The Nigerian Guild of Editors has congratulated African journalists on
their resolve to weather the storm to remain afloat, in spite of harsh economic
conditions and environment.
In a message signed by its President, Funke Egbemode and General Secretary, Victoria Ibanga, the Nigerian Guild of
Editors said this year’s celebration demands sober reflection as it also
affords journalists opportunity to assess the state of press freedom, state of
the media in Nigeria, as well as empathize and pay tribute to colleagues in
various prisons across the world, as well as those who died in the course of
performing their Constitutional duty.
It said drawing from the theme of this year’s celebration, “Keeping Power in Check: Media,
Justice", Nigerian Editors join organisations like the United Nations,
to implore governments world over to create an enabling legal environment for
press freedom as well as give special attention to the role of an independent
Judiciary in ensuring legal guarantees for press freedom and the prosecution of
crimes against journalists.
The Nigerian Guild of Editors noted with delight, the roles of the media
in the struggle for independence, enthronement of democracy and promotion and
propagation of social justice and human rights.
 |
| Funke Egbemode, President, NGE |
The guild therefore requested government and security agencies to reopen
and urgently resolve all pending cases of attacks and killings of Journalists
and Media workers in Nigeria and bring perpetrators to book, to serve as
deterrent to others.
The World Press Freedom
Day was proclaimed by the United Nations General
Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO's General
Conference.
It aims to raise awareness on the importance of freedom of the press and
remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the Right to Freedom of
Expression, enshrined under Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of
Human Rights. Since the Declaration of Windhoek, the anniversary is celebrated
annually on May 3rd, as World Press Freedom Day.
No comments:
Post a Comment