Media Freedom Key Topic Of Regional Meeting

3 November 2011

The United Nations (UN) Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Regional Office for the Pacific welcomes the strong support for press freedom expressed at Pacific Media Rising: Shaping New Futures for Media, Voice and Accountability, a regional media, civil society and development partner’s roundtable meeting held in Honiara, Solomon Islands from 19-22 October. OHCHR participated in the meeting, organized by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Asia-Pacific Media for Democracy in the Pacific project, together with around 30 other actors from 10 different countries. The objectives of the meeting were to strengthen the role of media as partners in ensuring accountable, transparent governance and sustainable development and to increase monitoring of media freedom in the region. Freedom of information legislation, codes of ethics for Pacific journalists, forging relationships between mainstream and community journalists, and the situation for journalists in Fiji were some of the challenges and opportunities discussed by participants.

The Solomon Islands Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga said during his key-note address: “Any violation on media freedom and freedom of expression by governments, businesses and individuals is undemocratic and that kind of attitude should be discouraged. Any actions and decisions that infringe these fundamental democratic principles is a violation of human rights.” OHCHR welcomes the Deputy Prime Minister’s comments and the Solomon Islands government’s stated commitment in support of press freedom. OHCHR is encouraging other governments in the Pacific to affirm their commitment to these principles.

Matilda Bogner, Regional Representative of OHCHR’s Pacific Office, said:

“The regional roundtable provided an important forum to discuss continued efforts to protect and promote press freedom in the Pacific. OHCHR presented training to journalists on the human rights based approach to journalism and the positive impact coverage of human rights issues can have on protecting and enhancing peoples’ rights,” she said. A range of issues relating to media freedom in the Pacific were raised and debated at the regional roundtable. Participants discussed the need to introduce Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation, and have that legislation effectively enforced by sufficiently resourced independent bodies such as the Ombudsman’s Office. “Timely and transparent access to government information is fundamental to effective journalism in a free and democratic society,” said Ms Bogner.
The value of adopting formalized codes of ethics for Pacific journalists was debated throughout the week. Participants noted the lack of such codes in most Pacific Island Countries and the need for making future codes culturally relevant, if they were to be meaningful. Building stronger relationships between mainstream and community journalists, particularly those that empower the voices of women and youth, was seen as a key opportunity to give voice to the voiceless and to bridge the gap between mainstream and non-mainstream media around the region.

Throughout the proceedings in Honiara the lack of freedom experienced by journalists working in Fiji was raised as one of the most pressing media freedom issue in the Pacific. “OHCHR remains deeply concerned about the heavy restrictions on media freedom, among other pressing human rights issues, in Fiji. The long term damage of undermining fundamental institutions such as the media cannot be underestimated. OHCHR urges the authorities to seriously look into ending media censorship as a step towards the restoration of democracy,” said Ms Bogner.

Ms Bogner said that the United Nations Human Rights Committee has recently issued expert guidance on the question of freedom of expression and opinion, and that this guidance should inform Pacific Island Countries of their obligations vis-à-vis press freedom. The UN Committee states: “Freedom of opinion and freedom of expression are indispensable conditions for the full development of the person. They are essential for any society. They constitute the foundation stone for every free and democratic society.”

We all have the right to freedom of expression, as clearly stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression: this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers” (Article 19).

Notes:
• OHCHR leads global Human Rights efforts and works to promote and protect the Human Rights that are guaranteed under international law and stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948.

• OHCHR is headed by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay, who coordinates Human Rights activities throughout the UN System and supervises the Human Rights Council.

• OHCHR Regional Office for the Pacific covers 16 countries: Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu

ENDS

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