The UN Secretary-General has urged governments to “do everything in their power” to support a free, independent and diverse media.
This came in a message on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day , which is celebrated annually on 3 May, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, stressed the critical role of reliable, verifiable and globally available information in saving lives and building strong and resilient societies.
“ During a pandemic and in other crises, including climate emergencies, journalists and media professionals are helping us navigate the rapidly changing and often overwhelming sea of information while confronting dangerous fallacies and lies,” said Mr. Guterres .
He added that a free and independent press “is our biggest ally in combating false and misleading information . “
Mr. Guterres also noted the significant personal risks to journalists in many countries, including new restrictions, censorship, mistreatment, harassment, detention, and even death, “just for doing their job, and the situation keeps getting worse” .
He added that the economic effects of the pandemic have severely damaged many media outlets, threatening their very survival.
” With shrinking budgets, access to reliable information has diminished, and rumors, lies and extremist or divisive opinions are rising to fill the gap,” Mr. Guterres said .
The “cornerstone” of democratic societies
For her part, Ms. Michelle Bachelet, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, noted the importance of a free, independent and uncensored press as the “cornerstone of democratic societies” and a carrier of life-saving information as it works to improve public participation and promote accountability and respect for human rights.
” All over the world, more people are taking to the streets to demand their economic and social rights, as well as an end to discrimination, systemic racism, impunity and corruption,” she said .
However, journalists who play their primary role in covering these social protests have become targets, and many have become victims of unnecessary and disproportionate use of force, arbitrary arrests, and criminal prosecution.
Ms. Bachelet added that such attacks weaken public debate and impede society’s ability to respond effectively to challenges, including COVID-19 .
© UNICEF Moldova