Join the conversation based on the new report from UN Special Rapporteur Khan to the UN Human Rights Council on Reinforcing media freedom and the safety of journalists in the digital age, as well as the full report from her country visit to Hungary.
Participants:
UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan
Veronika Munk, Founding Editor-in-Chief, Telex
Katerina Abramova, Deputy CEO of Meduza
Pamela Morinière, Gender officer, International Federation of Journalists
Marcela Turati, Mexican freelance reporter
Moderator: Guy Berger, Director for Strategies and Policies in the field of Communication and Information, UNESCO
REGISTRATION: Kindly register in advance for this webinar.
Background: Protecting the role of independent journalism in any society is equal to protecting every citizen’s fundamental right to freedom of expression and information – a key pillar of democracy and sustainable development.
At a time when media freedom and the safety of journalists are in dangerous decline in almost every region of the world, it is necessary to reinforce global action to secure information as a public good and to end impunity for attacks on journalists.
In her latest report to the UN Human Rights Council the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Ms Irene Khan, examines the opportunities, challenges and threats to media in the digital age. In her recently published report from a visit to Hungary in November 2021, she examines attacks on media freedom, independence and pluralism over the past decade.
According to the Special Rapporteur, independent public interest journalism today faces a perfect storm: Threats and challenges – from online gender-based violence and orchestrated disinformation campaigns against journalists to targeted surveillance of journalists, legal restrictions on freedom of expression online and offline and erosion of media independence, pluralism and viability – are surging in a multifaceted, technology-enabled information ecosystem.
Noting that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, the Special Rapporteur makes specific recommendations to States and the international community to strengthen multi-stakeholder cooperation to protect and promote media freedom and the safety of journalists in the digital age.
