UNAGP and GPA Host "Human Rights and Press Freedom: Global and Domestic Challenges" on December 10

Press Release

United Nations Association to host Panel on Freedom of the Press and Human Rights

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania-November 11, 2014. On December 10th, 2014, the United Nations Association of Greater Philadelphia (UNAGP), will host a panel discussion on Human Rights and Press Freedom: Global and Domestic Challenges. The keynote speaker will be Courtney Radsch, Advocacy Director for the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). The program will be from 6 to 8:30 pm at The Ethical Society of Philadelphia, 1906 Rittenhouse Square.

According to CPJ, 42 journalists have been killed so far in 2014 and in 2013 over 200 journalists were imprisoned. Since 2008 over 450 journalists have been exiled from their countries for trying to do their jobs. In the US reporters phone logs have been secretly subpoenaed and seized by the Justice Department, a New York Times reporter faces the threat of jail for not revealing a source and the shadow of the NSA hangs over journalists email and telephone communications.

Ms. Radsch will be joined on the panel by Michael Matza, Staff Writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer and former foreign correspondent as well as Signe Wilkinson, Pulitzer Prize winning editorial cartoonist for the Philadelphia Daily News and the Inquirer. Peter Chawaga, editor of the Global Philadelphia Association’s Program for Emerging International Journalists will serve as moderator.

UNAGP annually celebrates Human Rights Day on December 10. It recognizes the importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and honors the tremendous leadership of Eleanor Roosevelt in gaining its approval by the United Nations in 1948.

This event is co-sponsored by the Global Philadelphia Association and The Ethical Society of Philadelphia.

For further information contact: Bob Groves of UNAGP (http://una-gp.org) at [email protected] or 267-973-3265 or Asmaa Lahlou at the Global Philadelphia Association (http://globalphiladelphia.org) at [email protected]