It facilitates free flow of information and ideas, and ensures transparency and accountability. DESIGN: SUNARA NIZAMI
KARACHI:
The European Union reiterates that free, diverse and independent media constitutes one of the cornerstones of a democratic society by facilitating the free flow of information and ideas, and by ensuring transparency and accountability, said a declaration issued on the 21st anniversary of World Press Freedom day.
The EU calls upon all governments to abide by international norms and to put an end to intimidation, harassment, censorship and arbitrary detention of journalists and to impunity, read the declaration by the High Representative, Catherine Ashton, on behalf of the EU on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, 3 May 2014.
Efforts to protect journalists should not be limited to those formally recognised as such, but should also cover support staff and others who use new media to reach a mass audience. The EU is firmly opposed to any unjustified restrictions on the internet and other new media.
All human rights that exist offline must also be protected online, in particular the right to
freedom of opinion and expression. The EU will soon adopt the EU Guidelines on Freedom of Expression Online and Offline.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 3rd, 2014.
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What does SAARC have to say regarding it? Oh wait, it has gone extinct. I forgot.