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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Media freedom is key to democratic progress, says Commonwealth Secretary-General

20 February 2003

"The media plays a central role in any society as a force for democratic progress," said Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon today.

Speaking at the Commonwealth Journalists Association Conference in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Mr McKinnon said that "the media community often acts as a bulwark against abuses of human rights. Not only can journalists expose rights violations, they are often at the forefront of the struggle for democracy and many of them defend the freedom of others at the cost of their own freedom."

Recognising that in many Commonwealth member countries, press freedom was still very restricted, Mr McKinnon said: "freedom of expression may be recognised as a fundamental principle in theory, but in practice, journalists continue to be subjected to harassment and intimidation."

He recalled that Commonwealth leaders, in their Coolum Communiqué of 5 March 2002, explicitly recognised freedom of expression as a fundamental Commonwealth value.

"If you are serious about creating a just, democratic society, you must be serious about protecting the freedom of speech that makes such a society possible," he argued. "Preventing journalists from reporting the facts not only denies citizens the right to know, it undermines the democratic dialogue which is at the root of social progress. Every time a journalist is put in prison, citizens are being robbed of their voice."

In his speech, the Secretary-General also emphasised the role of the media as a tool for driving social and economic change: "a free press empowers citizens. It enables them to monitor the performance of government policies and put pressure on those in power to tackle issues they deem important."


Moreover, Mr McKinnon argued, freedom of expression can have a positive impact on economic development. "By denouncing corruption, both in the public and private sectors, the press can contribute to the development of good governance practices. It can improve a country's chances to attract foreign investment, with positive outcomes for the whole economy," he said.

The Secretary-General concluded by drawing attention to the media's responsibilities: "with power comes responsibility. This is why it is so crucial that the media adopt codes of conduct and self-regulation frameworks. This is not only in the public's interest, but in the interest of the press itself, as self-regulation will pre-empt government intervention and therefore protect press freedom."

Note to editors:
The full text of the Secretary-General's speech to the CJA can be viewed on the Commonwealth Secretariat website www.thecommonwealth.org

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