World Press Freedom Day 2019 has been celebrated in Maldives on 2nd May 2019 in a function held at Hotel Jen. The event was held by UNESCO in partnership with Addu Women’s Association (AWA), Maldivian Democracy Network (MDN), Facebook and the Maldivian government.
The celebration was themed “Media for Democracy – Journalism and elections in time of disinformation”. The South Asia Press Freedom Report 2018 – 2019 was launched by a special panel of guests at the event, including the Minister of Communication, Science & Technology Hon. Maleeh Jamal.
Dr. Mariyam Shakeela, Founding member of AWA also gave a short overview on a study conducted in collaboration with South Asian Women’s Network (SWAN) during the event. A panel discussion was held with the Executive Director of Bhutan Media Foundation (BMF) Mr. Needrup Zangpo, The Edition’s Editor Ms. Rae Munavvar, State-owned Public Service Media (PSM)’s Managing Director Mr. Ali Khalid, Ms. Dhaneshi Yatawara, and Ms. PN Vasanti, member of UNESCO Media Freedom Experts Group in India.
The main topics discussed during the ceremony included ending the impunity that journalists face, making a guideline that journalists should follow when reporting news, terror stories faced by journalists in Maldives and other countries in the past and ways on how to prevent such incidents.
