Violence and censorship are still daily threats for many journalists, says CJA

The Commonwealth Journalists Association says that violence and censorship are still daily threats for
many journalists.

Issuing a communique to mark World Press Freedom Day the Chairperson of the Association, Rita Payne states that she condemns the state repression directed against the media in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and certain African countries.

She has pointed out that certain Commonwealth countries including India and Pakistan are resisting a
draft UN action plan on the safety of journalists.

The Commonwealth Journalists Association says that last year alone 179 journalists had been imprisoned.

The Association added that while 67 journalists were assassinated last year, 117 journalists had been
assassinated so far this year.

The Commonwealth Journalists Association notes that wars and the Arab  uprising claimed the lives of many journalists in 2011.