Kinshasa, 8 May 2012 – The World Press Freedom Day which is observed every 3 May was celebrated in DRC on 8 May. Media professionals gathered in the country's major cities to address issues of common interest.

In Kinshasa, celebrations were organized under the auspices of the Union nationale de la Presse du Congo (UNPC) with the support of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). During this day-long meeting, several papers were presented on the theme "Rôles et responsabilités des journalistes et médias congolais lors des élections de novembre 2011" (Roles and Responsibilities of Congolese journalists and the media during the November 2011 elections).

In Kananga, Kasaï Occidental province, workshops were organized on the theme: "Nouvelle Voix: la liberté des médias aide à transformer les sociétés" (Press Freedom is a new voice transforming our societies). The purpose of this workshop was to raise the awareness of participants to press offences in light of the penal code, the perspective of civil society and the role of the press in the province.

In Uvira, Sud Kivu, MONUSCO took part in World Press Freedom Day celebrations organized by the Uvira and Fizi Media Synergy in the presence of political, administrative, police and judicial authorities of the province. This celebration offered the 50 participants from different local media outlets, the opportunity to reflect on protecting the right of the public to information in DRC in general and Uvira in particular.

In Matadi, Bas-Congo province, a workshop was organized by MONUSCO Office of Public Information and the media monitor, which brought together 70 journalists from both public and private media. The workshop was a restitution of the meeting on "l'Ethique et la Déontologie: Nouvel Etat des Lieux" (New Evaluation of Ethics and Code of Conduct) held in Kinshasa last March. According to Matthieu Mpukudi Tomatala, representative of the Bas-Congo branch of the Congolese media monitor, the purpose of this workshop is to "help journalists examine their actions and measure the extent of the damages that could be caused by programmes and articles, which disregard the ethics and code of conduct of the Congolese journalist".

Lansana Dabo, Sam Oussou, Maïmouna Traoré, Pénangnini Touré / MONUSCO