UNESCO Director-General calls for a halt to abuses against media in Egypt

"Silencing the media or attempting to intimidate them is an unacceptable assault on the right of citizens to be informed," said the Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova in a statement released today, following numerous reports of attacks against journalists and correspondents covering events in Egypt.

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2011-02-05

“UNESCO has received information indicating that reporters are being beaten or arrested, their equipment seized or damaged, their freedom of movement blocked, and their editorial offices torched or vandalized,” said the Director-General. “Equally disturbing reports have been received about the shutdown of most internet traffic and mobile networks. This is totally unacceptable, given that the public relies on these technologies for personal safety as well as communication.

“I call on all in Egypt to respect the rights of freedom of expression and freedom of information as laid down in Article 19 in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

“Article 19 states that ‘Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless frontiers’.”

Source: UNESCO

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