The Foreign Ministry highlighted the work of journalists, communicators and media workers, on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day yesterday. In a statement, he recalled that in 1993, at the initiative of UNESCO and by resolution of the United Nations General Assembly, May 3 was instituted as World Press Freedom Day. “Uruguay recognizes the valuable work that journalists, communicators and media workers carry out in favor of the values of promotion and defense of the right to freedom of expression and opinion. Its effective exercise is an essential indicator of the level of protection of other human rights and fundamental freedoms in free and inclusive societies.
Since 1993, this day has served as an occasion to celebrate the fundamental principle of freedom of the press, evaluate its development at a global level, and pay tribute to journalists, communicators, and media workers for the valuable work they carry out daily in favor of promoting of essential freedoms in any democratic society, and especially to those who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession or risk them on a daily basis.
This year’s theme, “Journalism under the digital siege”, will focus on how the recent evolution of technological media affects freedom of expression, the safety of journalists, access to information and their relationship, development of new surveillance technologies and large-scale data collection and retention. The impact of the growing use of spyware against journalists and their sources, and the implications for the exercise of free and independent journalism, will also be analyzed.
This year Uruguay also has the honor of being —along with UNESCO— co-host of the International Conference on World Press Freedom Day that is taking place in the city of Punta del Este, from May 2 to 5, 2022, which reaffirms the absolute validity of the fundamental principles of press freedom worldwide and the country’s special commitment to the right to free expression and the values of tolerance, democracy and the rule of law.”
