World Press Freedom Day in Beirut
Ambassador Fletcher and Minister Burt marked World Press Freedom Day in a video message from Beirut
Minister Alistair Burt and Ambassdor Tom Fletcher at the Social Media Awards event in Beirut
Alistair Burt, the FCO Minister for the Middle East and North Africa visited Beirut this week and teamed up with British Ambassador to Lebanon, Tom Fletcher on Monday 29 April to attend the Beirut Social Media Awards. 皇冠体育appy recorded a video message where they talk about the important role social media is playing in Lebanon and in the MENA region, and paid tribute to journalists and activists who have risked their lives to advance the public鈥檚 access to news and information. 皇冠体育appy also talk about what the UK is doing to support freedom of expression and public voice initiatives throughout the Middle East and North Africa, helping people to communicate across the region in new ways through the work of the UK鈥檚 Arab Partnership.
Extracts of Ambassador Fletcher鈥檚 video message: 鈥榊ou鈥檝e got people out there changing Lebanon tweet by tweet and blog by blog, whether they are entrepreneurs, activists or even politicians. Lebanon is a young country going through a very difficult period in a very tough neighbourhood. 皇冠体育appse activists are out there charting a more positive future for Lebanon. In the coming days we have World Press Freedom Day. Here in Lebanon, next door to Syria, we鈥檙e extremely conscious of the dynamics of free speech.鈥�
Extracts from Minister Burt鈥檚 message: 鈥榃hat some of the young people are doing today is using social media for freedom of expression鈥� this week when we remember World Press Freedom Day we also remember the risk to those who are reporting on events and the many who have lost their lives.鈥�