UNITED NATIONS, May 8 -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday called on Member States to uphold press freedoms and support the work of independent media.
Speaking at a United Nations Headquarters event in observance of World Press Freedom Day, marked annually on May 3, Ban said a free press contributed to democracy and stability.
"At a time of economic crisis and other serious threats, it is crucial to support a free and independent media so that people can better understand the events that shape their lives," he said.
Noting that 11 journalists have been killed this year and 125 are imprisoned, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, the secretary-general urged governments to respect the legal rights of those detained.
"Journalists should be able to do their job free of intimidation and harassment. They should not have to self-censor themselves out of fear," Ban.
Also on Thursday, General Assembly President Miguel D'Escoto, in a message delivered by Deputy Chef de Cabinet Sofia Clark, called for the defence of press freedoms, saying it served as "the bedrock of modern societies and the life-blood for informed decision-making." (PNA/APP)