Friday, March 29, 2024

Human Rights Commission salutes the media fraternity

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File:Zambian Journalists matching during the World pres Freedom Day celebration in Lusaka

The Human Rights Commission (HRC) has commended the media fraternity for its resilience in promoting rights and freedoms as it celebrates the Silver Anniversary of World Press Freedom day today.

HRC Spokesperson, Mweelwa Muleya said despite the difficult working environments Journalists endure daily, they have demonstrated unwavering resilience in promoting and defending human rights and freedoms.

Today’s World Press Freedom Day marks 25 years of commemorating the day since it was declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993.

This year’s World Press Freedom Day is being commemorated under the global theme “Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and the Rule of Law.”

Mr. Muleya said the theme is a clarion call to the media fraternity to remain vigilant in exposing abuse of power by either public or private individuals and institutions that cause injustice, violate human rights and the rule of law.

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He stated that the theme is also a reminder to those who wield power to exercise it within the confines of the rule of law, and refrain from violating human rights such as suppressing press freedom.

Mr. Muleya also reminded the media to realise that they wield significant power which should be exercised with utmost responsibility to avoid violating human rights and the reputation of individuals.

He said Journalists are human rights defenders and should therefore remain steadfast to effectively play their role of the Fourth Estate of Government by defending the underprivileged against the all-powerful in society that may abuse their power.

Mr. Muleya added that the World Press Freedom Day Celebration is a landmark achievement of the gallant African Journalists who assembled in Windhoek, in Namibia and hammered out the Windhoek Declaration in 1991 aimed at promoting and protecting media pluralism and independence.

He said the Silver Anniversary of World Press Freedom Day is worthy celebrating because a lot has been achieved in the last 25 years in a number of countries, including Zambia, in fostering press freedom and human rights and freedoms in general.

Mr. Muleya He noted that Zambia today boasts of a number of media institutions either owned or operated by individuals, faith-based organisations, communities or other interest groups other than government.

He stressed that the introduction and implementation of a liberalised media policy in Zambia has greatly contributed to the realisation of media pluralism and independence as desired by the Journalists who expressed themselves through the Windhoek Declaration which has rocketed into worldwide influence on press freedom.

Mr. Muleya said the commission is alive to the fact that most Journalists, especially those dedicated to pursuing and reporting the truth, are still working under extremely difficult and risky environments.

4 COMMENTS

  1. Is it drunkard Lungu s HRC thats commending the media fratenity in Zambia ?

    Obvisiously the boss has been paid told act on Stupid Lungu s instructions.

    Lungu and his thugs must go by what ever means possible.

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