3 May 2016 is marked as the world press freedom day. The day commemorates the importance of press freedom, freedom of information and safety of journalists.  This year marks the 25th anniversary of the UNESCO Windhoek Declaration adopted in the capital of Namibia in 1991, which was at the origin of World Press Freedom Day. As well the world's first freedom of expression and freedom of information legislation was promulgated by modern-day Finland and Sweden in 1766.

While we should take stock of several achievements since 1991 in this regard, it is imperative to highlight the current uneven media landscape and the challenges it is facing.  As such hundreds of journalists and human rights defenders have lost their lives and, or are arbitrarily detained for expressing their views and sharing such information which goes against the merit of these internationally adopted policy and legal frameworks that prioritize the right to freedom of expression and information as a fundamental right.

Several human rights defenders are making an outstanding contribution to the defense and, or promotion of press freedom in the Middle East, and especially in the face of danger. Journalists, human rights defenders and advocates across the Middle East including, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Bahrain.. are being harassed, intimidated, arbitrarily detained and deported, subjected to torture and other forms of violence, and some have been killed.

Of note, researches have shown that in the Middle East although the constitutions of the majority of Middle Eastern countries provide for freedom of expression, in reality conventional and international (including radio, satellite TV and the Internet) media remain under a restricted and intimidatory legal, political and security environment. And in principle dissent is a ground for jail. In addition national press and publication laws are frequently changed and vaguely worded, opening them to wide interpretation and potential abuse. Human rights defenders and advocates have paid a heavy price for their sustained and courageous efforts to inform local and international populations about the political upheavals and human rights violations in the Middle East.

Ultimately we have to put an end to such attempts by governments to proscribe the fundamental right to freedom of expression. And aim to achieve a greater commitment to the fundamental right of all to free and unhindered access to information and freedom of expression.

Most importantly, ICSFT calls for the international community and relevant organizations to promote and protect the media and right to freedom of expression and investigate and bring to justice those responsible for violent assaults upon journalists and human rights defenders.