PAN PRESS STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LUSAKA 3rd May 2023
PRESS STATEMENT ON THE OCCASION OF WORLD PRESS FREEDOM
DAY
The Paralegal Alliance Network Joins the Press and all people of good will who
believe in the freedom of the media and agrees with the Press Freedom Day
theme, “Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of expression as a driver for all
other human rights”. Yes this is timely because freedom of expression is indeed
a fundamental human right.
We recognize the efforts the media is making to ensure information on a
number of issues including, most important to us, access to justice and human
rights is brought to the attention of the public and those in authority who are
given the responsibility of protecting and defending peoples’ rights.
Furthermore, we encourage the media to continue reporting on human rights
abuses such as police brutality, over detention, violation of workers’ rights by
employers, land grabs which violate people’s rights to land and sexual and gender-based violence. In this way, we shall move a giant step in combating all
these vices that abrogate human rights.
We urge government to ensure media freedom is enhanced and protected so
that citizens are not deprived of their right to freedom of information and
expression. We denounce violent acts by political supporters against media
houses and personnel.
May we all, respect the media and allow it to operate in an environment that
can bring the best from them for the good of society.
Issued today on 3rd Day of May 2023.
Phillip Sabuni
PAN National Coordinator