As the globe marked World Press Freedom Day yesterday, journalists were commemorating the one-year-anniversary of dual suicide bombings in Kabul which killed nine of their colleagues. Meanwhile, separate attacks in Khost and Kandahar at about the same time killed another two journalists as well as dozens of civilians. In addition to mourning, the media community also conveyed its enduring respect for these journalists who had risked their lives on a daily basis to report the news.
The Afghan attacks were among the most deadly for journalists last year. In fact, 2018, in general, was a grim year for independent media. Last year, the Unesco Observatory recorded the killing of 99 journalists worldwide, many of whom were targeted specifically to stifle their free and independent reporting, including the murder of Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi who was killed in Istanbul last October.
The journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty have paid the highest price. They have also reminded us of the incomparable value of that work because there are those who will resort to murder to stifle their voices. In every area of our lives, we rely on journalists to enable accountability to safeguard our societies and to simply to keep us informed.
The 26th commemoration of World Press Freedom Day, organised by Unesco, the African Union Commission and the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, was set to take place at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa under the theme of "media for democracy: journalism and elections in times of disinformation".
Similarly, about 100 complementary events will be held across the world, including the Asia-Pacific, where the "Defend Journalism" campaign is taking place, bringing together news outlets from across the world in social media and editorial coverage.
"At a time of growing discourse of mistrust and de-legitimisation of the press and journalism, it is essential that we guarantee freedom of opinion through the free exchange of ideas and information based on factual truths," Unesco Director-General Audrey Azoulay said to mark World Press Freedom Day. "Impunity for crimes committed against journalists is a threat that affects all our societies. This threat requires us to be constantly vigilant. We must act together to protect the freedom of expression and safety of journalists."
The heavy toll of murders is not the extent of threats meant to stifle press freedom. UN Secretary-General António Guterres pointed out that in addition to the nearly 100 journalists killed, hundreds more have been imprisoned. In just some high-profile examples in Southeast Asia, two Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo are serving seven-year prison sentences since December 2017 having reported on alleged human rights violations in Myanmar's state of Rakhine, coverage which has since won the Pulitzer Prize as well as the Unesco/Guillermo Cano Press Freedom Prize this year. In the Philippines, Rappler CEO and executive editor Maria Ressa continues to fight legal charges, leading to a robust defence of media freedom under the banner of "hold the line".
Across the region, the official threat of imprisonment is augmented by draconian libel laws, use of strategic lawsuits against media outlets and other widespread restrictions on freedom of expression, which have targeted activists and journalists alike. With shrinking public spaces for civil and political participation and the proliferation of nationalistic narratives leading to xenophobia and violence, the protection of independent and ethical journalism as a fundamental safeguard of societies is more essential than ever.
This year's theme focusing on disinformation also takes into account the changing media landscape in the digital age. So-called "fake news" -- or, more commonly termed, lies and propaganda -- has corrupted electoral systems, disseminated fear and promoted violence on a massive scale. The response in many Southeast Asian countries has been the introduction of restrictive cyber laws, rationalised as curbing misinformation, but in most cases imposing potentially arbitrary punishments for a wide range of expression. The solution to "fake news", is not repression but the strengthening of professional standards and ethical news institutions.
"A free press is essential for peace, justice, sustainable development and human rights," UN Secretary-General António Guterres said. "No democracy is complete without access to transparent and reliable information. It is the cornerstone for building fair and impartial institutions, holding leaders accountable and speaking truth to power", a vision which his highlighted in the UN Sustainable Development Agenda 2030.
World Press Freedom Day, celebrated every year on May 3, was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 following a recommendation adopted by Unesco's General Conference in 1991. The origins of the day lie in the Windhoek Declaration signed by a group of African journalists who gathered at a Unesco seminar for "Promoting an Independent and Pluralistic African Media" in Windhoek, Namibia in May 1991.
Jeremy Walden-Schertz is the Media Officer at Unesco Bangkok.