Ambassador Battle’s Remarks at the Media Institute of Southern Africa Tanzania Chapter
(As Delivered May 31, 2024)
Venue: Hyatt Kilimanjaro Dar es Salaam
Honorable Government Representative,
Representatives of the Media Institute of Southern Africa Tanzania Chapter, Representatives of the National Democratic Institute,
Fellow members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Friends of the Media, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is an honor and a privilege to stand before you today at ths Freedom of Expression Reflection Forum organized by MISA-TAN. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to address such a distinguished gathering committed to the fundamental rights of freedom of expression.
Today, we take time to reflect on the principle that lies at the very heart of all democratic societies: the freedom to speak, the freedom to write, and the freedom to express ideas without fear of censorship or reprisal. Freedom of expression is not just a right; it is the bedrock upon which all other freedoms are built. It is the lifeblood of any democracy, it is the essence of human dignity, and the foundation of all other human rights.
As we reflect on the state of freedom of expression, we must acknowledge the challenges and the threats that many journalists and media professionals face globally not just in Tanzania, not just in Africa, but globally. The work of MISA-TAN and similar organizations is vital to ensuring that these threats do not silence the voices that serve the vital calling for accountability and the vital responsibility of bringing truth to light. Journalists must not only bring truth to light, journalists must be courageous enough, confident enough and secure enough to speak truth to power.
I was delighted to participate in this year’s World Press Freedom Day in Dodoma, where I had the opportunity to meet and share thoughts with many of you on promoting freedom of expression and ensuring the safety of Tanzanian journalists. That experience underscored for me the importance of our collective efforts and the critical need for ongoing dialogue and cooperation.
The theme of this year’s forum, “Ensuring a Free and Safe Environment for Media Practitioners,” resonates deeply in today’s world. It is a stark reminder that freedom of expression is not guaranteed by mere words on paper. It requires constant vigilance, it requires a robust legal framework, and it requires a societal commitment to protect those who dare to speak out. Very often we challenge governments for not allowing people to speak out but sometimes it is the citizens do not allow other citizens to speak out. We must be absolutely clear, foundationally and fundamentally that everyone has the right to speak, the right to carry out their voice, and the right to be heard.
In the United States, our history with freedom of expression has been a journey of progress and of setbacks. It would be absolutely hypocritical to give the impression that the United States of America has always been the bastion of freedom of expression. We’ve had our victories and we’ve had our setbacks. Tanzania will have its victories, Tanzania will have its setbacks. But it is our responsibility as citizens and your responsibility as journalists to make sure that governments never rest securely when we think things are going well, and the governments never rest securely when we know things are not going well. We must insist upon transparency, accountability, and good governance. Not only because it is our right to have good governance but because it is everybody’s right to have good governance.
Here in Tanzania, the commitment to freedom of expression and a free press must be unwavering, and I applaud Tanzania for the advancements that she has made as a nation. I applaud Tanzania for the consistency with which Tanzania is moving in a democratic process. And I applaud you as journalists to make sure that we stay on the road, to make sure that we keep moving forward and that we never move backwards, because the freedom of expression, the freedom to speak, the freedom to write, and the freedom to proclaim the truth – as the truth should be told, must never be hampered or hindered by anyone. You have a very powerful responsibility. You have a very great responsibility and I applaud you for having the courage, for having the nerve, for having the fortitude and for having the dignity to stand up to speak truth when truth needs to be spoken. Thank you very much.
Source link : https://tz.usembassy.gov/media-institute-of-southern-africa-tanzania-chapter/
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Publish date : 2024-05-31 14:24:40
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