Free press essential for sustainable development: U.N. message

Leaders of the United States including Secretary-General Kofi Annan called on decision-makers at all levels to do whatever they can to ensure that journalists can pursue their work unhindered and undeterred, so that people throughout the world can benefit from the free flow of ideas. They made the request in a joint message released Monday ahead of the World Press Freedom Day, which falls on May 3.

◀ Message Full Text

The message, co-signed by Secretary-General Annan, Koichiro Matsuura, director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and Mary Robinson, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, pointed out that the freedom of press has improved greatly in the past decade but it is still under threats in many places of the world by political, economic, military, religious or criminal interests.

The message said that journalists, whose work is to challenge such interests, are liable to suffer intimidation, violence, exile, prison and even execution or simple murder. It said that experience has shown that even the most heinous regimes can gain popular support if they manage to muzzle the media or to manipulate it to arouse fear and hatred among their citizens. The message also said that free media have an indispensable role to play in rooting out racism and xenophobia, urged journalists to adhere to the highest standards of their profession, to refuse to lend their skills to hate-mongering, and always to uphold the principle of impartiality. It emphasized that free press is one of the most essential components of a democratic society, which in turn is a prerequisite for sustainable social and economic development.

Choi Young-Hoon tao4@donga.com