UNESCO rejoices at the release of journalists Hervé Ghesquière and Stéphane Taponier and their interpreter, Reza Din
01-07-2011 (Paris)
The Director-General of UNESCO rejoices at the news of the release of two French journalists, Hervé Ghesquière and Stéphane Taponier, and their interpreter, Reza Din, who have been held hostage in Afghanistan for the past 18 months.
“Their liberation conveys a strong and meaningful importance for press freedom”, said the Director-General, who shared in the joy of the journalists’ families and thanked all those who facilitated their release through concerted efforts over several long months, in particular France and Afghanistan.
“Our thoughts are also with other journalists across the globe who are currently being prevented from conducting their professional duties, who are unjustly threatened, or who are paying with their life and their freedom for the fundamental right of all human beings to information. We solemnly call for their immediate release,” added Irina Bokova.
“Our thoughts are also with other journalists across the globe who are currently being prevented from conducting their professional duties, who are unjustly threatened, or who are paying with their life and their freedom for the fundamental right of all human beings to information. We solemnly call for their immediate release,” added Irina Bokova.
UNESCO is the United Nations agency with a mandate to defend freedom of expression and press freedom. Article 1 of its Constitution requires the Organization to “further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms which are affirmed for the peoples of the world, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion, by the Charter of the United Nations.” To realize this the Organization is requested to “collaborate in the work of advancing the mutual knowledge and understanding of peoples, through all means of mass communication and to that end recommend such international agreements as may be necessary to promote the free flow of ideas by word and image…”
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· Press Freedom
· Media in Conflict and Post-Conflict Situations
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