12th May 2014 London, UK
The role of a free and independent media in development
World Press Freedom Day took place on 3rd May. The theme for this year was Media Freedom for a better future: shaping the post-2015 development agenda. The focus this year, is on three inter-related themes: the media’s importance in development; the safety of journalists and the rule of law; and the sustainability and integrity of journalism. The United Nations marked this day with an appeal to all States, societies and individuals to actively defend press freedom as a fundamental right and as a critical contribution to achieving and sustaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
In its 2013 report, Freedom House rated Botswana’s press as partly free. While press freedom is not explicitly guaranteed in Botswana’s constitution, clauses safeguarding freedoms of speech and expression undergird extensive legal protections for media outlets in Botswana. The government also generally respects these freedoms in practice. I welcome all of this, but as Botswana approaches elections it is timely to reflect on how this framework can be strengthened.
There are relatively simple steps Botswana’s government could take to strengthen press freedoms. For example, freedom of information and access to public information remains an issue for journalists here.
Citizens must be allowed to discuss and debate issues, to challenge their governments and make informed decisions. Open government and open societies enable states to function for their citizens and enable citizens to lead their own development. The media holds those in power directly to account for their actions, through interviews, investigative journalism and impartial reporting. These things can only happen if citizens and journalists are given access to information.
I would like to see the government take steps to prioritise legislation on Freedom of Information to address these challenges. I would also like to see Botswana become a member of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) as a sign of its commitment to transparent and accountable government. Last year the UK hosted the OGP Annual Summit to “drive a transparency revolution in every corner of the world.” One of the key summit priorities was ‘Open Data’: opening up government data for greater accountability, public service improvement and economic growth.
As the UK we believe a free and independent media has a critical role in upholding high standards of governance. Freedom of expression is fundamental to building democracy. The UK wants to see a clear focus in the post-2015 development agenda on transparent and accountable government. It is important for growth, services and reduction of poverty, as well as being an important end in itself. Without it, countries, societies, states, ultimately fail. Encouraging an open and effective press serves to improve the environment for long-term social, political and economic stability.