Attakki fuq ġurnalisti jikkostitwixxu theddida għad-demokrazija

Dawn l-abbiltajiet huma vitali għal dibattitu demokratiku b’saħħtu u huma kruċjali speċjalment fil-kuntest tal-hekk imsejħa infodemiċi u aħbarijiet foloz, li saru dejjem aktar importanti matul l-2020.

Alfred Sant kien qed jindirizza sessjoni plenarja tal-Parlament Ewropew li ddiskutiet il-ġlieda kontra l-impunità għal reati mwettqa kontra ġurnalisti fid-dawl tal-Jum Internazzjonali biex Tispiċċa l-Impunità għal Reati kontra Ġurnalisti. Il-Viċi President tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea u r-Rappreżentant Għoli tal-Unjoni għall-Affarijiet Barranin u l-Politika tas-Sigurtà Josep Borrell ipparteċipa fid-dibattitu.

“Mingħajr ġurnaliżmu, l-ebda demokrazija. Dan jista’ jidher inkontestabbli iżda llum kriminali għal 22 qtil ta’ ġurnalisti għadhom ma ġewx ikkundannati għall-atti tagħhom fl-Ewropa, skond dejta mill-Kunsill tal-Ewropa ”, qal Alfred Sant.

Hu fakkar li bis-Sħubija għall-Informazzjoni u d-Demokrazija mnedija f’Settembru 2019, Malta, flimkien ma’ 8 pajjiżi oħra, impenjat ruħha li tippromwovi aċċess għal informazzjoni affidabbli minn midja ħielsa u indipendenti. Impenn bħal dan ifisser li l-ġurnalisti u l-ħaddiema tal-midja, matul il-funzjoni tagħhom, għandhom ikunu protetti kontra kull forma ta’ vjolenza, theddid u diskriminazzjoni.

Alfred Sant iddikjara li jemmen li dan imur id f’id mal-qafas Ewropew għall-protezzjoni tal-whistleblowers, li għalih se jibdew regoli ġodda madwar l-UE kollha fl-2021.

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Attacks on journalists constitute a threat to democracy

Alfred Sant told the European Parliament that attacks on journalists constitute a threat to democracy and it is essential to defend those who risk their lives by upholding the right to inform and expressing critical views, online and offline.

These abilities are vital to a healthy democratic debate and are crucial especially in the context of so-called infodemics and fake news, which have become increasingly important during 2020.

Alfred Sant was addressing a plenary session of the European Parliament that debated the fight against impunity for crimes committed against journalists in view of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists. The Vice-President of the European Commission and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell participated in the debate.

“Without journalism, no democracy. This might sound indisputable but today criminals for 22 murders of journalists have still not been condemned for their acts in Europe, according to data from the Council of Europe”, Alfred Sant said.

He recalled that with the Partnership for Information and Democracy launched in September 2019, Malta, together with 8 other countries, has committed to promote access to reliable information from free and independent media. Such commitment means that journalists and media workers, in the course of their function, must be protected against all forms of violence, threats and discrimination.

Alfred Sant stated that he believes this goes hand in hand with a European framework for whistle-blowers’ protection, for which new EU-wide rules will start in 2021.