STATEMENT
Human Rights Council 60th Session
Item 4 - General debate.
Statement delivered by Ambassador Mr. Tormod C. ENDRESEN,
Permanent Representative of Norway.
Check against delivery
23 September 2025
Thank you Mr President,
Freedom of expression, press freedom and access to reliable information are essential for uncovering human rights violations.
Norway is therefore deeply alarmed by the attacks on journalists in Gaza, the deadliest conflict ever for journalists. Restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities impeding foreign media from entering the territory is a serious barrier to independent reporting and consequently to public’s right to reliable information.
It compromises efforts to investigate violations of international law.
We remain seriously concerned about the circumstances for free and independent media in Russia, Belarus, Azerbaijan and China. 48 journalists and media workers are detained in Russia, 28 in Azerbaijan and 32 in Belarus, imprisoned for having broken vague anti-extremism laws. In China, over 110 media professionals are currently detained, many of them incommunicado and under harsh conditions.
We are also alarmed about the dire state of press freedom in Myanmar, Afghanistan, Nicaragua, Iran, North Korea and Eritrea. Independent media are virtually non-existent, and journalists and media workers face threats, detention, ill-treatment and imprisonment.
President,
The safety of journalists is a prerequisite for truth, accountability and informed public debate. We call on all states to ensure the safety of journalists, and end impunity for attacking them.
I thank you.