London, 3 May 2023: On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) reaffirms that principles of press freedom are indispensable to the protection of all other human rights. CHRI urges member states to adopt and implement the Commonwealth Principles on freedom of expression and the role of the media in good governance.

As we mark the 30th anniversary of the UN General Assembly's proclamation of World Press Freedom Day, following the historic Windhoek Declaration in 1991, we celebrate the essential role of a free press in fostering informed societies and promoting transparency, accountability, and democracy.

CHRI has actively advocated for media freedom and human rights within the Commonwealth, including drafting with five other Commonwealth organisations the Commonwealth Principles on freedom of expression and the role of the media in good governance and co-founding the South Asia Media Defenders Network to monitor, address and campaign on issues faced by journalists in the region. We recognise that a free, independent, and diverse media is vital for upholding the democratic values enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter, and that journalists play a critical role in holding governments accountable to their citizens.

Last year in November, the Commonwealth Law Ministers agreed to recommend a set of Commonwealth Principles on freedom of expression and the role of the media in good governance for consideration by  Commonwealth Heads of State at their next meeting in Samoa in 2024.

Despite the existence of these principles, media freedom in many Commonwealth countries, particularly in South Asia and Africa, remains under threat. Recent attacks on press freedom, including the detention of Kashmiri journalist Irfan Meraj in India, the targeting of Bangladeshi journalists under the Digital Security Act, the killing of Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, and the suspicious death of Rwandan journalist John William Ntwali, all underscore the magnitude of the problem and the urgency for its resolution.

UNESCO data reveals that 1,592 journalists have been killed worldwide since 1993, while the Committee to Protect Journalists reports an even higher number, at 2,196 between 1992 and 2023.

In addition to the most severe form of press censorship – murder – journalists worldwide persistently encounter risks and assaults, including targeted digital harassment, merely for performing their duties.

Women journalists are frequently at the receiving end of such online aggression. According to a UNESCO study, 73% of the women journalists surveyed reported experiencing online "threats, intimidation, and verbal abuse."

The theme for the World Press Freedom Day this year, “Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of expression as a driver for all other human rights”, underscores that freedom of expression is not only a fundamental human right, but it also enables the realisation of all other human rights.

In this context, the Commonwealth Principles on freedom of expression and the role of the media in good governance unambiguously state: “Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democracy and underpins good governance, public accountability and respect for all human rights. Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, which includes the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds through any media and regardless of frontiers. Member states should respect the right to freedom of expression and promote the free flow of information and ideas”.

“In light of the persistent attacks on media freedom, it is imperative that Commonwealth governments go beyond lip service and take decisive action to guarantee a secure environment for journalists and actively champion freedom of expression and the right to information,” said Sneh Aurora, Director, CHRI UK.

We call on Commonwealth member states to foster an environment where journalists can work safely, free from threats, violence, and intimidation; repeal or amend restrictive laws and policies that undermine press freedom; strengthen transparency and public access to information; and commit to implementing the Commonwealth Principles on freedom of expression and the role of the media in good governance.

CHRI remains dedicated to working with journalists, media workers, civil society, and governments to ensure that media freedom and human rights are protected and promoted across the Commonwealth.

For further information, contact:

Media and Communications Office, CHRI London

Email: media@humanrightsinitiative.org

Website: https://humanrightsinitiative.org

Twitter: @CHRI_UK