WPFD: Minister of Communication says press freedom, backbone of human rights in Cameroon
The Minister of Communication Rene Emmanuel Sadi, has told media practitioners that Cameroon is a State that respects human rights, with press freedom constituting the backbone.
Rene Sadi was invited to the brainstorming event organized by the Cameroon Association of English-speaking Journalists (CAMASEJ) and the Cameroonian section of the International Francophone Press Union (UPF), to mark the 30th edition of the World Press Freedom Day.
During activities that took place in Yaounde, on May 3, the Communication boss said the liberalization of the national media landscape within a period of thirty years, has “profoundly transformed Cameroon from a monolithic system to an effective pluralist regime”.
The Minister said journalists have a duty to respect the ethics and laws which are part of the enabling factors of press freedom within the country.
“It must be noted that in many cases, national media practitioners are often at odds with the rules of the ethics and professional conduct that should guide their work. Such a deficiency is likely to discredit the press” Rene Sadi said.
“The abuses observed and induced by this lack of professionalism expose journalists and the media to the sanctions provided for by the laws and regulations in force.”
The Communication Minister also added that “there is the instrumentalization of the media by certain actors with hidden agendas”. He called on media professionals to exercise more vigilance.
Concerning the social security of journalists, media owners were urged to fulfill their social and legal obligations towards the journalists they employ, notably the provision of employment contracts and the regular payment of salaries.
Minister Rene Sadi said the government is aware of the difficulties faced by national media operators in the exercise of their profession, assuring them of the government’s efforts towards ameliorating the situation.
This year’s World Press Freedom Day was celebrated under the theme; “Shaping a future of rights: Freedom of expression as a driver of all human rights”.
