Protection and promotion of the freedom of expression has always been ignored around the world. The gravity and frequency of such incidents are widespread irrespective of regions around the world. However, there has been endeavor to protect the rights of the rights fighter.
It has been in international level and national arena as well where the rights of the journalists were tried to be given a level of protection.
In international level, a declaration has been adopted in this regard. The declaration not only regarded the journalists as the rights defenders but also placed them at the centre of attention. The declaration has been adopted in 1998.
The news workers ultimately serve democracy in different ways. They are the basic tool to ensure the people’s right to information.
Importance of right to information is one of the major thins to ensure human rights. It contributes to the protection and development of human life. The right to information is one of the main human rights that protect and develop the human life.
The journalists contribute to the cause of reducing many social and cultural problems in the society.
Before realizing the importance of right to information realizing of other basic human and fundamental rights are prerequisite. Until other social problems like hunger, malnutrition and so on are materialized, the right to information is of less use.
We are yet to implement the right to education, social security and other political rights. So we are not in a position to get the full benefit of right to information. For this reason, the right to information is being materialized to the fullest in the developed countries. Though this is called the secondary right, but yet, it no less than primary right indeed so far it introduces and open other area of basic rights.
But another quirk of fate for journalists is that they are the first casualty in any society.
The journalists are the first to appear before any violation of human rights. They stand as a first defence of human rights. Their contribution to transform the conceptual rights into reality has always been overlooked in history.
