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World Press Freedom Day 2023: UNESCO and partners organized a panel discussion on "Press Freedom"
To mark the anniversary of World Press Freedom Day, UNESCO Dhaka Office organized a panel discussion titled `Shaping a Future of Rights’ jointly with Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) and ARTICLE 19 South Asia on 3 May 2023 at TIB’s conference room. The event hosted a multi-stakeholder community to celebrate the day by bringing together Government, journalists, academia, UN agencies, embassies, Lawyers, networking platforms of media, relevant organizations promoting human rights, freedom of expression, and SDGs. UNESCO Dhaka Officer-in-Charge Dr Susan Vize inaugurated the discussion. The guests, including the Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Govt. of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Anisul Huq MP, the UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, Gwyn Lewis; the Chairman of National Human Rights Commission, Dr. Kamal Uddin Ahmed; the Ambassador of Sweden in Bangladesh, Alexandra Berg von Linde; From the University of Dhaka, Professor Gitiara Nasreen; Executive Editor of Dhaka Tribune Reaz Ahmad and Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua took part in the discussion. Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) moderated the session.
During his speech, the Minister Anisul Huq MP mentioned, ``The government is working to amend some sections of the Digital Security Act (DSA). The government wants to amend the DSA law within this term, so I say that the law will be amended by September this year.’’
While giving the opening remarks, UNESCO Officer in Charge of the Dhaka Office, Dr Susan Vize, read out a written message from UNESCO Director General Ms. Audrey Azoulay. She also mentioned "UNESCO works to promote freedom of expression, a key component of which is press freedom and safety."
Addressing participants of the event, Gwyn Lewis, said that "by supporting freedom of the press, we provide ourselves with a powerful development tool." Prof. Gitiara Nasreen mentioned how the media can play an important role in breaking down gender stereotypes. Dr. Kamal Uddin Ahmed recognized the media as an important pillar of democracy that plays a key role in protecting human rights. Alexandra Berg Von Linde said, “it’s worth pointing out that media freedom requires an ecosystem of different factors. Gender equality and press freedom also go hand in hand in democratic societies.’’ Reaz Ahmed said that, “it is very concerning that Bangladesh, despite developing in many sectors, is slipping backwards in the [media freedom] index with the position now at 162, while it was 112 just a decade ago. Our ranking is getting worse, but collectively we can fix this.’’ Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua pointed out many reasons why journalists and critics are now scared to speak out. In the closing remarks of the high-level panel discussion, Iftekharuzzaman strongly supported the repeal the Digital Security Act (DSA). He asserted that the Act poses an unacceptable threat to freedom of the press and fundamental rights.
Total 140 people from different sectors participated in the event. This event discussion caught the attention of the media of Bangladesh. More than 170 media coverage have been registered, which include print, TV and online media. On Twitter, this post on the press release reached over 1,200 users and about 76,700 people saw it on Facebook.
