World Press Freedom Day

That this House notes that 2023 represents the thirtieth anniversary of the proclamation of an international day of press freedom; recognises the importance of World Press Freedom Day on 3 May 2023; further notes that the day allows citizens to commemorate journalists who have lost their lives and reminds citizens of the importance of a free press for democracy and human rights; believes that journalists everywhere across the globe have a right to hold the powerful to account without fear of persecution; notes that a report from the International Federation of Journalists shockingly identified at least 68 killings of media professionals in work-related incidents in 2022, whilst over five hundred journalists languished in jails; commends the National Union of Journalists in the UK and Ireland for their tireless campaigning work to defend press freedom; and calls on the Government to uphold press freedom at home and exert diplomatic influence overseas to end impunity for the killing and intimidation of journalists.