ACTING RIGHTS CHIEF SAYS PRESS FREEDOM DAY AN OCCASION TO REMEMBER FALLEN JOURNALISTS, ENSURE VOICES CONTINUE TO BE HEARD

03.05.2004



Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights Bertrand Ramcharan issued the following statement today:

Freedom of expression is fundamental for the promotion and protection of all human rights. The extent to which this freedom is respected or violated is like a barometer, indicating how well countries abide by their human rights obligations in general. And like the numbers on a barometer, the figures tell much of the story:

· 19 journalists reported killed so far in 2004
· 133 journalists in prison in 22 countries
· 1,460 journalists physically attacked or threatened last year
· 73 people imprisoned for posting information on the Internet. Many others face disappearance, criminal sanctions, harassment and other forms of violence.

These numbers talk of individual human rights violations. But they also reveal that in too many places around the world, those in power are not ready to be held to account for their actions. They cannot tolerate an informed citizenry; they are not ready for ideas to flow freely. They are not only stifling debate, but also choking democracy and sustainable development.

On this World Press Freedom Day, we must not only remember those who have fallen and been targeted for doing their job. We must also ensure that although they have been silenced, millions of other voices, dissonant and dissenting as they may be, will continue to be heard to denounce, inform, report, and educate freely.