Update: Today is World Press Freedom Day – Focus on protecting media orgnisations, journalists
Today World Press Freedom Day 2016. The day is marked under the theme Access to Information and Fundamental Freedoms – This Is Your Right.
Proposals of the World Press Freedom Day were initially presented in the year 1991. World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO’s General Conference.
The day affords an opportunity to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom, assess the state of press freedom throughout the world; defend the media from attacks on their independence; and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Issuing a statement in view of International Press Freedom Day UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged all governments, politicians, businesses and citizens to commit to nurture and protect an independent, free media.
Meanwhile, Director-General of UNESCO Irina Bokova says that access to information is a fundamental freedom and a part of the basic human right to freedom of expression. Receiving and imparting information, both offline and online, is a cornerstone of democracy, good governance, and rule of law.
She also highlights the safety of journalists, at a time when, tragically, a media professional is killed every five days. Sri Lanka has moved up 24 positions in the World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders. The index has been topped by Finland and at the bottom of the index lies Eritrea at 180.
Although Sri Lanka has levelled up 24 positions in the World Press Freedom Index, the abduction of several journalists and harassment of several media networks that took place during the previous government, has not been justified.
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