20 May 2018

Media and press form Vision 2036’s pillar of democracy, by informing people about what is going on as well as providing opportunity for people to form their own opinions and participate on political debates.

This was said by Ambassador of France to Botswana, Mr Pierre Voillery at a reception hosted by the France Embassy on May 17 to celebrate media in Botswana.

The event also provided a physical platform that allowed media practitioners to network, exchange contacts and discuss further collaborations.

The Ambassador said the initial idea was to organise the reception on May 3 to coincide with the World Press Freedom Day, but this could not happened, hence the celebrations happened on May 17.

He explained that the level of freedom the media could get was indicative of the level of democracy a country had reached, describing media freedom as a crucial factor of good governance.

“I want to reaffirm the constant and unwavering commitment of the French government to press freedom, to the freedom of expression and to the protection of journalism worldwide.

The opinion of my government is that media pluralism and the freedom to share critical views are key to a democratic, free and fruitful debate,” he added.

He said that it was for those reasons that France was committed to promoting the right of everyone to freedom of opinion and freedom of expression as guaranteed by Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948.

Furthermore, he said France was also actively supporting the adoption by the UN General Assembly of the resolution on the protection of journalists, which, this year, highlighted the situation of female journalists and aimed at ensuring closer monitoring by the UN secretary-general.

With regards to Botswana media, Ambassador Voillery highlighted the collaboration that existed between some newspapers and the Agence France Presse.

Sharing his insights on the situation regarding freedom of press in the country, he said, ‘the media seems to operate freely in Botswana and the situation does not seem to be critical as I can read critical comments on newspapers, which is a positive sign’.

France and Botswana have developed a warm and cordial relationship since 1966 within the framework of a balanced and sustainable partnership.

The relationship was strengthened by the opening of a France Embassy in Gaborone in 2001. ENDS