UN Renews Commitment in 20th World Press Freedom Day Celebration

The Secretary of General of the United Nations Ban Ki Moon said that freedom of expression also allows for the protection and promotion of other human rights to commemorate the 2013 World Press Freedom Day, a global event celebrated every 3rd of May. He added, in a joint statement with the Director-General of the UNESCO, that freedom of expression is in itself a fundamental right that is nurtured where there is a safe environment and where there is no fear of reprisal.

In this year’s celebration, the United Nations reiterated its support in upholding press freedom, raising awareness, and committed its commitment to support countries and assist in coordinating action and upholding free press principles as well as the provisions of the United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.

World Press Freedom Day theme

“Safe to Speak: Securing Freedom of Expression in All Media” is the theme of this year’s World Press Freedom Day celebration. This year is the 20th anniversary of the day when the United Nations General Assembly first proclaimed it in December 1993 in what is afterward called “The Declaration of Windhoek.” The proclamation was done after a recommendation by the General Conference of the UNESCO. The free press principles were laid down by journalists during a seminar at Windhoek, Namibia in Africa.

This year, the world’s press and advocates of press freedom took the opportunity to celebrate press freedom principles, assess the current press situation the world over, defend the media from all forms of attack and imposed limitations, and to recognize and pay tribute to journalists who died or have been killed while performing their duties.

Call to action

The joint statement released by the UN Secretary General and the Director-General of the UNESCO Irina Bokova for this year’s World Press Freedom Day clearly expressed that freedom of expression faces threats every day and journalists face violent attacks, torture, and detention, as well as to intimidation because they contribute to ensuring accountability and transparency to the public. Journalists have been subject to unlawful and inhumane treatment in many parts of the world. They both called on perseverance in the fight against injustice to members of the press.

The United Nations has declared that the whole world will benefit when it is safe to speak. It now calls for the safety of every journalist in every country in the world. The UNESCO has gathered data showing that 600 journalists were killed in just the past ten years even as they were assigned to report in non-conflict situations. And the majority of these acts go unpunished.

Traditional and digital media

The UN leaders clarified that the call encompasses both traditional and digital media. Threats to the safety of citizen reporters, bloggers, and social media producers (and those who serve as their sources) are now widespread. These people face not just physical dangers but emotional and psychological prosecution such as breaches, invasion of privacy and cyber-attacks as well. Online journalists must be given the freedom to express themselves so that the whole world can continue to benefit from an open Internet, stressed both Secretary-General Ban and Director-General Bokova.