The number of journalists who have been killed, arrested or persecuted is shockingly high and has risen sharply in comparison to the previous year in some cases. Freedom of the press is the mother of all freedoms. This is true now and will remain so in the future. Without freedom of press, human dignity and liberty are not possible.

The courage of journalists and bloggers, who often take great risks for freedom and human rights, is admirable. They deserve our greatest respect. I call on all governments around the world to guarantee freedom of the press and to protect journalists from persecution.