Jakarta, (Antara) - The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has affirmed that the lives of journalists in carrying out their duties to report information to the public are absolutely protected.
UNESCO's Assistant Director General for Communication and Information Frank La Rue stated here on Friday that the safety and independence of journalists in seeking, reporting, and broadcasting information for communities must be respected.
"Press freedom must be maintained in order to improve information services for society," he noted at the commemoration of the 2017 World Press Freedom Day in Jakarta.
The mission of maintaining press freedom and the safety of journalists will have support from countries in the world, as it is realized for the interest of the public.
He said campaigns for the protection of journalists and freedom of expression through the press media need to be intensified, particularly in the Southeast Asian region.
The UNESCO has lauded the successful series of events held as part of the 2017 World Press Freedom Day celebrations that were held based on the support of the Indonesian government and all participating stakeholders.
Chairman of the Indonesian Press Council Yosep Adi Prasetyo noted that the struggle to realize press freedom will not stop as long as the press still exists in the world.
"We realize that several parties support the press activists, but in a certain situation, there are still many people who expect the press to stop operating," he said.
The Indonesian Press Council has always appealed to press companies, journalistic organizations, and individual journalists to improve their quality to meet the public's expectations.(*)
