DILI, 03 May 2025 (TATOLI) – Hundreds of Timorese journalists participated in a peaceful march in Dili, organized by the Secretary of State for Social Communication (SEKOMS-Tetun), in collaboration with the Press Council of Timor-Leste and associations of journalists, to celebrate World Press Freedom Day, observed on May 3.
Vice-Prime Minister and Minister Coordinator for Economic Affairs and Minister of Tourism and Environment, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, who took part in the pacific march congratulated journalists for their significant contribution to the country’s development.
Minister Lay encouraged journalists to keep up their good work and continue improving their journalism skills to provide accurate and reliable information to the public in the future.
Meanwhile, in his intervention, the Secretary of State for Social Communication, Expedito Dias Ximenes touched on Timor-Leste’s ranking in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index which has slipped to 39th place out of 180 countries.
Ximenes pledged to improve the country’s press freedom index by implementing policies and measures that protect journalists and ensure freedom of expression. To this end, he said SEKOMS will work closely with the Press Council of Timor-Leste to disseminate Timor-Leste’s Media Law and the Journalist Code of Ethics—especially among government institutions, public agencies, and officials—to raise awareness of journalists’ work and help prevent interference in journalistic autonomy.
Reflecting on the 2025 World Press Freedom Day theme: ‘Reporting in the Brave New World – The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media,’ Ximenes highlighted that Timorese journalists must harness the significant potential of AI to enhance their journalistic work through the use of new tools.
According to the Press Council’s Executive Director, Antonio Dias, the peaceful march is important for raising awareness of journalists’ rights, which encompass the freedoms and protections afforded to them in their pursuit of information and reporting of news: “We don’t want to see more journalists killed because of their work.”
He said that to strengthen democracy in the country, everyone must play a role in fostering freedom of the press and freedom of expression.
President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta, also congratulated journalists and media professionals on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day.
“I extend my warmest greetings to all journalists, media professionals, and advocates of free expression in Timor-Leste and globally, who uphold the essential pillars of democracy through their commitment to truth, transparency, and information integrity,” Horta said in a statement.
Horta said that Timor-Leste has made remarkable progress in nurturing an independent media landscape: “Our journalists work tirelessly, often under challenging circumstances, to inform our citizens and hold power to account. Their dedication deserves not only our recognition but our unwavering protection. Yet across the globe, we witness concerning trends. Journalists face unprecedented threats—from physical violence and intimidation to digital surveillance and disinformation campaigns. The rise of artificial intelligence presents both opportunities and challenges for media integrity. Each attack on press freedom is an attack on our collective right to truth,” the Head of State said.
Horta called on all sectors of society to recognize that a free press serves all people: “When journalists can work without fear, societies prosper with knowledge and understanding. The press freedom is not an abstract ideal but a living practice that requires constant vigilance and support,” added Horta.
Horta recalled that Timor-Leste’s journey to independence was chronicled by brave journalists who risked their lives to share its struggle with the world: “Their courage reminds us that press freedom is not merely a principle but a hard-won right that demands continuous protection and nurturing.”
“On this World Press Freedom Day, I extend my gratitude to all journalists and media professionals whose work strengthens our national dialogue and keeps our citizens informed. May your commitment to truth continue to illuminate our path forward,” the Head of State concluded.
Every year, 3 May is a date which celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom, to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession. World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 following a Recommendation adopted at the twenty-sixth session of UNESCO’s General Conference in 1991.
TATOLI
