DUSHANBE, April 24, Asia-Plus – A roundtable meeting formally titled “Mass Media as Driving Force of Changes“ will be held in Dushanbe on may 3 to mark World Press Freedom Day.
According to Tajik Journalists’ Union, the meeting participants include representatives from local and foreign media, media organizations and media-supporting international institutions.
The Journalists’ Union head Akbarali Sattorov said that the meeting aims to discuss issues related to freedom and duties of media, promotion of socio-economic development, safety of journalists, new approach to holding of news conferences, and problems facing journalistic education.
He added that the same day, an awards ceremony of winners of the competition dedicated to World Press Freedom Day will be held at Sharqi Ozod complex. The competition was held under support of the Tajik Branch of Open Society Institute/Assistance Foundation (OSI/AF) ad some other organizations. The goal of the competition is to promote further development and active involvement of mass media in Tajikistan and increase professional skills of journalists in covering problems facing society. Journalists participated in the following categories: economic reforms; social development and democratization of society.
Besides, various sports activities will be organized, as well a fair of publications and a concert will be held, according to him.
All the mentioned events are being held by Journalists’ Union in cooperation with the National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan (Nansmit), the “Social Partnership” Association of Tajik Journalists, Media Alliance of Tajikistan and the Foundation for Memory and Protection of the Rights of Journalists of Tajikistan.
World Press Freedom Day is a day designated by the United Nations to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and to remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993, the day is celebrated each year on May 3
, the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek, a statement of free press principles put together by African newspaper journalists in 1991.
UNESCO marks World Press Freedom Day by conferring the UNESCO Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize on a deserving individual, organization or institution that has made an outstanding contribution to the defense and/or promotion of press freedom anywhere in the world, especially when this has been achieved in the face of danger. Created in 1887, the prize is awarded on the recommendation of an independent jury of 14 news professionals. Names are submitted by regional and international non-governmental organizations working for press freedom, and by UNESCO member states.
