<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said world must speak with one voice — stop lies and disinformation, and stop targeting truth and truth-tellers.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"As journalists stand up for truth, the world stands with them," he said in a message marking World Press Freedom Day that falls on May 3.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For three decades, on World Press Freedom Day, the international community has celebrated the work of journalists and media workers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Freedom of the press is the foundation of democracy and justice. It gives all of us the facts we need to shape opinions and speak truth to power. And as this year’s theme reminds us, press freedom represents the very lifeblood of human rights," Guterres said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But in every corner of the world, freedom of the press is under attack, he said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Truth is threatened by disinformation and hate speech seeking to blur the lines between fact and fiction, between science and conspiracy, the UN chief said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The increased concentration of the media industry into the hands of a few, the financial collapse of scores of independent news organizations, and an increase of national laws and regulations that stifle journalists are further expanding censorship and threatening freedom of expression, he said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Meanwhile, Guterres said, journalists and media workers are directly targeted on and offline as they carry out their vital work. They are routinely harassed, intimidated, detained and imprisoned.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At least 67 media workers were killed in 2022 — an unbelievable 50 percent increase over the previous year.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Nearly three quarters of women journalists have experienced violence online, and one in four have been threatened physically.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ten years ago, the United Nations established a plan of action on the safety of journalists to protect media workers and end impunity for crimes committed against them.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The world must stop the threats and attacks, the UN chief said. "Stop detaining and imprisoning journalists for doing their jobs." UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>