UN stresses need to defend press freedom

November 23, 2012 - United Nations officials on Thursday highlighted the need to defend freedom of expression and ensure the safety of journalists, noting that 2012 is set to become one of the deadliest years for media workers covering not just conflicts but also illegal activities in their countries. “More than 100 journalists have been killed so far this year, making 2012 the deadliest year for the media since UNESCO began keeping records on the killings of journalists,” the Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Irina Bokova, said in her message to the 2nd UN Inter-Agency Meeting on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity in Vienna, Austria. The 2-day meeting that ended on Friday discussed the most pressing issues facing freedom of expression today for a new UN strategy to improve the safety of media workers and effectively prosecute those who commit crimes against them. “We must break the vicious cycle that silences journalists, deprives society of important voices and frightens other citizens, preventing them from speaking out,” Bokova said in her message read out by an aide. Bokova reiterated UNESCO's commitment to promote journalists' safety and fight against impunity globally, and encouraged participants at the meeting to share best practices and build partnerships to raise awareness about press freedom.