The German President honours Reporters Without Borders Germany on its 20th anniversary

German President, Joachim Gauck, honours the work of Reporters Without Borders Germany. In a greeting sent due to the 20th anniversary of the founding of Reporters Without Borders Germany, the President writes: “People who are threatened and persecuted in their countries due to their investigative research can rely on the support of Reporters Without Borders while in exile. The organisation not only provides people with a refuge; it also secures them with a new perspective in their life and work. Thanks to Reporters Without Borders, journalists in prison have a voice. The organisation tirelessly fights for their freedom, and often for many years.” Reporters Without Borders Germany is commemorating the organisation’s first 20 years with an event on 25 September 2014 in the Berlin “Academy of Arts”. The death of Egon Scotland, a journalist working for the Süddeutsche Zeitung, during the Yugoslav civil war in 1991 raised public awareness of the dangers faced by war correspondents. The shock resulting from this situation, combined with the desire of Reporters sans Frontières in Paris to internationalise the organisation, subsequently led to the foundation of the German section in 1994. Astrid Frohloff, spokesperson for the executive board of Reporters Without Borders Germany stated that “the recent gruesome killings of journalists in Syria at the hands of the terrorist group IS clearly demonstrate the dangers faced by journalists in regions of conflict.” She continued: “Yet journalists are also threatened and persecuted by dictatorships such as China and authoritarian regimes such as Azerbaijan. This is why our work is as important today as it was 20 years ago. This is equally true with regard to the suppression of the freedom of the press and freedom of expression by international intelligence services and their massive and ungrounded surveillance of journalists.” Reporters Without Borders supports persecuted journalists throughout the world. One such journalist is Sihem Bensedrine, a human rights activist from Tunisia. She has been targeted and arrested merely for publishing critical articles. Reporters Without Borders has supported her on various occasions, including during periods when she has been forced into temporary exile. Sihem Bensedrine stated that, “Reporters Without Borders acts as a voice for everyone who has been silenced and provides a strong anchor against injustice and will continue to do so”. Reporters Without Borders Germany has invited long-term associates, supporters and representatives from media, politics and civil society, as well as other guests to the anniversary event in Berlin. Thomas Roth, a presenter of one of Germany’s main daily news magazines Tagesthemen, will hold the commemorative speech. Emin Milli, a journalist from Azerbaijan who had to flee his country and Meera Jamal from Pakistan will report on the media situation in their countries and their work with Reporters Without Borders Germany.