Monrovia, Liberia – António Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, has emphasized the pressing need to protect press freedom and the mounting threats that journalists confront globally in his formal statement on the day.
He pointed out that it is a common belief that the first casualty in a battle is truth. He cautioned that far too frequently, journalists themselves are the first casualties, risking everything to expose the truth not only in conflict areas but also when individuals in positions of authority are afraid of being questioned.
Media professionals continue to suffer severe risks all around the world, including as censorship, monitoring, legal harassment, and even death. The message emphasised the dramatic rise in recent years in the number of journalists killed, many of whom are targeted on purpose in conflict zones.
The Secretary-General also highlighted the alarming fact that 85% of crimes against journalists go unreported and unpunished, calling this an intolerable degree of impunity.
He also expressed concern about growing threats to press freedom, including as economic difficulties, new technology, and intentional information manipulation, all of which are undermining the media landscape.
The point is that mistrust increases when there is less access to trustworthy information. Social cohesiveness deteriorates when public discourse is skewed. Additionally, it becomes more challenging to avoid and address problems when journalism is compromised.
He reiterated that press freedom is essential to every freedom, emphasizing that human rights, sustainable development, and enduring peace cannot exist without it. Liberia will be joining the rest of the world in commemorating this significant day, and the message is still quite clear: safeguard journalists, stand up for the truth, and make the media environment safer and more open for everyone.
Photo credit: GETTY IMAGE
Reported by: Naneka Hoffman
