Namibia’s 1991 Windhoek Declaration was officially inscribed into UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register on 7 May, cementing its leadership role in promoting freedom of the press.
Namibian Ambassador and permanent United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) delegate Albertus Aochamub said it is now time to embed this legacy at home.
He said that through initiatives further entrenching the principles of the Windhoek Declaration, it can be given a “living status” in Namibia.
“As Namibia celebrates this global milestone, attention now shifts to domesticating the Windhoek Declaration’s principles and embedding them within the country’s governance and democratic architecture,” Aochamub said.
The initiatives he suggested include updating national media and communication policies to better align with the declaration, as well as integrating it into education and training programmes, creating a multi-stakeholder Media Freedom Steering Committee, developing a digital heritage platform to preserve Namibia’s documentary contributions to global press freedom and building on this recognition to host regional and Africa-wide dialogues on the topic.
He further called for the establishment of annual lectures on the Windhoek Declaration, as well as exhibits stimulating public reflection on media freedom, civil participation and democracy.
The 1991 Windhoek Declaration for the Development of a Free, Independent, and Pluralistic Press has played a lasting role in promoting press freedom worldwide.
“We are honoured that the global community continues to recognise the importance of the Windhoek Declaration,” said Aochamub.
“This milestone not only reaffirms our enduring commitment to media freedom but also celebrates Namibia’s role in shaping international norms that protect and promote a free press.”
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