World Press Freedom Day to celebrate role of journalism in sustainable development

28 Apr 2017, 12:00 am
Financial Nigeria

Summary

The UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize will be awarded to Dawit Isaak, the incarcerated Eritrean journalist.

Dawit Isaak, Swedish-Eritrean playwright, journalist and writer

As part of the events to mark World Press Freedom Day 2017, on May 3, UNESCO will host a four-day conference in Jakarta, Indonesia, from May 1-4. According to a statement released on Friday, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation said the event is designed to raise awareness of the importance of free and fact-based journalism in promoting peace and justice, and supporting the efficiency, accountability and inclusiveness of institutions, in line with Goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals.  

Goal 16 of the 2030 Agenda aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies based on respect for human rights, the rule of law and transparent, effective and accountable institutions. The theme of UNESCO conference is Critical Minds for Critical Times: The media’s role in advancing peaceful, just and inclusive societies.

Organised in partnership with the Government of Indonesia and the Indonesian Press Council, the event will feature training sessions, workshops and roundtable forums. About 1,200 participants are expected to attend.

UNESCO said approximately 80 press freedom events will be organised around the world this year to mark the World Press Freedom Day 2017. Leading news agencies like Al Jazeera, El Pais and Rappler will host dedicated blogs featuring special content for the World Press Freedom Day. The Cartooning for Peace Network will also conduct an awareness campaign to promote freedom of expression through a series of press cartoons.

The May 3rd celebration will be opened the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, Jusuf Kalla, and Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova. The 2017 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize will be awarded to Dawit Isaak, the incarcerated Eritrean-born journalist. Dawit will be represented by his daughter, Bethelem Isaak. He has been held in prison in Eritrea since 2001 without trial. He is considered a traitor by the Eritrean government. Dawit was arrested on September 23, 2001, along with 10 other journalists and eleven politicians purportedly for demanding democratic reforms.

Key speakers at the conference will include José Ramos-Horta, former President of Timor-Leste and 1996 Nobel Peace Prize laureate; Richard Gingras, Vice President of News at Google; and Oscar Cantu Murguia, Editor of Norte, the Mexican newspaper that shut down operations in April following the killing of one of its journalists.

At the close of the four-day event, participants are expected to adopt the 'Jakarta Declaration,' which will reflect the main concerns and principles expressed during the conference.


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