Access to Information and Fundamental Freedoms: This Is Your Right!
Montreal, May 3, 2016. The World Association of Community Broadcasters (AMARC) joins the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and all media stakeholders, international freedom of expression organizations and national associations struggling for communication rights to celebrate World Press Freedom Day and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Press freedom decreased in many countries and regions in the last year. “Media workers are, more than ever, submitted to increasing threats and challenges”, said Emmanuel Boutterin, President of AMARC.“On this day, AMARC wishes to reaffirm the importance of a vibrant community radio sector and to highlight the need for a better public access to information, development of independent media, safety of journalists and media workers and gender equality on air as safeguards of freedom of expression, freedom of the press and democracy.”
This year’s World Press Freedom Day global theme is Access to Information and Fundamental Freedoms: This Is Your Right! This echoes the target 16.10 of the new Sustainable Development Goals as agreed by all governments in the United Nations in 2015. On World Press Freedom Day, AMARC invites all its members, partners and associates to reflect on freedom of information as a fundamental freedom and as a human right, on the protection of press freedom from censorship and surveillance overreach and on the safety or journalists online and offline.
Find more information about World Press Freedom Day on UNESCO’s website.
Through service to its members, networking and project implementation, the World Association of Community Radios (AMARC) brings together more than 4,000 community radios, federations and community radio partners in more than 150 countries. Follow us onTwitter | Join us on Facebook | Listen on Soundcloud
