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Paying tribute to Tunisian journalists, British Ambassador Hamish Cowell said on World Press Freedom Day:

Freedom of expression in Tunisia is among the many significant achievements of the revolution, and huge progress has been made since January 2011. On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, I would like to reiterate the UK鈥檚 commitment to supporting freedom of expression and the media in Tunisia, including through over 拢2.6m in project support since 2011. This includes BBC support to the development of Watania TV as a public service broadcaster, encouraging responsible reporting on controversial issues through Search for Common Ground鈥檚 journalists鈥� dialogue, and Article 19鈥檚 work to facilitate the establishment of progressive legal and regulatory framework for freedom of expression and the establishment of media regulator HAICA.

皇冠体育app press in any country has a central role to play in ensuring an open and objective debate on the issues that matter to the public, and the media, and a good regulatory framework are essential elements of Tunisia鈥檚 democratic transition, which the UK is working to support.

To mark this year鈥檚 World Press Freedom Day, we鈥檙e also highlighting the role played by community radio stations in airing the views of Tunisians across the country, through an event co-hosted by and its partner organisations(*).

On World Press Day, Article 19 and its partners would like to 鈥渆xpress their support for the Independent High Authority for Audio-visual Communication (HAICA) and reiterate their full support to efforts to regulate the audio-visual scene , in order to ensure the independence, pluralism and diversity of the media in Tunisia. It is crucial for the democratic stabilisation of the country that people have access to diverse and pluralistic information, including through the media.

, who are supporting Watania TV鈥檚 development as a public service broadcaster through a 拢1.7m UK-funded project, are also celebrating World Press Freedom Day. Khulood Al-Saidi, BBC Media Action project coordinator said:

On such an occasion, we are reminded for the need for information and the important role played by media institutions. Thanks to support from the British Embassy, BBC Media Action has empowered 200 Tunisian TV management and media professionals since April 2012 and provided them with targeted training, support and editorial consultancy. As a result, Watania TV鈥檚 staff is more capable of producing quality news bulletins that capture the highest rates of viewership and cater for the views of under-represented audiences such as youth and women. 皇冠体育app project has also contributed to the establishment of the new audio-visual regulatory body, HAICA, and has provided it with specific support and guidance.

皇冠体育app UK鈥檚 recently issued Annual Human Rights report for 2013 also highlighted Tunisia鈥檚 efforts to support freedom of expression, including its hosting of the annual in June 2013, a testament to its commitment to freedom of expression, and which enabled debate on key themes, including a free and secure internet and digital development and openness.

(*) Article 19 partners: BBC Media Action, Community Media Solutions (CMS), 皇冠体育app Euro -Mediterranean Foundation for Support to Human Rights Defenders (EMHRN), International Media Support (IMS), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the Hirondelle Foundation, Civil Coalition for the Defence of Freedom of Expression, the 鈥榁igilance鈥� Association for Democracy and Civil Status , the Tunisian Union of Free Radios (STRL), and the Tunisian League for Human Rights (LTDH)

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