DUSHANBE, May 3, 2010, Asia-Plus — The Media Alliance of Tajikistan (MAT) has marked World Press Freedom Day by holding an annual action of solidarity in Dushanbe.
An outdoor action under the motto of “Freedom of Speech under Threat” was organized outside the publishing house,
Sharqi Ozod
, on May 3. Various sketches and children’s drawing contest on the subject of “Freedom of Speech” were held.
These activities were followed by a ceremony of handover of the Mazhabsho Muhabbatshoyev Award, “For Courage in Journalism,” and the Otakhon Latifi Award, “For Professionalism.” The Otakhon Latifi Award was handed over under four categories: TV reporting; radio reporting; the press; and Internet-media.
The Mazhabsho Muhabbatshoyev Award was handed over to Abduqayum Qayumzod, a reporter for Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, for a cycle of articles published in the Dushanbe weeklies
Farazh
,
Ozodagon
and
Paykon
. Abduazim Abduvahhob, a reporter for the Dushanbe weekly
Nigoh
, and Safvat Burhonov, a reporter for the Dushanbe weekly
S.S.S.R
, also received incentive prizes for courage in journalism.
Payrav Chorshanbiyev from the news agency
Asia-Plus
received the Otakhon Latifi Award in the “Internet-media: category, journalist Nourali Davlat was recognized the best in “The Press” category, the Dushanbe radio station
Imrouz
won the prize in the “Radio Reporting” category, and Orzou Isoyev from the national TV channel,
Safina
, received the award for the best TV reporting.
Besides, an anti-prize, “For the Most Inaccessible Department,” was instituted. The Ministry of Education was recognized as the most inaccessible department.
Established in 2005, the Media Alliance of Tajikistan now groups a number of independent media of Tajikistan. Among them are TV stations
SMT
and
Regar
, radio station
Vatan
, weeklies
Farazh
,
Manu Tu
and
Kuryer Tadzhikistana
as well as the news agency
Avesta
.
The United Nations General Assembly declared May 3 to be World Press Freedom Day to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and 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 and marking 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 1997, 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.
UNESCO also marks World Press Freedom Day each year by bringing together media professionals, press freedom organizations and UN agencies to assess the state of press freedom worldwide and discuss solutions for addressing challenges. Each conference is centered around a theme related to press freedom, including good governance, media coverage of terrorism, impunity and the role of media in post-conflict countries.
