Safe to Speak: Securing Freedom of Expression in All Media

Description

About World Press Freedom Day

Every year, 3 May is a date to celebrate 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.

3 May was proclaimed World Press Freedom Day during the UN General Assembly in 1993 following a Recommendation adopted at the twenty-sixth session of UNESCO's General Conference in 1991.

It serves as an occasion to inform citizens of violations of press freedom - a reminder that in dozens of countries around the world, publications are censored, fined, suspended and closed down, while journalists, editors and publishers are harassed, attacked, detained and even murdered.

It is a date to encourage and develop initiatives in favor of press freedom, and to assess the state of press freedom worldwide.

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. Just as importantly, World Press Freedom Day is a day of support for media which are targets for the restraint, or abolition, of press freedom. It is also a day of remembrance for those journalists who lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.

Objective: This year’s celebration of World Press Freedom Day, whose theme is "Safe to Speak: Securing Freedom of Expression in All Media", puts the spotlight in particular on the issues of safety of journalists, combating impunity for crimes against freedom of expression, and securing a free and open Internet as the precondition for safety online.

Discussion topic/theme/presentations:
1. Ensuring the Safety of Journalists and Media Workers
2. Combating Impunity of Crimes against Press Freedom
3. Regulation / Self-Regulation

Discussants:
UNESCO, UNDP, Ministry of Information and Culture, National Federation of Journalists, which includes Journalists Unions, NAI Supporting Open Media in Afghanistan, and other Media stakeholders.

Participants:
National and international organizations working for media sector, free journalists and civil society.

Guest Speakers:

• Representative of the government
• Representative of media union including women journalists
• Representative of journalist
• Representatives of the international community (UNESCO, UNDP, UNAMA)