http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/index/ en U.S. Department of State 2012-05-20T23:11:38+00:00 opening session for World Press Freedom Day in Tunis.

The woman at the center of this attention was Tawakkol Karman, was a 33 year old Yemeni journalist, known in her country as the mother of the revolution, and now known throughout the world as one of three women to share the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011. She has been in and out of jail, but still speaks out.

"We have risen for freedom of the press," she told a rapt audience from all over the world. "The young have sacrificed themselves while writing, filming and texting in alleys, and streets...to express their wills and to bring down their oppressors." Karman's words drew rousing applause. She concluded by warning those who try to stop free expression that it will bring about a "second, third or tenth revolution."

Karman was among the better known female journalists attending UNESCO's World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) in Tunis this year, but she was not alone.

Thirty-one year old Rafika Fejjari who works for Tunisia's Hannibal TV, began her journalism career six years ago under the Ben Ali regime. "My parents did not want me to become a journalist," she told me. Her first project was a documentary about a woman who converted from Islam to Christianity, a taboo subject. It took her two years to complete and her professor nearly flunked her.

Two years ago, she said she was arrested because she spoke to the wrong person. She explained that it is so important that World Press Freedom Day is held in Tunisia to shine a spotlight on journalists and freedom of expression. She said things are far from perfect, but she is optimistic.

"I have to stay in the system to keep pushing for change," Fejjari explained. "You cannot do this from the outside."

Then there's 32 years old Intesar Khalifa El Barasi from Benghazi, Libya, who is attending WPFD conference as a press fellow sponsored by the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. She has been a journalist for years and was arrested in November 2010 for charges claiming she committed a crime against the Qaddafi regime. She was freed after six months but was forced to switch jobs -- until Qaddafi fell.

El Barasi then sold her car and her jewelry so she could start The Eye, a newspaper where she is editor in chief. She said that she had the fortune of receiving training from the outside so she knows what "independent" journalism is. She said that she hopes to raise awareness that Libya is in desperate need of media training. Still she is optimistic. "We are looking to be better," explaining that everyone is tired from the "war." "I'm here in Tunis today, because I have hope."

For information on threats to journalists' freedom of expression visit "Free the Press" on HumanRights.gov.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/women_press_freedom/ 2012-05-04T20:50:46+00:00 World Press Freedom Day. From Burma and Bahrain, to Qatar and Zimbabwe, those who write, film, text, and tweet the truth will spend three days listening, discussing, and exchanging ideas about the power -- and perils -- of free speech.

Over a year ago, Tunisia's Jasmine revolution sparked transitions throughout the Middle East. Millions have come out, and keep coming, to demand change and the right to express themselves -- from Tahrir Square and Benghazi, to Sanaa and Hom.

The clarion call for freedom has not been without its bumps and setbacks. Even in Tunisia where there has been so much promise, a setback to freedom of expression came today in the form of blasphemy charges against the TV owner of Nessma for airing the film, "Persepolis."

On this day, however, the world will shine a spotlight on journalists who risk everything to speak out. Today, the world can see and hear the international community mark World Press Freedom Day with opening ceremonies at a place once considered a symbol of oppression, the Presidential Palace in Tunisia. The event will feature a virtual town hall that will connect people in Amsterdam and Washington, D.C., with remarks by Assistant Secretary of State Esther Brimmer and a video message from Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

In addition, the Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Award will be presented to brave Azerbaijani journalist Eynulla Fatullayev. And, over the next few days, highlights from the gathering will include a speech by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Tawakkol Karman and discussions on a variety of topics, including the value of media reforms, decriminalization of free speech, and how press freedom can help transform societies.

As we learned last year when the United States hosted World Press Freedom Day in Washington, D.C., some of the most valuable aspects of this annual commemoration are the opportunities for participants -- journalists from around the world -- to hold discussions on the critical issues they face and to meet each other, compare notes, and build new supportive networks of contacts.

World Press Freedom Day also represents a powerful reminder of the challenges journalists face just to do their jobs. The Committee to Protect Journalists released a report stating that 639 reporters have been killed for doing their jobs since 1992. In 565 of those cases, the killers went unpunished. According to CPJ, vocal journalists are the mostly likely victims. As a former journalist myself, I have witnessed the great cost journalists pay to speak out. Today, I join my colleagues and those around the world in honoring them and their work.

For more information on press freedom, go to HumanRights.gov and the UNESCO website.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/speaking_out_world_press_freedom_day/ 2012-05-03T16:03:43+00:00