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DPI/NGO Relations invites you to a
Briefing
The Potential of Media: Dialogue, Mutual
Understanding and Reconciliation
In Observance of World Press Freedom Day
3 May 2009
on
7 May 2009
10:00 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
in the
Dag Hammarskjöld Library Auditorium
Background Information:
World Press Freedom Day (3 May) is observed annually at
the United Nations to renew the commitment of Governments and peoples
around the world to the fundamental principles of freedom of the
press. It is also a time to take stock of what extent the principles
of press freedom are being respected around the world, to promote
the need for an independent and vibrant free press and to pay tribute
to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty during
the past year. Murder, imprisonment and threats against journalists
constitute a grave violation against the human right of freedom
of expression – and also pose a grave threat to the concept
of good governance. Impunity has only worsened the situation, for
as long as perpetrators know that they will not be held accountable
for the crimes they commit against journalists, media practitioners
will continue to be targeted for speaking out. The right to freedom
of speech is particularly important for media, which plays a special
role as the bearer of the general right to freedom of expression
for all. Therefore ensuring the right of press freedom should therefore
be a priority for every government. All too often, journalists do
not have the independence they need to reveal corruption or misuse
of power, to denounce attacks on human rights and facilitate open
dialogue between the state and civil society. It is vital for a
free press to have access to information in order to better inform,
empower and educate citizens of the world. This year’s World
Press Freedom Day briefing looks at another role of the media—its
potential to foster open dialogue and mutual understanding between
and among people across the globe and the role that it can play
in facilitating reconciliation in conflict situations. It will look
at how theses are being explored in a part of the world with which
many of us are not that familiar, the Arab World. We hope you will
join us.
Moderator:
Kiyotaka Akasaka, Under-Secretary-General, Communications
and Public Information
Opening Statements:
Statement by Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, President,
63rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly, delivered by
Sofia Clark, Deputy Chef de Cabinet in the Office
of the President of the General Assembly.
Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General
Antonio Pedro Monteiro Lima, Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission
of Cape Verde to the United Nations, Chairperson, Committee on Information
Helene Gosselin, Director, UNESCO Liaison Office,
New York
Giampaolo Pioli, President, United Nations Correspondents
Association
Panel Speakers:
Alya Ahmed Al-Thani, Counsellor, Permanent Mission
of Qatar to the United Nations
Abderrahim Foukara, Bureau Chief, Al Jazeera International,
Washington
Mohamed Adbel Dayem, Coordinator, Middle East and
North Africa Program, Committee to Protect Journalists
Ebtihal Mubarak, Journalist, Arab News, Jeddah
Ghassan Shabaneh, Assistant Professor, Middle East
and International Studies, Marymount Manhattan College
The panel discussion will be followed by a Question and
Answer period.
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