America
Christiane Amanpour appointed Unesco goodwill ambassador
Paris, April 30
The Unesco on Thursday
appointed renowned journalist Christiane Amanpour as the goodwill
ambassador for freedom of expression and journalist safety.
Unesco
director-general Irina Bokova named the CNN international correspondent
Amanpour "in recognition of her efforts to promote free, independent
and pluralistic media, having the right to work free from the threat of
violence, and contributing through this to peace, sustainability,
poverty eradication and human rights".
"In the most challenging
situations, addressing the most demanding interlocutors integrity and
courage have always guided you, with the conviction that freedom of
expression, media freedoms are essential for stronger societies, for
healthier democracies, for peace and reconciliation as well as
sustainable development," said Bokova in a statement.
"We need to defend these principles more than ever today, at a time when they are challenged across the world," she added.
In
her acceptance speech, Amanpour stressed on the important role of
journalists as "pillars of reform, freedom and democracy" whose task was
to "strengthen civil society".
"We are here to make the world a better place," she said.
She
also made an impassioned plea for the release of all imprisoned
journalists, wherever they may be, and condemned the increasing number
of attacks and assassinations of media professionals.