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:
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Belize
- Botswana
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Chile
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Ghana
- Greece
- Guyana
- Honduras
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Kosovo
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Maldives
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Portugal
- Republic of Korea
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uruguay