Part of World Press Freedom Day
2nd May 2013 London, UK
Foreign Secretary marks 20th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day
The Foreign Secretary William Hague recognises the bravery of journalists around the globe on World Press Freedom Day.
Speaking today, he said:
We all owe a debt of gratitude to the courageous journalists who risk imprisonment, injury and death to report from repressive countries or conflict zones around the world. It is easy to take for granted the stream of information that reaches us each day from across the globe. But many people run enormous risks to bring it to us. Fourteen journalists have already been killed in the first four months of this year alone: half of them in Syria. My thoughts are with them and their families and friends. And I also pay tribute to the increasing number of “citizen journalists” who use social media to provide ground truth about what is happening in other countries, who often face pressure and intimidation.
Further Information
- Follow the FCO’s Human Rights Twitter channel @FCOHumanrights
- View our Storify covering World Press Freedom Day
- Read FCO blogs on World Press Freedom Day
- Follow Foreign Secretary William Hague on Twitter @WilliamJHague and Facebook
Dear Mr Hague, I hope you are well. Thank you very much for all your tireless work for Great Britain, and in the cause of Freedom. I am thinking of the poor folk of Ukraine today, and hope that their losses are not too dreadful. I have just been blogging on the FT’s Gideon Rachman piece, written by him from Kiev. There he spoke directly to the Interim Prime Minister, Mr Yatseniuk. Russia’s RT (dot com TV channel) did a documentary earlier; truly shocking. I noted the OSCE team leader seeking the views of ladies in the firing line. I wish you well in your efforts to secure a swift and lasting peace. Regards, Derek Dillon.