High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said in a statement on Thursday that freedoms of expression and press are threatened around the world, adding, “on this day we celebrate the World Press Freedom Day in a difficult context for journalism.”
Mogherini asserted that attacks against media and journalists are against democracy and the freedom of all people.
“We pay tribute to all journalists in Europe and worldwide who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession. We call on all states to condemn violence against journalists, to take action to improve the safety of journalists with particular attention to women journalists, and to bring perpetrators and instigators of such violence to justice,” said Mogherini.
Mogherini added that the European Union is founded on the values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, and on free and pluralistic media as enshrined in the EU’s fundamental rights charter, noting that press freedom plays a crucial role in promoting good governance, transparency, and accountability.
Mogherini said that independent journalism is vital to hold states accountable and to monitor democratic processes, adding,” free, diverse, and independent media, both online and offline, are pillars of a pluralistic and open society, and they bear the great responsibility to guarantee checked and correct news to the public.”
