On behalf of UNESCO, it is a pleasure for me to be here today, at the 2016 World Press Freedom Day celebration in Mongolia. This is my first official mission to Mongolia since I joined UNESCO last December. I am happy that my first visit to your beautiful country has given me the opportunity to meet you on such a special day. World Press Freedom day is when UNESCO and partners celebrate globally the fundamental principles of press freedom; take stock of the current state of press freedom around the world; raise our collective voices in defense of media independence; and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.

Freedom of expression, press freedom and the right of access to information are fundamental human rights. They are also key enablers of the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by UN Member States last September, which will guide our collective efforts in the next 15 years to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity and lasting peace for all. Progress in peace, democracy and development, for individuals, communities and nations, happens faster where information and ideas are allowed to flow freely, and where the media can exercise its role of facilitating social control.

UNESCO, as the only UN agency with a constitutional mandate to “promote the free flow of ideas by word and image,” works with its Member States to foster an enabling environment for free, pluralistic and independent media. UNESCO’s approach to media development is informed by research, experiences and good practices from all countries where we work. It takes into account the challenges and opportunities created by the rapidly changing media environment, globally and in each country.

Mongolia has made remarkable achievements in establishing and building a free, independent and pluralistic media environment since the democratic reforms initiated in the 1990s. The media continuously played a significant role in Mongolia development. We have seen an increasing number of media outlets — some 500 by end of 2014 - representing a diverse mix of public, private and community media and thereby ensuring media pluralism and independence. UNESCO applauds the efforts made by the Mongolian Government in guaranteeing the Mongolian people’s right to access to information held by public bodies by its Constitution and by the ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This also echoes the theme of the World Press Freedom Day celebration this year: “Access to Information and Fundamental Freedoms - This is your Right!”
World Press Freedom Day is a day to celebrate achievement. It is also a day to remind us of the challenges and opportunities that exist, to further improve legislation, policies and practices.

That is why I am delighted to announce, today, that the Mongolian Media Assessment Report, has been finalized. The Assessment Report was prepared by four Mongolian NGOs based on UNESCO’s internationally-recognized Media Development Indicators. It is the first in the North-East Asia region, and sets high standards for others that may follow. The Report provides a comprehensive overview of the progress made and of the remaining gaps facing Mongolia’s communication and media sector, and makes recommendations to improve the media landscape across the country.

As in other countries, the assessment of media development in Mongolia is not a one-time activity, but a continuous process, given constant changes in the media scene. It is our hope that the information and recommendations in the report will be useful to the Government of Mongolia, local and international organizations and civil society groups working to promote freedom of expression and the development of media and communication sector in the country, as well as in the region.

UNESCO invites stakeholders working in the area of media development to take the report’s Media Development Indicators (MDIs) indicators into account when planning and carrying out their support for communication development strategies, within the overall context of national development, especially in the fields of media development and good governance.

To conclude, I would like to extend my gratitude to the Globe International Center, the Open Society Forum  and the Confederation of Mongolian Journalists, for organizing this event, and to the Mongolian National Commission for UNESCO for facilitating it. I want to also thank all of you who are present at this event. You are our most important stakeholders, representing the government, media and journalists, lawyers, academicians and civil society. It is only by working together with you that our collective goals can be achieved at the regional, national and local levels.

Finally, I would like to join Madame Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, in calling on “everyone to stand united in defending and encouraging press freedom and the right to access to information. This is essential for human rights and dignity, for our aspirations for sustainable development, for common determination to build lasting peace.”
Thank you very much!