UN Marks World Press Freedom Day

Doha, May 02 (QNA) The entire world is to observe tomorrow, Tuesday , May 03, the World Press Freedom Day under the slogan,'' New Horizons , New Barriers'' which sheds light on the world media scene which has categorically changed.
The occasion is also observed with a call for action against hate media and stressed its cooperation with the media and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in pursuit of objective and free-flowing information.
A memo issued by the UN news center and a copy of which was relayed by Qatar News Agency (QNA) said ,'' let's remember the journalists , editors and other mediamen who were killed owing to their media missions"'.
The note made public by director of the Media Centre for the United Nations in Qatar, Bahrain and United Arab Emirates Najib Freiji said while we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the / Windhoek / declaration, Let us pledge to also bridge the digital divide, so that all people benefit.
from access to the media and new communication technologies and their use.
The roots of today's World Press Freedom to African journalists who have sought in the wake of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the restrictions that were imposed on the media in Eastern Europe to achieve similar progress in the continent , he said adding that has cooperated with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to organize the seminar held in 1991 in Namibia, which issued the / Windhoek / historical declaration on the free and independent media, which in turn announced that inspired the General Assembly of the United Nations after two years of the Declaration on observing such an occasion.
For his part, Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fr?chette told a meeting at UN Headquarters in New York marking the Day, observed on 3 May said,''.Freedom of the press must be safeguarded as a "lifeblood" and "lifeline" for peace, democracy and development''.
She also called for an end to impunity for those who killed journalists, noting that most of those who died while performing their work were not killed in war but murdered by vested interests.
The observance, which was organized by the UN Department of Public information (DPI), took place in the context of the meetings of the Committee on Information, a standing body of the UN General Assembly responsible for a broad range of issues related to communications. It also included a screening of the video "Media and War Coverage," as well as a panel discussion by working journalists.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Fr?chette noted the impact of hate media in Rwanda, Bosnia and C?te d'Ivoire, and welcomed the prosecution of those involved in Rwanda. But, she said, "What really matters is that we succeed in preventing such incitement in the future. The best antidote is the development of free and independent media that serve the needs of all parts of society."
Recalling the many journalists killed, she said: "As dangerous as war can be for those covering it, most journalists who die in the line of duty around the world are murdered - deliberately targeted, as individuals, for exposing corruption or abuses of power; for opposing entrenched interests, legal or illegal; in short, for doing their jobs."
She went on to say that many were also imprisoned for the same reason, adding: "Many hundreds more face harassment, intimidation and physical assault. Quite apart from the individual tragedies involved, such acts can have a chilling effect on society at large - stifling dissent and debate. Such attacks must not be tolerated. Their perpetrators must be brought to justice."