Item 3 - Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. JST Estonia. (26.06.2024)

Media Freedom Coalition Statement on journalists in exile, delivered at the United Nations Human Rights Council

 26 June 2024

 

The following statement was delivered by H.E. Ambassador Riia Salsa-Audiffren at the 56th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on 26 June 2024, as part of

Item 3: Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression Ms. Irene Khan.

Mr. President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the undersigned members of the Media Freedom Coalition.

We thank the Special Rapporteur for her report and express our strong support to her mandate.

As the report verifies, globally increasing authoritarian trends pressure journalists and independent media outlets into exile, where they face various threats online and offline.

It is deeply distressing to read about the particular threats women journalists face in exile. We advocate for cooperation between governments, civil society, media companies and other partners to counter sexual and gender-based violence, rape threats and other means of targeting women journalists in exile.

We condemn all forms of sexual and gender-based violence and harassment, which are frequently used to silence women journalists and call upon all governments to uphold their international obligations and protect journalists.

Special Rapporteur,

“In addition to recommendations for the UN and member states, the report makes recommendations for social media companies. How can the UN and member states work together to help social media platforms take up these recommendations?"

Thank you!

 

 

List of signatories:

  1. Australia
  2. Austria
  3. Belgium
  4. Belize
  5. Botswana
  6. Bulgaria
  7. Canada
  8. Chile
  9. Costa Rica
  10. Croatia
  11. Cyprus
  12. Czechia
  13. Denmark
  14. Estonia
  15. Finland
  16. France
  17. Germany
  18. Ghana
  19. Greece
  20. Guyana
  21. Honduras
  22. Iceland
  23. Ireland
  24. Italy
  25. Japan
  26. Kosovo
  27. Latvia
  28. Lebanon
  29. Lithuania
  30. Luxembourg
  31. Maldives
  32. Montenegro
  33. Netherlands
  34. New Zealand
  35. North Macedonia
  36. Norway
  37. Portugal
  38. Republic of Korea
  39. Serbia
  40. Seychelles
  41. Sierra Leone
  42. Slovakia
  43. Slovenia
  44. Spain
  45. Sweden
  46. Switzerland
  47. Ukraine
  48. United Kingdom
  49. United States
  50. Uruguay