Free media is the lifeline of a democracy and access to information is vital to any society, British Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata, Bruce Bucknell has said.
Bucknell said the United Kingdom works hard to defend media freedom.
"Media pluralism is limited by the ongoing fact that women remain comparatively unrepresented in the media workforce and in decision-making roles," he said at a conference here on Friday.
Bucknell said as freedom of expression underpins all human rights "we must all defend a free media."
On the issue of gender equality and womens empowerment, Bucknell said, "No country can truly develop if it leaves half of its population behind."
"Women make up over 50 per cent of the population and deserve to have their voices heard and their rights protected. We believe girls and women everywhere should be treated equally, be empowered, and be safe," he said.
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