Press Releases

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Celebrates World Press Freedom Day 2011; Underscores Strong Support for Worldwide Freedom of the Press

The Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission is joining numerous domestic and international organizations from over 100 other countries to celebrate World Press Freedom Day 2011 on May 3 and welcoming distinguished guests to Washington for the international conference, -21st Century Media: New Frontiers, New Barriers,- sponsored by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The commission supports the ongoing struggle for freedom of journalistic expression in all forms, including online media. The new media complements traditional sources by providing other avenues for a broad array of journalists and citizens to monitor and critique governments and societies. As recent events have shown, new media has been a critical source for raising awareness of human rights violations and attempting to counteract those abuses. All media, however, continue to be at risk by human rights violators targeting both new media bloggers and traditional pen-and-pad journalists. World Press Freedom Day highlights the need to maintain vigilance against attacks on press freedom.

In addition, TLHRC co-chairs Reps. Frank Wolf (R-VA) and Jim McGovern (D-MA) said the commission stands with all those courageous journalists who have given their lives in pursuit of uncovering and reporting the truth. -Their courageous sacrifices inspire all those concerned with human rights to continue fighting for the free exchange of information to advance democracy and human dignity,- they said.