The role of the judiciary and international cooperation to promote the safety of journalists
For this conference, UNESCO and members of the Group of Friends on the Safety of Journalists will discuss effective ways to strengthen international cooperation, like special procedures, as well as the role of the judiciary - including judges, prosecutors and lawyers, and regional human rights courts and judicial training institutes- in promoting the safety of journalists and fighting impunity for crimes committed against them. While examining the gender dimension in each session, special emphasis will be placed on gender-based crimes and the particular challenges women journalists face when seeking justice.
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UNESCO News
The Danish Ambassador to UNESCO, Carsten Staur, met with the Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, to discuss Denmark's collaboration with UNESCO and the strengthening of the organization's work in the field of journalists' safety, particularly, in Africa and the Arab Region.
The 28 June 2021, UNESCO organized the event Day-0 during the EuroDIG 2021, which was convened in two consecutive sessions dedicated to presenting national ROAM-X projects and initiatives in Europe by leading experts from Germany, France, Serbia, Poland and Bulgaria, This generated a multi-stakeholder discussion with key partners on the advancement of the draft ROAM principles and indicators in Europe and beyond, through the Dynamic Coalition on Internet ROAM Universality Principles and Indicators.
Research in Latin America suggests that attacks on press workers via Twitter are fueled by hostility towards journalists, especially, towards women journalists who are considered to express opinions in a polarized society.
As the COVID-19 pandemic has clearly demonstrated, access to information has the potential to save lives. This health crisis highlighted how media and information literacy can cope with sudden increases in misinformation.. Highlighted, in addition, the importance of making reliable information available in multiple languages, including indigenous languages. He also highlighted that immediate action must be taken for those most in need., including people with disabilities.
UNESCO launched new guidelines that seek to provide practical advice to United Nations country teams (ENUP) on how you can take advantage of the Universal Periodic Review exercise (EPU) to promote access to information, freedom of expression and the safety of journalists.
False information and conspiracy theories about COVID-19 and the response to it are virulent and harmful, and have life-threatening consequences for people and communities around the world. False information about the pandemic, amplified online and via social media, build on these theories and reinforce existing prejudices and ignorance, undermining trust in science and exacerbating hate speech.
The Conference for the World Press Freedom Day of 2021, organized by UNESCO and the Government of Namibia, will be held from 29 from April to 3 of May and Windhoek. The event will bring together leading thinkers from the world of journalism, the media and technology, as well as experts, policy makers and activists to confirm that information is a public good and discuss how to support independent journalism and local media during the worst economic situation.
The UNESCO joined forces with VivaTech to organize a startup challenge, new ventures, in Artificial Intelligence for Human Rights. Until the 30 of April, startups will be able to share their solutions on how to harness AI to tackle biodiversity-related challenges, gender equality and language barriers. The finalists that are selected will reflect UNESCO's commitment to guarantee access to information and take advantage of new technologies to improve life of people and addressing the challenges of sustainable development.
Put an end to it! Online violence against female journalists hurts us all.
- Share #The Journalists Too, the video and the messages of the campaign on social networks this Monday on International Women's Day.
- More messages will be broadcast until World Day of Press Freedom (3 of May)
More of 66 organizations linked to civil society, academia, public and private sector, met in a regional consultation promoted by UNESCO to collectively debate the central issues that should be considered in the region to strengthen journalism, freedom of expression and access to information.
UNESCO brought together experts and the judiciary to strengthen policies and legal actions with the aim of end impunity for crimes against journalists. This is part of a larger campaign that has been carried out over the last decade.. Worldwide, experiences show that institutions in charge of maintaining order, civil society and the media are essential to change the limits and significantly increase the price of killing journalists. This is the only way to prevent further killings and break the cycle of violence against media professionals..
Through the journalist empowerment for the exercise of their rights as main users of the access to information laws (you), UNESCO Accra Office and DW Akademie collaborated to develop build capacity Ghanaian journalists on investigative journalism and digital safety.
Scientists estimate that humanity has ten years left to solve the unprecedented global environmental challenges it faces. It is clear that continuing as usual in the world economy does not work and that we must find ways to make progress exponential for face environmental challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution management. Big data, artificial intelligence (HE) and digital transformation can play an essential role in order to ensure environmental sustainability and sustainable development.
UNESCO Articles
Reporting the facts:
Free from fear or favoritism
2020
Provides a broad overview of how independent media is being undermined by powerful external actors and decision-making structures or individuals within media organizations.