Nine Heads of diplomatic mission in South Sudan have honored the journalists carrying out vital and often dangerous work.
In a joint statement today on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, the ambassadors of Canada, the Kingdom of Denmark, the French Republic, Japan, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Kingdom of Norway, the Kingdom of Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America said they are committed to continued support for protecting the freedom of expression.
The diplomats said a free press serves as a vital check and balance on power. “Without it corruption, human rights abuses, and repression can more easily flourish. Democracy requires citizens to be informed, and that is the job of a free press and robust civil society,” partly reads the joint statement.
“According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, three of the four deadliest years for journalists since 1992 have taken place in the past six years. Since 2012, they report that an average of 60 journalists a year have been killed for their work,” adds the statement.
They urged everyone – government, civil society, and citizens – to commit to working to ensure the freedom of the press. “Many of our countries have supported the development of the media in South Sudan over the years and we know that this support is more important than ever today,” the diplomats said.
“Our work supports local actors, and so wehope that all sectors of South Sudanese society will join us today in demanding the freedom of the press. In South Sudan, like elsewhere, we will be specifically vigilant that no attempts to limit the freedom of the media, nor to attack the personal integrity of journalists, are committed,” they added.
World Press Freedom Day which is marked around the world on May 3 to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom, to defend media from attacks on their independence.