PM to open UNESCO seminar on ‘Ending Crimes Against the Journalists’ on Monday

UNESCO Seminar on ‘Reinforcing Regional Cooperation to Promote Freedom of Expression and the Rule of Law in Asia through Ending Impunity for Crimes Against the Journalists’ will be held at Taj Samudra, Colombo, on 4th December at 9 a.m. under the patronage of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Organized by UNESCO with the Ministries of Information, Justice, and the Supreme Court with the participation of various regional stakeholders including Asian Inter- Governmental Commission of Human Rights (AICHR) and Human Rights Commission representatives, the Keynote address of the seminar will also be delivered by the Prime Minister.

Introductory remarks will be made by Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera and UNESCO Freedom of Expression and Media Development Director, Guy Berger in addition to the video message to be sent by Frank La Rue, Assistant Director General for Communication and Information.

The seminar will seek to advance dialogues and strategies to strengthen the regional cooperation on safety of journalists and ending impunity in Asia. The event will focus on the role of the judiciary, National Human Rights Commissions as well as on the role of civil society and media in the persisting challenge of combatting impunity for crimes against journalists in the region. Through encouraging the exchange of best practices and identifying steps ahead and concrete solutions, the event aims to strengthen the fight of impunity for crimes against journalists and inscribe this issue in the larger framework to protect fundamental human rights.