Human Rights Council
58th session
Item 8: General Debate: Follow-up to and implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action
MFC Joint Statement delivered by H.E. Ambassador Riia Salsa-Audiffren
27 March 2025
Mr. President,
Estonia, as co-chair of the Media Freedom Coalition, is honoured to deliver this Joint Statement on behalf of 49 member states of the Coalition.
In the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, all States reaffirmed that all human rights and fundamental freedoms are universal. Freedom of expression lies at the heart of these rights and is an essential part of democracy.
Today, media freedom – both online and offline – is a cornerstone of vibrant and inclusive societies. Free and independent media empowers individuals, promotes open dialogue, fosters transparency, and drives innovation.
When journalists can work unhindered, they fulfil an essential democratic function – holding those in power to account, scrutinizing governments, and bringing attention to underreported issues. Undue restrictions on press freedom, however, undermine human rights and prevent societies from reaching their full potential.
Digital advancements have expanded communication and improved access to information, creating opportunities for greater civic engagement. However, these advancements have also introduced challenges. One of the most pressing is the spread of disinformation and foreign information manipulation, employed by state and non-state actors to erode public trust and weaken democratic institutions.
Inauthentic amplification of misleading content, disinformation and foreign information manipulation can distort reality and hinder informed decision-making.
To counter these threats, we emphasize the importance of media literacy.
Teaching individuals to critically evaluate information can help them to distinguish facts from disinformation. Media literacy is more than an educational tool – it is a safeguard for democracy, ensuring that public discourse remains based on facts.
The Media Freedom Coalition is a cross-regional partnership with members from six continents. The undersigned members of the Coalition call on all states to renew their commitment to media freedom and to invest in media literacy initiatives. We also call for strengthened cooperation with international stakeholders, including UNESCO and OHCHR.
Together, we can create an environment where reliable, diverse information empowers individuals and strengthens our democracies.
Thank you.
Signed:
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
New Zealand
North Macedonia
Norway
Portugal
Republic of Korea
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Ukraine
Uruguay
the Netherlands
the United Kingdom