Saturday, May 6, 2023

World Press Freedom Day 2023

                           Last Wednesday 3rd of May, all over the world was celebrated the importance of one of the most important human rights, the freedom of expression, besides the importance of a free, independent, and courageous news media. And like many other have done this week, this post is a tribute to all journalist, human rights defender, and anyone else that are helping us to know what is really happenning around the world. I have been doing summaries about this important day since 2013. This year the theme is about the importance of freedom of expression for all journalists, human rights defender, activists and anyone else who wants to defend the human rights anytime or anywhere. We can not tolerate the violation of any essential human rights, such as right to privacy or the right to monetization of social media, or political rights, they are the pillars of democracy and justice. And justice in these cases mean above all, compensation for the victims, since it is hard to identify the responsible for the violations that generally involve many persons from internet supplier  companies to governments officials.  This post is a summary of four articles. The first was published at   https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/world-press-freedom-day-2023. The second was published at   https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/higher-levels-freedom-expression-have-strong-relationship-protection-other-human-rights-unesco. The third was published at   https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/05/03/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-the-occasion-of-world-press-freedom-day-2023/. The fourth was published at https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/world-press-freedom-day-1525264271-1

                   On World Press Freedom Day 2023, UNESCO will organize a special event at U.N. in New York, marking the 30 years since the U.N. General Assembly's decision proclaiming an international day for press freedom. Celebrated every 3rd of May, this year's theme for the Day will be "Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of Expression as a driver for all other human rights", Signifying the enabling element of freedom of expression to enjoy and protect all other human rights. World Press Freedom Day 2023 will also be the occasion to award the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize, which recognizes and honours the contribution of journalists, particularly those who risk their lives to provide information to the public.                                                                                     The 10 countries with the highest levels of Freedom of Expression, according to V-Dem data, also enjoy a significantly higher level of rpotection of civil, political, economic and social rights, such as access to justice, a near absence of political killings and very low levels of exclusion across gender, socio-economic, political and social group indicators. At the same time, the 10 countries with the lowest level of freedom of expression are associated with higher levels of exclusion and higher levels of exclusion by political groups. The data also show that in countries where freedom of expression is higher, less exclusion from public goods and services is experienced. This analysis shows that higher levels of freedom of expression are good indicators that we will also find higher levels of protection for other human rights. So, when working towards more human rights, the fight for freedom of expression is key.                                        Journalism is fundamental to a free society, Today, as we mark the 30th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day, we honor all the jornalists, reporters and media workers who bravely pursue the truth. And we renew our pledge to hold to account all those that seek to silence these voices essential to transparent and trustworthy governance. A free press is a pillar of democracy. It educates, illuminates, exposes, and uncovers. It serves as a guardian of truth. No journalist should have to risk their lives and livehoods in pursuit of that truth. In many places around the world, autocrats and their enablers continue to repress a free and independent media, through censorship, retribution, threats, lawsuits, harassment, disinformation, detention and physical attacks. Courageous journalists around the world have shown that they will not be silenced or intimidated. Today and every day we must all stand with journalists around the world. We must all speak out against those who wish to silence them. And we must all continue to support a free press that is essential to democracies everywhere.                                                                                                                           World Press Freedom Day is observed on May 3rd to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom, and defend the media from attacks on their independence. AT U.N. in New York a conference will focus on the digital era' impact on freedom of expression, access to information and privacy, safety of journalists, etc. To address these challenges, some concrete recommendations will also be developed. It is fundamental to spread awareness about the importance to awaken the government of its duty to uphold and respect the right to freedom of expression. The theme for 2023 is "Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of Expression as a Driver for All other Human Rights."                                                    

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