Press and opinion freedom protection needs dominated speeches at an event on Friday at UN headquarters in New York to mark the 2019 World Press Freedom Day.
Several speakers took turns to describe the “growing dangers to freedom of the press around the world,” calling for action against those responsible.
In a message, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was “profoundly disturbed by the increasing number of attacks and the culture of impunity targeting media workers around the world.
According to the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), nearly 100 journalists were killed in 2018 with hundreds imprisoned.
According to the organization, this brings to a total of 1,307 the number of journalists killed between 1994 and 2018.
The UN chief noted that society as a whole pays a price when journalists and other media workers are targeted.
Mr Guterres stressed that “free press is vital to peace, justice, sustainable development and human rights.”
On the theme of the commemoration of this year, “Media for Democracy: Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation,” he said democracy was incomplete without access to transparent and reliable information.
“At a time of growing news media disinformation and mistrust, a free press is essential for peace, justice, sustainable development, and human rights,” he said.
Maria Espinosa, President of the United Nations General Assembly (PGA), said in her statement that she marked the day with a “heavy heart,” citing the statistics of UNESCO.
Ms Espinosa noted that the media space is shrinking worldwide, “as restrictive laws and policies are enacted and media workers and their families are threatened and repressed.
“Women are disproportionately affected by sexual abuse and online sexual harassment, as well as physical sexual violence, including rape. These attacks go unpunished too often, ‘ she said.
The PGA said in a time when extremism, hate speech and lies spread “like wildfire,” high-quality journalism and diverse media were needed more than ever.
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said it was important to ensure freedom of opinion through free “based on factual truths” exchange of ideas and information.
Ms Azoulay said societies that appreciated a free press need to be “constantly vigilant,” adding that nations need to act together to protect journalists ‘ freedom of speech and security.
The Group of Friends for the Protection of Journalists also noted that free speech was essential for good governance, informed decision-making, democracy, free and fair electoral processes, and government accountability.
The event was organized by the United Nations Department of Global Communications and UNESCO, which featured a panel discussion on the theme of the day.
