(WAN/IFEX) – The following is a 24 November 1998 WAN press release on the occasion of its Board meeting in Beirut, Lebanon, 23 to 24 November: Beirut, Lebanon, 24 November 1998 For immediate release Release Imprisoned Journalists And Respect Human Rights The World Association of Newspapers (WAN) has called on governments to release all imprisoned […]
(WAN/IFEX) – The following is a 24 November 1998 WAN press release on the
occasion of its Board meeting in Beirut, Lebanon, 23 to 24 November:
Beirut, Lebanon, 24 November 1998
For immediate release
Release Imprisoned Journalists And Respect Human Rights
The World Association of Newspapers (WAN) has called on governments to
release all imprisoned journalists and to uphold the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights on the 50th anniversary of the document’s signing.
“WAN urges all governments to release journalists who are in jail for
exercising their right to freedom of expression,” the WAN Board declared in
a resolution at its meeting in Beirut, Lebanon, 23-24 November.
WAN also urged governments to observe the provisions of Article 19 of the
Declaration, which states: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and
expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without
interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through
any media and regardless of frontiers.”
“WAN, which represents more than 15,000 newspapers in 90 countries, has
recorded the murders of at least 24 journalists, editors and publishers so
far this year for carrying out their profession. More than 150 remain in
jail, while hundreds more have been attacked or arrested for exercising
their right to freedom of expression. Countless newspapers
have been censored or banned for criticising those in authority,” said the
resolution.
WAN, the global association of the newspaper industry, is also urging
newspapers world-wide to publish the Declaration on their front pages on the
50th anniversary of the document, which falls on 10 December. It has posted
links to the document in dozen of languages on its website (www.fiej.org).
“WAN believes that the Declaration remains as relevant now as when it was
drafted,” said the resolution. “Article 19, in particular, is of enduring
importance to the existence of a free press, which provides the essential
conditions in which other freedoms can flourish. However, while some nations
observe the Declaration’s guarantees, dozens more continue to violate its
provisions on a daily basis, even though they are parties to the text.”
The Paris-based WAN defends and promotes press freedom world-wide. Its
membership includes 57 national newspaper associations, individual members
in 90 countries, seven regional press organizations and 17 news agencies.
