Sudan — As the world celebrated World Press Freedom Day 2022 on Wednesday, journalists and media workers in Sudan are crying out for their voices to be heard in an increasingly restrictive, intimidating and deadly dangerous environment.

In a statement on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day 2022, which this year focuses on “Journalism under siege by the digital”, the Sudanese Association of Journalists for Human Rights (JAHR ) laments that “our country, our people and the freedom of the press – in particular – are subjected to a complete and global siege – digital and non-digital – on all media. In its various forms, audio, visual and printed, imposed by the coup of October 25, 2021, to freedom of the press and of expression, which constitutes the cornerstone and the real guarantee of all other freedoms and rights.

JAHR emphasizes that World Press Freedom Day is dedicated to shedding light on issues related to the impact of technology monitoring and surveillance on press freedom and freedom of expression, the right to information, data protection and privacy, and transparency issues. He addressed issues of media freedom, spyware, safety of journalists and the right to privacy in the digital age, in addition to addressing issues of media freedom, transparency and protection of sources, with the aim of dealing with the threats posed by increased surveillance. on freedom of the press and privacy.

The association claims that the October 25, 2021 coup has created a climate of growing repression in the country against freedom of the press and expression, and has openly and blatantly targeted journalists, reaching the stage of storming media institutions, destroying their working tools, arresting men and women. female journalists, exercising verbal, physical and psychological violence against male and female journalists, flagrantly damaging their personal belongings and preventing them from carrying out their professional duties to cover peaceful demonstrations, processions and marches rejecting the blow of state.

The association declares: “We urge our people and our journalistic community to continue the daring struggle, with all the living forces, to achieve the objectives, values ​​and slogans of the glorious December revolution, to defeat the coup d’etat and defeat it, with the weapon of peace and the weapon of speech, and to raise the banners of truth journalism…”

Sudanese Journalists Network

In a separate statement, the Sudanese Journalists Network “salutes all its colleagues on World Press Freedom Day on May 3, the bell that rings on May 3 every year to remind governments of the need to respect their commitments to press freedom and to give media workers the opportunity to reflect on issues of press freedom and professional ethics. It is also an opportunity to stand in solidarity with the freedoms of the press and the repressed media and to stand with them.

On this day, the Journalists’ Network salutes journalists around the world who have given their lives in the exercise of their professional duty and towards their communities.”

The Preparatory Committee of the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate

In its May 3 statement, the Preliminary Committee of the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate states that “the glorious December revolution dazzled the world with its peace and strength in order to adhere to the slogan of freedom, peace and justice, to become a guide for freedom peoples of the world for liberation and liberation from tyranny of tyrannical and tyrannical regimes.

“The revolution has testified to the effectiveness of female journalists and journalists, since the beginning of the December 2018 revolution, in documenting historic moments, which are recorded in the newspapers of the revolutionary popular struggle, which have made a number of injured, as well as the recording of several violations against journalists due to the excessive violence suffered by the demonstrators.”

The committee regrets that after the coup, the situation of civil liberties deteriorated and the freedom of the press deteriorated, which led to the occurrence of a number of violations which were followed by human rights organizations and bodies, including injuries from live and rubber ammunition, in addition to physical assaults, repeated pursuits and arrests of journalists, and assaults, assaults and destruction of media institutions. and the confiscation of work equipment.

In light of the coup, the total number of violations that occurred has exceeded 100 incidents, while some journalists are still receiving treatment in hospitals, so far, including cases of permanent injuries. .

“The degraded and tragic economic conditions have cast a shadow over male and female journalists, causing the majority of them to live below the poverty line and others have preferred to leave the profession in order to live a decent life.

“If there is a message for everyone, we urge the press to unite and work together to establish the Journalists’ Union, the dream that has been plundered for three decades to defend the profession and its workers.”

* Each year, May 3 is a date that celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom, to assess press freedom around the world, to defend the media against attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who lost their lives in the exercise of their profession. World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1993 following a recommendation adopted during the twenty-sixth session of the General Conference of UNESCO in 1991. this in turn was a response to a call by African journalists who in 1991 produced the historic Windhoek Declaration. (link is external) on pluralism on media pluralism and independence.

Freedom of the press and freedom of expression are at the heart of UNESCO’s mandate. UNESCO believes that these freedoms enable mutual understanding to build lasting peace.

This is an opportunity to inform citizens of press freedom violations – a reminder that in dozens of countries around the world, publications are censored, fined, suspended and shut down, while journalists, editors and publishers are harassed, attacked, detained and even murdered.

It is a date to encourage and develop initiatives in favor of press freedom, and to assess the state of press freedom in the world. (Source: UNESCO)

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