World Press Freedom Day
3 May 2018
Human rights experts urge media protection and end to attacks on journalists
GENEVA (2 May
2018) –
The UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, David Kaye, and
rights experts from around the world have joined forces to highlight
growing threats to media independence and
diversity worldwide, particularly those affecting digital outlets.
In a joint
declaration to mark World Press Freedom Day on 3 May, they emphasise
the essential role of independent media in democratic societies, and
express grave concern about physical attacks on journalists, as well as
surveillance, marginalization and squeezing
out of independent outlets around the world.
Mr. Kaye welcomed the declaration saying: “Free
and independent media facilitate democratic institutions and
accountability, while attacks on journalists and journalism undermine
the very idea of public participation and governmental accountability.”
“Attacks
on journalists are deplorable and State authorities must do more to
prevent them. These attacks stem in part from increasingly irresponsible
framing of journalists
as ‘enemies’ by political and business leaders, but are also aimed at
deterring investigative reporting in the public interest. All those
committed to independent and diverse media must join together now to
stop such attacks,” the Special Rapporteur stressed.
“In
addition to physical attacks, those acting on behalf of the State
threaten journalism on political, legal and technological fronts. They
abuse public resources by placing
advertisements only with friendly outlets, assert financial or other
forms of control, and promote or permit media concentrations,” Mr. Kaye
added.
The
Joint Declaration on Media Independence and Diversity in the Digital
Age has been issued by Mr. Kaye and counterparts from the Organization
for Security and Co-operation
in Europe, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and the
African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.
It
also urges governments to promote media independence and diversity,
emphasizes fundamental norms of human rights law and urges States to
meet their obligations, and calls
on others, such as the media and private internet companies, to take
steps to ensure that independent media can continue to play a central
role in democratic societies.
http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Opinion/JointDeclaration2May2018_EN.pdf
