On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, the UN in Somalia underlines the critical role that the country’s media play in Somali society, as well as the need of ensuring their ability to do so safely and freely.
“The media in Somalia are critical to the progress of democracy, and they must be able to carry out their crucial work free of threats, intimidation, and injury,” said James Swan, the UN Secretary-Special General’s Representative for Somalia.
In many places of Somalia, journalists face violent threats.
One journalist has been killed and two others have been injured since May of last year.
In addition, 64 journalists and media professionals have been detained while doing their jobs.
The UN General Assembly proclaimed World Press Freedom Day in 1993, with 3 May designated for the observance to mark the anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration, a landmark statement on the link between the freedom to seek, impart and receive information and the public good. The Day acts as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom, as well as celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom, assess the state of press freedom throughout the world, defend the media from attacks on their independence, and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.