Press freedom declaration etched intoworld memory

THE 1991 Windhoek declaration on press freedom was yesterday added to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) Memory of the World Register for its global historical and democratic significance.

This recognition affirms the declaration’s contribution to the discourse around media policy globally, and will preserve the principles it enshrines for future generations.

Gwen Lister, the chairperson of the Namibia Media Trust (NMT) Media Foundation and of the 1991 conference that led to the declaration’s adoption, reflected on its impact in her remarks at the official inscription ceremony in Brussels.

“Even in the face of reluctance by some governments on the continent, then and now, the declaration’s demand for a free, independent and pluralistic press was widely embraced as the public appetite for democracy on the continent grew, and as stifling restrictions on the people’s right to know began to lift.”

The Windhoek Declaration for the Development of a Free, Independent and Pluralistic Press is a statement made by African journalists in 1991, proclaiming principles of press freedom.

This declaration was the first of its kind, reaffirming the international community’s commitment to freedom of the press.

It went on to spark several similar declarations in other parts of the world, such as Alma -Ata (1992) for Asian media, Santiago (1994) for Latin American and Caribbean media, Sana’a (1996) for Arab media, and Sofia (1997) for central and eastern European media, and has shaped the media landscape ever since.

“The inscription honours the visionary work of African journalists and recognises the efforts of media organisations, civil society, and governments who have worked to safeguard the role of the press in democratic societies.

“It highlights the essential role of a free press in promoting accountability and human rights,” Zoé Titus, the executive director of the NMT Media Foundation, explained.

She said the inscription reaffirms the importance of the declaration’s principles today.

“The NMT Media Foundation is proud to have supported efforts to secure global recognition for the Windhoek declaration.

We remain committed to its core principles of independence, pluralism, and diversity in media, and we will continue working to ensure these ideals shape media governance both in Africa and globally,” she said.

The Unesco Memory of the World Register seeks to preserve and raise public awareness of the world’s documentary heritage.

It is striving for universal access to documents that have shaped human history.

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