ALDE nominates Reporters Without Borders for Sakharov Prize as a tribute to journalists at risk

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 15th Sep 2004

The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe has decided to nominate Reporters Without Borders for the European Parliament's prestigious Sakharov Prize for human rights, on behalf of all journalists who risk, or have lost, their lives, or are currently taken hostage in their effort to inform.

Announcing the nomination, ALDE Group leader Graham Watson MEP (Liberal Democrat/UK) said:

"The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Group decided last night overwhelmingly to nominate Reporters Without Borders for the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize on behalf of all journalists who risk, or have lost, their lives, or are taken hostage in their effort to inform. This nomination is a recognition of the vital role that journalists play in highlighting human rights abuses and guaranteeing freedom of information, often at great personal cost. For the Parliament to award this prize to Reporters Without Border would be a fitting tribute to the many journalists of different nationalities who have been taken hostage or have lost their lives, reporting the unvarnished truth from Iraq. It would also be an acknowledgement of the fundamental right of citizens to free information."

The movers of the nomination in the ALDE Group, Alfonso Andria (La Margherita/Italy), Giuletto Chiesa (Lista Di Pietro - Occhetto/Italy) and Jean-Marie Cavada (UDF/France), commented in their citation:

"Journalists embody the universal right of citizens to inform and to be informed, which is a key element of democracy. They often risk their lives to ensure our access to free information. The number of those under attack throughout the world is growing seriously, and the trend has been worsened by the ongoing conflict in Iraq. We remember the Italian independent reporter Enzo Baldoni, one of 40 journalists from all continents killed there since March 2003. We think of Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot, correspondents of Radio France Internationale and Le Figaro, kidnapped in Iraq. We recall also the 36 journalists killed throughout the world - not just in combat areas - since the beginning of this year, as well as the 130 who have been imprisoned and the thousands physically attacked or threatened."

"These figures are given by Reporters Without Borders, an association founded in France 18 years ago in order to defend journalists and press freedom throughout the world. Today it has nine national sections in the EU, nine representatives outside Europe and over a hundred correspondents world-wide. Beyond documenting media and public opinion on such attacks against freedom and on any form of censorship, it supports journalists who have been threatened in their own country and provides financial and other forms of support to their needy families. It works to improve the safety of journalists, especially in war zones, and assists in the rebuilding of media groups experiencing hardship. The association also acquired a judicial arm, in order to fight for justice for torture victims and the families of those murdered, before the national and international courts."