The President of the Union of Journalists and Social Communication Specialists of Guinea-Bissau, Indira Correia Baldé, this Friday called on the country’s President, Oumaro Sissoko Embalo, to promulgate the Law on the Professional Journalist Card.
Indira Balde, speaking at a forum marking World Press Freedom Day, which is celebrated today, said the adoption of the Portfolio Law “will allow us to know who the real journalist is” in Guinea-Bissau.
The Law on the Professional Journalist Card has been awaiting promulgation by Sissoco Embaló since November 2020, when it was approved by the Council of Ministers.
According to the president of the union, this instrument, if approved, will make it possible to regulate and evaluate the work of journalism in the country.
“The Law on Professional Cards will strengthen real journalism in Guinea-Bissau,” emphasized Indira Balde.
The union president noted that Guinea-Bissau “has risen in the global press freedom rankings compiled annually by Reporters Without Borders between 2022 and 2023, ranking 68th among 180 countries assessed.”
“Guinea-Bissau has moved up 14 positions compared to 2022, but we are still in the orange zone, that is, in a problematic situation,” he said.
In addition to political instability, Reporters Without Borders assesses that Guinean journalists continue to be victims of political and economic pressure and work in an unstable environment, the union’s president said.
Indira Correia Balde also called on the government to review the proposal submitted to it regarding the status of remuneration for media workers in the country.
“The state is creating a fund to subsidize public, private and public media outlets, given the importance of the work they do” to society, he said.
As part of the celebrations of World Press Freedom Day, the “Comprehensive National Framework for the Safety of Journalists in Guinea-Bissau” was launched today, a mechanism that, according to the union president, “will reduce the vulnerability of journalists in Guinea-Bissau.” press professionals Social Communication”.
“This mechanism will allow a quick response in the event of a threat or attack against industry professionals,” said Indira Balde.
One of the guests at the ceremony marking World Press Freedom Day, President of the Guinean League for Human Rights Boubacar Toure, praised the “resilience” of the country’s journalists, who work in an environment characterized by “intimidation and threats.”
“I would like to once again make a strong appeal to the current political authorities in Guinea-Bissau to create conditions for the free exercise of freedom of the press and easier access to information” for media professionals, Toure stressed.
The President of the Human Rights League stressed that Guinea-Bissau celebrates Press Freedom Day at a time when “several cases of attacks” against media workers “continue with impunity.”
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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