The rule of law ensures the political, economic and legal environment necessary for a free press. It provides a legal and fair status for the media and individual journalists based on international standards and guarantees independence from improper influence. It also helps protect journalists reporting on such issues as organised crime or corruption from becoming targets of harassment and violent persecution from public officials, terrorists, and criminals.
The World Justice Project, an independent, non-profit organisation to advance the rule of law, recognises the importance of a free press. The WJP Rule of Law Index® is a quantitative assessment tool that offers a detailed and comprehensive picture of the extent to which countries adhere to the rule of law in practice, including a country's press freedom. WJP works with partners around the globe to ensure freedom of the press and access to information - in addition to all other facets of the rule of law - to improve justice and fairness.
A core belief is that the rule of law matters to all members of society. The rule of law undergirds commerce, health, education, the arts - and the press. The rule of law is not just important to lawyers and judges; it matters to accountants, builders, consumers, dentists, teachers - and journalists. The World Justice Project works with representatives of all these other fields, bringing together leaders from government, businesses, non-governmental organisations and individuals to understand how the rule of law matters to our everyday lives, and to develop programmes to advance these principles in communities.
Our successful multidisciplinary approach has led to projects that improve the environment and public health in Madagascar, secure land rights for farmers in Haiti, advance the well-being of migrant workers in China, and improve access to justice in the United States. In Namibia, we've worked to ensure that media and citizenry have access to public information in a timely and efficient manner, to enhance citizen participation in governance and improve their capacity to hold the government more accountable. In Peru, our partners have to provide the media with improved environmental information, allowing media to further disseminate environmental issues of concern and build support for stronger environmental protection.
This World Press Freedom Day, the World Justice Project asks everyone to recognise the importance of a free press to ensuring rule of law communities - communities of opportunity and equity - which is of paramount importance to us all.
William H. Neukom is the founder, president, and chief executive of The World Justice Project.
