Maravi

Celebrating press freedom

Celebrating press freedom
By Editor
Thursday May 03, 2007 [04:00]

As it has been since the United Nations proclaimed May 3 as World Press Freedom Day in 1993 following the Windhoek Declaration of 1991, today marks an important moment for us who work as journalists or media professionals. In fact, this day is not only important to us as journalists or media professionals, but to all of us. It is an important day when all of us - whether we are ordinary citizens, governments, civil society or the Church - should spare a moment to remember and celebrate the crucial role that a free press plays in democracy and development.

The world-over, May 3 should serve as an important reminder that although most of our constitutions guarantee us the right to freedom of expression, this right is often violated with impunity. May 3 is a day of mixed feelings because although it is essentially supposed to be a day when we celebrate our role in society, it is also a day when we remember the violence that is perpetrated against us and against our work.

As we celebrate World Press Freedom Day today, the plain truth is that impunity against us is not relenting. Many of our colleagues the world-over are languishing in jail while many others have paid with their lives for performing the duties and responsibilities that go with our work.

As we speak today, one of our colleagues, the British Broadcasting Corporation correspondent in Gaza, Alan Johnston, has been in the custody of kidnappers for more than 50 days now and no one really knows where he is or what has happened to him.
All this is a stark reminder to us that the price for press freedom does not come cheaply.

This is why as we celebrate this day, we should keep reminding each other, especially those in government, of our duty and responsibility to respect and uphold the people's right to freedom of expression. This is an important right which is adequately guaranteed under a number of conventions including the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states:

"Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers". Further, the African Charter on Human and People's Rights states: "Every individual shall have the right to receive information.

Every individual shall have the right to express and disseminate his opinions within the law." The Declaration of Chapultapec, adopted by the Hemisphere Conference on Free Speech in Mexico City on March 11, 1994 is perhaps more emphatic when it states: "No people or society can be free without freedom of expression and of the press. The exercise of this freedom is not something authorities grant, it is an inalienable right of the people." The American Convention on Human Rights also states that: "Everyone has the right to freedom of thought and expression. This right includes freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing, in print, in the form of art, or through any other medium of one's choice."

So as we celebrate the World Press Freedom Day, let us remember that it should be an opportunity for us to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press as well as to remind governments of their duty and responsibility to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under various conventions, including the constitutional guarantees by various national constitutions.

But we should also use this occassion to reflect not only on the achievements that we have recorded over the preceding year but also to take stock of the unresolved issues that are still an obstacle to our work.

Focusing our attention on the situation in our country, we know that there is still a huge task in order to ensure that press freedom and freedom of expression are adequately guaranteed. For instance, although freedom of expression is expressly guaranteed under Article 20 of the Constitution of 1991 (amended in 1996) in Zambia, it is clear that there are still several statutes that critically limit it.

Furthermore, we know today that although there was a ruling recently on the implementation of both the Independent Broadcasting Authority and the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation, we are yet to see action in that direction to ensure that the broadcasting landscape in the country is as it should be. Also, the enactment of the Freedom of Information Bill, which remains withdrawn from Parliament, should be considered urgent if the media is to enjoy more rights in as far as they can be allowed to access government-held information once this right is enforceable through legislation.

It is our considered opinion that freedom of expression - and its extension, freedom of the press - deserve serious legislative and policy attention so that their exercise is not hindered by any barriers, be they legislative, administrative or economic.

And this is why we think that the recommendations contained in the Mung'omba Constitution Review Commission must be seriously considered in order to do away with all the vague terms that restrict freedom of expression and that of the press.

For us as The Post, as we continue our journalistic role in the service of mankind, we take advantage of this day to stress our commitment to remain resolved to the maintainence our editorial independence, not only from newsmakers or media owners, but from international forces as well. We make this commitment because we have a critical role to play in the good governance of our young democracy. We shall continue with our role of ensuring transparency, accountability, promoting participation and the rule of law, including contributing to the fight for economic development and against all forms of poverty. We believe that the fulfillment of our journalistic roles, duties and responsibilities that have been placed on our shoulders is equally essential to press freedom.

Otherwise, as we celebrate World Press Freedom Day, let us keep remembering that freedom of the press, like all other freedoms, is not cheap and we should always endeavour to protect it.

Labels: EDITORIAL, FREEDOM OF INFORMATION BILL, MEDIA

posted by MrK @ 4:46 AM