WILLEMSTAD – Journalists, academics and experts from Curaçao’s justice system gathered at the Governor’s Palace on September 10 for a closed meeting examining the role of the media in upholding the rule of law.
The meeting was organized as part of the Week of the Rule of Law and focused on three main themes: maintaining independence from those in power, journalism’s role as a counterbalance to power, and the power and responsibilities of journalists themselves.
Participants exchanged experiences and discussed the dilemmas and questions journalists face when reporting on government, justice and other institutions. The meeting was intended to encourage an open and substantive discussion rather than produce predetermined conclusions.
The Governor of Curaçao opened the gathering and emphasized the importance of free, independent and responsible journalism for a properly functioning democratic society governed by the rule of law.
Following his opening remarks, the Governor withdrew from the discussion to allow journalists and the other participants to speak freely among themselves.
The meeting provided an opportunity to examine not only journalism’s traditional watchdog function but also the responsibility that comes with the media’s own ability to influence public debate and perceptions of institutions and individuals.
The event was organized by the Cabinet of the Governor in cooperation with the Faculty of Law of the University of Curaçao.