World Press Freedom Day

21st anniversary of World Press Freedom Day on 3 May, 2014

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2nd October 2015

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by Leigh Turner

Ambassador to Austria and UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Vienna

Turkey: media freedom, stability and prosperity

A politically motivated protest outside a newspaper office results in physical damage and intimidation.  Politicians and media make threats against specific individuals.  Days later, one of those individuals – Ahmet Hakan, a prominent journalist – is physically attacked, and hospitalised. These developments are wrong in themselves.  They are also terrible for Turkey’s image overseas; and […]

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10th October 2014

Mark Kent, the British Ambassador to Thailand

by Mark Kent

British Ambassador to Argentina

Media should be responsible as well as free

I  have on many occasions made the point that a free media is an important part of a functioning society – it can help free flow of information and ideas, to educate its audience, to hold those in power to account in areas such as exposing corruption scandals. But in each society there is a balance […]

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12th May 2014 London, UK

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by Nick Pyle

British High Commissioner to Botswana

The role of a free and independent media in development

World Press Freedom Day took place on 3rd May. The theme for this year was Media Freedom for a better future: shaping the post-2015 development agenda. The focus this year, is on three inter-related themes: the media’s importance in development; the safety of journalists and the rule of law; and the sustainability and integrity of […]

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5th May 2014

by Peter Tibber

Ambassador to Colombia

Press Freedom Day

Saturday was World Press Freedom Day. I marked the occasion by attending a celebration at the Omdurman University College for Press and Printing Technology. Apparently it’s the first time that an academic institution in Sudan has held such an event. It was well attended by a number of very senior, distinguished and courageous figures from […]

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3rd May 2014

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by Greg Dorey

Diplomat

Media Freedom for a Better Future

Today is World Press Freedom Day #WPFD. The work that journalists do is often dangerous and difficult. Unfortunately, 2013 was one of the most dangerous years for the profession across the world, with 70 journalists killed. Many of these were caught in the cross-fire of armed hostilities. They had been trying in exceedingly difficult circumstances […]

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9th May 2013 Malmo, Sweden

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by Naeimeh Doostdar

Freelance journalist

Case study: Iran

For some years now, my country, Iran, has been in a difficult situation caused by economical pressures, social deficiencies and most importantly of all, a lack of freedoms. I was a child of the Islamic revolution; my generation grew up in war and post-war situations but nothing more than social restrictions surrounding us. I always […]

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3rd May 2013

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by Sarah Dickson

Ambassador to Guatemala (June 2012 - June 2015)

What we have to combat

The Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, the Guatemalan Frank La Rue and friend of this Embassy, has written an article to commemorate the World Press Freedom Day: To mark this important date, I will like to highlight some important conclusions contained in my last […]

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3rd May 2013

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by Greg Dorey

Diplomat

Safe to Speak

Today we mark World Press Freedom Day. Twenty years ago, 3 May was declared a day to celebrate Press Freedom. Since then, the day has done much to raise awareness about the value of press freedom and freedom of speech. The theme this year is ‘Safe to Speak: Securing Freedom of Expression in all Media.’ […]

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2nd May 2013 London, UK

Foreign Secretary marks 20th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day

The Foreign Secretary William Hague recognises the bravery of journalists around the globe on World Press Freedom Day. Speaking today, he said: We all owe a debt of gratitude to the courageous journalists who risk imprisonment, injury and death to report from repressive countries or conflict zones around the world. It is easy to take […]

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About World Press Freedom Day

To mark the 21st anniversary of World Press Freedom Day on 3 May, 2014, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office aims to “shine a light” to highlight repression of the media…

To mark the 21st anniversary of World Press Freedom Day on 3 May, 2014, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office aims to “shine a light” to highlight repression of the media and freedom of expression using personal testimonies and other accounts from around the world.

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