Today May 03, 2023 marks the 30th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day, since its declaration in 1993. Since then there has been significant progress made toward having a free press and freedom of speech across the globe.
The Media Association of Puntland commemorates 2023 WPFD and highlights the urgency in enacting the Media Law (2016) provided access to information act.
October 2021, the Puntland State of Somalia carried the very first 1-person- 1vote local municipality. The pilot elections were held in the towns of Gardho, Ufeyn and Eyl, in 50 years. The local democratization process will hit another milestone when citizens drawn from 37 districts of Puntland will cast their votes to elect their local municipality councilors on May 25th, 2023.
MAP calls the Puntland government and the other stakeholders to join the call to establish the Puntland Access to information act.
‘’Democratic societies that are affluent and safe are built on the foundations of freedom of expression and access to truthful and accurate information given by independent media’’
— Chair MAP, Mohamed Dahir Warsame
The fact is that Journalists cannot carry out their primary task of informing the public unless they have enough information. When journalists’ access to information is violated, the entire society’s right to receive information is violated.
Please take your time in reading MAP’s position paper by clicking the link below:
MAP, Puntland Media position paper on Disaster Risk management and access to information
