THE UNITED Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), is to host a two-day international conference in the island, starting on May 3, as part of celebrations to mark World Press Freedom Day.
The conference, scheduled for the Jamaica Conference Centre, Duke Street, downtown Kingston, is being held under the theme, "Freedom of Expression: Early New Millenium Challenges."
Several plenary sessions will be held, beginning with, "Unpunished crimes against journalists: a strategy for reducing impunity." There will be open discussions, global over-views looking at trends in the Americas and measures established to guarantee press freedom, case study preparations, presentations looking at "obstacles to the full enjoyment of freedom of expression in the information society" and issues relating to media and HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean.
The conference will be opened by Prime Minister Patterson and Maxine Henry Wilson, Education Minister.
World Press Freedom Day, established by the UN in December 1993, is used by governments, journalists and media organisations worldwide to reaffirm their commitment to promote and protect the rights of journalists to practise their profession without coercion and hindrance as well as salute those who died on the job.
