World Press Freedom Day
an article by Good News Agency
Year 9th, no. 7 - 16 May 2008
www.goodnewsagency.org

Some 150 media professionals from around the world adopted on May 5 a declaration emphasizing the importance of freedom of expression and free access to information to participatory democracy at the close of a two-day conference entitled "Freedom of Expression, Access to Information and the Empowerment of People" in Maputo.

Also during the celebration of World Press Freedom Day in the capital of Mozambique on Saturday, the Mexican reporter, Lydia Cacho Ribeiro received the 2008 UNESCO Press Freedom Prize, awarded to her by the Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, in a ceremony held in the presence of the President of the Republic of Mozambique Armando Guebuza.

Image from UNESCO website

Aiming to encourage UNESCO Member States to implement policies that are favourable to the basic human right of freedom of expression and that facilitate access to information, the "Maputo Declaration: Fostering Freedom of Expression Access to Information and Empowerment of People" emphasizes the importance of open government, transparency, accountability and public access to information.

The declaration recognizes the contribution of public service, commercial and community broadcasting to enable all members of society, including marginalized populations, to be heard and take part in the decision-making process. It further calls on the media and on the press to contribute to access to information and facilitate the participation of marginalized and linguistic minorities.

For further information, see the UNESCO website.

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