Distinguished participants, Ladies & Gentlemen, A Salaamu Aleykum Warahmatullah Wa Barakaat. It is a great honor for me to attend this very important Seminar on Freedom of Expression and Journalists’ Rights in State-Building in Somalia. Today has tow occasions, one is for the 3rd of May, the World Press Freedom Day and second is the 3 days workshop facilitated by Finland. Let me send my congratulations to all media practitioners in Somalia and around the world on this important occasion. Their bravery is what makes the world peace and harmony. I would like to thank the Government of Finland, the great friends of the Ministry of Information, and those organized this important workshop, such as the Ministry of Information, VIKES, Relief International and NUSOJ, in particular our friends from Finland who came all the way from Finland. Ladies & Gentlemen, we are all aware the importance of the 3rd May, as press freedom is the basic necessity of the human being, and we all know that where there is no freedom of expression there are no living people. I am very pleased to report to you that our provisional constitution gives guarantees of freedom of expression to our citizens. The policy of the Federal Government and the Ministry of Information is that there are no progress in the country until we have a sound press freedom. 1. Media development in Somalia 1. Challenges faced Somali Media. 2.1. Killings of Journalists by Al-Shabaab 2.2. Shortage of skills 2.3. Lack of salaries 2.4 Shortage of equipment 3. Ministry of Information’s plans on the above challenge a) To provide security to all b) Somali Media Law c) Somali Journalists’ Academy d) To prepare the strategy to develop Somali Media Finally, I would like to encourage and appreciate all their work on all government, international partners and agencies that support Somali media. In order for us to implement all the above issues, we would urgently need your support on capacity building; journalists’ equipment, incentives and we need to look after our brave journalists. Thank You |
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