UN sends message to countries on occasion of World Press Freedom Day

Azerbaijan, Baku, May 1 / Trend, E.Mehdiyev / UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon and UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova sent a joint message on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day. The message received from the United Nations Department of Public Information Office in Baku says that freedom of expression is one of our most precious rights. It underpins every other freedom and provides a foundation for human dignity. Free, pluralistic and independent media is essential for its exercise. Media freedom entails the freedom to hold opinions and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers, as stated in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This freedom is essential for healthy and vibrant societies. Newfound media freedom is promising to transform societies through greater transparency and accountability. It is opening new ways to communicate and to share information and knowledge. World Press Freedom Day is our opportunity to raise the flag in the fight to advance media freedom "We call on States, professional media and non-governmental organisations everywhere to join forces with the United Nations to promote online and offline freedom of expression in accordance with internationally accepted principles," the message says. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az