World Press Freedom Day observed
The World Press Freedom Day was observed in the country as elsewhere across the globe yesterday with the theme “Media Freedom has the Power to Transform Societies”.
The day is observed every year to uplift the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.
It serves as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom and is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics.
The day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 following a recommendation adopted at the twenty-sixth session of Unesco's General Conference in 1991.
In a joint message marking the day, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Unesco Director General Irina Bokova said, “Freedom of expression is one of our most precious rights. It underpins every other freedom and provides a foundation for human dignity.”
Free, pluralistic and independent media is essential for its exercise. This is the message of World Press Freedom Day, they added.
Media freedom entails the freedom to hold opinions and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers, as stated in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
This freedom is essential for healthy and vibrant societies.
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