Human Rights Council 40: Media Freedom
The UK reinforced its commitment to the protection of media freedoms, and promoted July’s international conference in London on the protection of journalists.
Thank you, Mr President,
Media freedom is the lifeblood of democracy and economic prosperity. A free and independent media plays a vital role in the protection of human rights and in holding the powerful to account.
We have all committed to international agreements that enshrine this principle. Yet in many countries, citizens do not experience a free media in practice. Freedom House estimates that only 13% of the world’s population enjoys a free press.
Journalists continue to be at risk across the world and not only where there is conflict. Each of our countries face challenges over how to uphold media freedom, including in EU Member States. Over 1000 journalists have been murdered in the last 15 years and the situation is getting worse. We must work together to assert an international taboo against attacks on journalists and to end impunity.
The UK and Canada have launched an international campaign to promote media freedom. We want to reduce attacks on journalists and to lift barriers to a free media across the globe.
Our aim this year is to shine a global spotlight on this issue and to ensure those who commit violence against journalists are brought to justice.
All Governments are invited to send Ministers to our international conference in London on 10-11 July, to pledge support and to demonstrate what they are doing to uphold media freedom. We call on all states to join us in this campaign.
Thank you, Mr President.