ALDE nominates Reporters sans Frontières for Sakharov Prize as a tribute to journalists at risk

9.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 17th Sep 2004

The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe has decided to nominate Reporters sans Frontières for the European Parliament's prestigious Sakharov Prize for human rights, on behalf of all journalists who risk, or have lost, their lives, or are currently taken hostage in their effort to inform.

London Liberal Democrat MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford said:

"This nomination is a recognition of the vital role that journalists play in highlighting human rights abuses and guaranteeing freedom of information, often at great personal cost. For the Parliament to award this prize to Reporters sans Frontières would be a fitting tribute to the many journalists of different nationalities who have been taken hostage or have lost their lives, reporting the unvarnished truth from Iraq. It would also be an acknowledgement of the fundamental right of citizens to free information."

"Journalists embody the universal right of citizens to inform and to be informed, which is a key element of democracy. They often risk their lives to ensure our access to free information. The number of those under attack throughout the world is growing seriously, and the trend has been worsened by the ongoing conflict in Iraq, Chechnya and other conflict zones. 40 journalists from all continents have been killed there since March 2003. We recall also the 36 journalists killed throughout the world - not just in combat areas - since the beginning of this year, as well as the 130 who have been imprisoned and the thousands physically attacked or threatened."

Notes

The European Parliament has awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought annually since 1988, in order to honour individuals or organisations for their efforts on behalf of human rights and fundamental freedoms and against oppression and injustice. Previous winners of the Sakharov Prize include East Timorese dissident Xanana Gusmão, Nelson Mandela and Ibrahim Rugova. The nominations of the different political groups will be discussed by the Foreign Affairs Committee, which will propose three candidates for a decision by the Conference of Presidents. The European Parliament will award the Sakharov Prize to the chosen candidate in December.

Reporters sans Frontières is also known as Reporters without Borders