Namibia on Wednesday joined the international community in observing the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.
The Executive Director in the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Audrin Mathe, said the day is observed under the theme ‘Protecting Media to Protect Democracy.’
“Namibia has made great strides in ensuring press freedom as ranked 18th globally and second on the African continent by the Reporters Without Borders 2022 World Press Freedom rankings,” he said in a statement availed to the media.
He further said the National Assembly and the National Council recently passed the Access to Information Bill, which is awaiting the president’s certification before it becomes law.
“We view access to information legislation as a cornerstone of freedom. As a country that fosters the values and principles of press freedom, this day reminds us to speak out against any form of injustice against journalists globally,” Mathe stated.
The executive director noted that threats of violence and attacks against journalists are serious violations of freedom of expression and freedom of the press.
These crimes, he added, create a climate of fear for media practitioners, hampering the free circulation of information to all citizens.
“As a government, we reaffirm our commitment to the ethos of freedom of expression and call on countries to heed this call as this is one of the essential foundations of democracy,” Mathe said.
The International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists is a United Nations-recognised international day which is observed annually on 02 November.
The day draws attention to the level of impunity for crimes against journalists, which remains high globally.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency