16-11-2020

METRO
mondAY, november 16, 2020
3
dhaka declaration on defending
media freedom launched
Dhaka: a Dhaka Declaration was
launched on Sunday defending media
freedom, journalists' protection and
citizen's rights from the grassroots level
to international institutions, reports
UNB.
The declaration came ahead of the
second 'Global Conference for Media
Freedom-2020' which will be held on
November 16 virtually.
Canada and Botswana will co-host the
conference which will provide a forum to
strengthen joint efforts in defending
media freedom worldwide, connect with
journalists and media workers, civil
society and governments.
The Dhaka Declaration has been
developed based on the
recommendations put forward by the
participants at the virtual consultation on
Defending Media Freedom for
Democracy and Citizen's Rights in
Bangladesh organized by aRTICLE 19
Bangladesh and South asia in
collaboration with the Canadian high
Commission and the British high
Commission in Dhaka on November 2.
More than 140 human-rights
defenders, human rights-based
organizations, local and national level
journalists, activists, law experts,
professors and civil society
representatives signed the declaration
until November 14, said a media release.
a broad group of experts, including
journalists, media organizations,
international organizations, head of the
international missions and embassies,
academics, law experts, bloggers,
activists, human rights defenders,
women, and marginalized journalist
groups, youth leaders, and civil society
representatives attended the consultation
and discussed how to address the
challenges to media freedom and the role
of media in a vibrant democracy.
The Dhaka Declaration covered a range
of topics concerning media freedom and
civic space in Bangladesh.
It highlighted three foremost concerns:
prevention, protection, and prosecution;
in relation to the four key priorities:
Media Freedom and Democracy; Safety
of Journalists and Right to Information
(RTI); Gender and Social inclusion; and
Youth Leadership Building to claim civic
space.
GD- 1525/20 (15 x 4)
GD- 1529/20 (20 x 4)