarity with those suppressed for publishing the truth.
In a message to commemorate this special day, United Nations’ Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on governments around the world to respect the rights of journalists who may lack the resources or connections that might assist them in gaining their freedom.
“I am also concerned that some Governments are suppressing Internet access and the work of Internet-based journalists and others using the new media. Not surprisingly, blogging has flourished in countries where restrictions on media are toughest. Now, according to the CPJ, some 45 percent of all media workers jailed worldwide are bloggers. I urge all governments to respect the rights of these citizen journalists, who may lack the legal resources or political connections that might assist them in gaining their freedom.
The Secretary-General noted that attacks on journalists remain shockingly high in number, and noted that, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), 11 journalists have been killed in the line of duty so far for this year.
“Among them,” he said, “was Lasantha Wickrematunge, a prominent Sri Lankan journalist assassinated in January on his way to work. I call on the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure that those responsible for his murder are found and prosecuted. UNESCO has honoured Mr. Wickrematunge posthumously with its World Press Freedom Prize for 2009, to be presented in a Press Freedom Day ceremony in Doha.”
Ban Ki-moon added that the CPJ also reported that as of December 1, 2008, 125 journalists were in prison; some have been incarcerated for years – and some for more than a decade.
“Three countries – China, Cuba and Eritrea – account for half of those cases. I urge all Governments that have detained journalists to ensure that their rights are fully respected, including the right to appeal and defend themselves against charges,” the UN Secretary-General urged.
He is of the view that that murder and detention are only the most blatant ways that journalists are silenced: “Often, fear leads journalists to censor themselves. This, too, is unacceptable; journalists must be able to do their job free of intimidation and harassment.”
The Secretary-General pointed out that the annual observance of World Press Freedom Day is also an opportunity to reflect on the important role of the media in addressing global problems, and this year the focus is on the media’s potential to foster dialogue, reconciliation and mutual understanding.
“This year indeed, the press plays a vital role in challenging entrenched attitudes about religious, political or other differences among people. Media can also give voice to minorities and marginalised groups, thereby enlarging and even reframing debate within a community or across communities. In societies struggling to rebuild after conflict, free and responsible news media are essential for good governance and to promote confidence and trust between leaders and the public. Governments that stifle or otherwise obstruct this work are acting against their own best interests and that of their societies,” he declared.
Ban Ki-moon paid tribute to all journalists who work under difficult conditions to ensure the rest of the world could have access to free and unbiased information.
“Let us renew our resolve to protect their freedom and safety, and let us proclaim again our commitment to free and independent media as an essential agent of human rights, development and peace,” he concluded.
Contrary to what the UN Secretary-General quoted from the CPJ’s report concerning those killed, Issa Sikiti da Silva, in an article headlined “World Press Freedom Day: journalists mourn and ponder”, wrote that “Paris-based Reporters Sans Reporters (RSF) reports that 18 journalists have been killed so far this year, highlighting the verve of repressive governments, individuals and armed groups keen to stop independent media from publishing the ‘other side of the truth'”.
She also wrote that many journalists now ponder their future and that of their profession in this era of mediaphobia, ‘war on terror', media appeal tribunals, global economic downturn, blacklisting of government critics, censorship, and lawsuits.
Sikita da Silva also noted the CPJ’s annual census stated that Africa accounts for 24 jail cases in nine countries, “citing Burundi (1), Cameroon (2), Democratic Republic of Congo (2), Egypt (1), Eritrea (13), Ethiopia (2), Gambia (1), Cote d'Ivoire (1) and Senegal (1). As expected, China (28) and Cuba (21), countries opposing any form of freedom of expression, topped this list”.
In 1993, May 3 was declared World Press Freedom Day following a recommendation, which was adopted at the 26th Session of UNESCO’s General Conference in 1991, to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and to remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless frontiers”.
UNESCO marks this day by conferring the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize on a deserving individual, organisation or institution that has made an outstanding contribution to the defence and/or promotion of press freedom anywhere in the world, especially when this has been achieved in the face of danger.
This Prize was initiated in 1997 on the recommendation of an independent jury of 14 news professionals. Names are submitted by regional and international non-governmental organisations working for press freedom, as well as UNESCO member states.
The Prize is named in honour of Guillermo Cano Isaza, a Colombian journalist whose writings had offended the drug lords of that country. He was assassinated in front of the offices of his newspaper, El Espectador, in Bogotá, on 17 December 1986.
