A difficult year for journalists

UCWEP President Hasan Taşkın: Everyone has a responsibility for press freedom

Istanbul, December 31, 2023 – UCWEP President Hasan Taşkın emphasized that 2023 has been a very difficult year for journalists and that everyone has a duty to ensure press freedom in 2024.

Taşkın announced the 2023 report of UCWEP and drew attention to the difficulties faced by journalists. The report stated that conflicts in the Middle East, oppressive regimes and increasing censorship put journalists at great risks.

The most serious event of 2023 for journalists was the Israeli army’s killing of 106 Palestinian journalists in the Gaza Strip, where it continued its violent attacks, in 84 days. This incident went down in history as one of the biggest attacks on press freedom.

Violations of press freedom continued in Türkiye in 2023. Journalists faced unlawful practices for reporting news and exercising their freedom of expression.

UCWEP demanded that the following steps be taken to improve press freedom in Türkiye:

• Ending legal and actual attacks on journalists
• Changing legal regulations restricting freedom of the press
• Providing a free and safe working environment for journalists

The Situation Around the World is No Different

The report stated that, in addition to the Middle East, there are violations of freedom of expression and freedom of the press in other parts of the world.

• In European countries such as Hungary, Poland, and Slovenia, governments continued to crack down on the press and silence independent media.
• In China, the Xi Jinping regime has further restricted freedom of expression and freedom of the press.
• In the USA, former President Donald Trump’s “fake news” rhetoric damaged trust in the press and targeted journalists.

The Light of Hope Has Not Been Extinguished

It was stated that despite all the difficulties, journalists continue to work to reveal the truth and provide the public with the right to information.

Journalists around the world continued to fight for freedom of expression and freedom of the press.

The courage and determination of journalists were hailed in 2023.

Work of UCWEP

It was stated that UCWEP will continue to fight for journalists to work freely and safely.