The UK National Commission for UNESCO

Since the publication of twelve cartoons in Denmark last year, the world’s media has been torn by uncertainty on how to react. Some editors have been more reticent than others. The question now being asked is whether this response has imposed a lasting impression on free speech.

To mark the UN's World Press Freedom Day on May 3, the National Commission for UNESCO in conjunction with the Press Freedom Network are staging a key debate on these issues.

110 delegates attended a lively debate entitled "Freedom of Expression is Sacred" at Portcullis House.

A report is in the process of being prepared and will be available in due course.

SPEAKERS: The High Commissioner for Pakistan; Roger Koeppel, editor in chief of Die Welt; Brian Whitaker, Middle East editor of The Guardian; Steve Herrmann, editor of BBC News Interactive; Lasse Ellegaard, Politiken of Denmark; Peter Tatchell, Human Rights activist; with
William Horsley, European Affairs Correspondent of the BBC in the chair

ORGANISORS: Amnesty International · Article XIX · Association of European JournalistsCampaign for Freedom of Information · Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom · BBCBritish Computer Society · Broadcasting Freedom · Exiled Journalists Network · Index on CensorshipInstitute of Journalism · Institute of Peace and War Reporting · International News Safety InstituteInternational Press Institute · National Union of Journalists · Newspaper Society · PENReporters sans Frontieres · Society of Editors · UK National Commission for UNESCO

Downloads
Speech of the High Commissioner for Pakistan (download)
Flyer (pdf, 37kb)
Programme (download)
Chair and Speakers (list)
Articles from IWPR (download)

Other Events: Wales (more information)
4 events in Wales:

Aberystwyth (in association with the Dept. of International Politics, University of Wales Aberystwyth).
A reception for invitees, followed by an open meeting on the theme of ‘Violence, Suffering and the Media in Africa’.
Bangor (in association with the Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign).
A showing of the film ‘The World Stopped Watching’ about the social/political situation in Nicaragua since the revolution and the war, with a particular emphasis on the role and experiences of journalists. Followed by a panel discussion.
Swansea (in association with Undercurrents: www.undercurrents.org).
Video showings followed by discussion. Videos: ’Mark Thomas Comedy Show’ about media freedom; ‘Breaking News’; ‘Globalisation and the Media’.
Wrexham, NEWI: 7.30pm at Restaurant 1887 at the NEWI campus. The event will be a Poetry and Music evening, poetry around the subject of media and poverty eradication and press freedom in general. This event will be filmed and available on the NEWI intranet.

Other Events: The Frontline Club (website)
730PM - discussion with Waleed Ibrahim, Baghdad Arabic Service reporter for Reuters, and Andrei Bastunets, Belarusian Association of Journalists. Others TBC. more

Resources

What is World Press Freedom Day?
Every year, May 3rd is a date which celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession. It is a date to encourage and develop initiatives in favour of press freedom, and to assess the state of press freedom worldwide. (more)

What does UNESCO do for Freedom of Expression?
Amidst the growing recognition of the importance of press freedom for democracy and development, in 1993 the UN General Assembly proclaimed that May 3 is “World Press Freedom Day”. It is also on World Press Freedom Day that UNESCO awards the annual UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize to a journalist who has distinguished him or herself in the fight for press freedom.

UNESCO is increasingly being asked to assist, together with the other United Nations system organizations, funds and programmes, in seeking solutions in conflict prevention, emergency assistance, and post-conflict peace-building. Freedom of the press, pluralism and independence of the media, and development of community newspapers and radio stations are crucial to the re-establishment of social bonds and to the reconciliation process. (more)

UNESCO Director-General’s Message on World Press Freedom Day
in 5 languages

Statement from the Danish National Commission for UNESCO (download)

2006 WPFD Celebration and Declaration
UNESCO will celeborate WPFD in a conference in Colombo, Sri Lanka, entitled Media, Development and Poverty Eradication (1-2 May). (more)

The UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize will be presented in a ceremony on May 3. (more)

What is the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize?
In 1997 UNESCO established the annual World Press Freedom Prize, the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano Prize, in honour of the Colombian journalist who died in the exercise of his profession. This prize is intended to honour, each year, a person, organization or institution that has made a notable contribution to the defence and/or promotion of press freedom anywhere in the world, especially if this involved risk. The $25,000 prize is awarded each year on the recommendation of an independent jury of media professionals from all over the world.

The 2006 Prize is awarded to Lebanese journalist May Chidiac. (more)

Respect for freedom of expression and respect for religious beliefs: Declaration adopted at UNESCO Executive Board

On 13 April, the Director-General of UNESCO, Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, expressed his “strong satisfaction” after the Executive Board of the Organization adopted a decision relating to the issue of respect for freedom of expression and respect for religious beliefs and religious symbols. While referring to international instruments that uphold freedom of expression, of thought, of belief and of religion, the Member States of UNESCO have reaffirmed their attachment both to respect for religious beliefs and religious symbols and to freedom of expression. more

Websites
Links to UN and UN System sites (more)