World Association of News Publishers


World’s Press Calls for Greater Freedom of Expression in Ukraine

World’s Press Calls for Greater Freedom of Expression in Ukraine

Article ID:

15488

In its latest round of press freedom resolutions, the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), has called on Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to take decisive action to guarantee freedom of expression in the country.

“Recognising that political and economic progress flourishes in a climate where the press is free and independent of governmental, political or economic control, we urge the Ukrainian authorities to allow media professionals to report openly on corruption and to ensure that the country’s Access to Information law is respected,” said a resolution from the Board of WAN-IFRA, meeting in Kiev, Ukraine, on the eve of the World Newspaper Congress and World Editors Forum, the global summit meetings of the world's press.

“WAN-IFRA calls for an immediate end to “envelope” payments to journalists and underlines the urgent need for a strong and independent media that is self-regulated. It also urges the Ukrainian authorities to ensure the judicial process in the Georgy Gongadze murder case is allowed to progress swiftly and unimpeded so as to send a clear message to those who threaten the press that violence against the media will not be tolerated,” said the resolution, which can be read in full here

WAN-IFRA issued three other resolutions to:

  • - Call on the Ethiopian authorities to immediately end their use of vague anti-terrorism legislation to prevent the printing and distribution of the opposition press and to silence journalists critical of government policies. (Read the full resolution)


  • - Call on the Venezuelan authorities to guarantee all media in the country are allowed to work freely and without fear of reprisals ahead of upcoming presidential elections on 7 October. (Read the full resolution)


  • - Call on the President-elect of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto, to prioritise the safety of media professionals during his upcoming mandate. (Read the full resolution


At least 35 journalists have been killed in Mexico since December 2006. In the past six months, five journalists have been murdered, four of them in the state of Veracruz in a single week. Many others have been kidnapped and threatened. Newspapers throughout the country suffer constant intimidation and armed attacks on their premises.

Mexican journalist Anabel Hernández is 2012 Golden Pen of Freedom laureate, WAN-IFRA’s annual award recognising individuals or organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to the defence and promotion of press freedom. She will receive the award at the opening ceremony of the 64th World Newspaper Congress and 19th World Editors Forum in Kiev tomorrow, 3 September.


For more information on WAN-IFRA’s press freedom work visit http://www.wan-ifra.org/pressfreedom

WAN-IFRA, based in Paris, France, and Darmstadt, Germany, with subsidiaries in Singapore, India, Spain, France and Sweden, is the global organisation of the world’s newspapers and news publishers. It represents more than 18,000 publications, 15,000 online sites and over 3,000 companies in more than 120 countries. Its core mission is to defend and promote press freedom, quality journalism and editorial integrity and the development of prosperous businesses.

Inquiries to: Larry Kilman, Deputy CEO and Director of Communications and Public Affairs, WAN-IFRA, 96 bis, rue Beaubourg, 75003 Paris France. Tel: +33 1 47 42 85 07. Fax: +33 1 42 78 92 33. Mobile: +33 6 10 28 97 36. E-mail:larry.kilman@wan-ifra.org

Author

Andrew Heslop's picture

Andrew Heslop

Date

2012-08-21 16:31

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In countless countries, journalists, editors and publishers are physically attacked, imprisoned, censored, suspended or harassed for their work. WAN-IFRA is committed to defending freedom of expression by promoting a free and independent press around the world. Read more ...