New UN Joint Declaration on Media Independence Issued

Journalists protesting on World Press Freedom Day in Istanbul. Journalists protesting on World Press Freedom Day in Istanbul. © Murad Sezer/Reuters

17 May 2018

Human rights experts have issued a joint declaration in light of World Press Freedom Day

On 2 May 2018, David Kaye, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, released a statement in Geneva announcing a joint declaration on media protection. The declaration, drafted in light of increasing threats to media independence and the safety of journalists, coincided with World Press Freedom Day on the 3rd of May.

My Kaye issued the Joint Declaration on Media Independence and Diversity in the Digital Age in cooperation with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. It includes recommendations for promoting media diversity; ensuring privacy and protection of  personal data; ensuring that anti-defamation laws are proportionate and exclusively civil; providing protection and freedom of movement to journalists and individuals at risk of being attacked for exercising their freedom of expression; guaranteeing universal access to the Internet and quality public information; generally ensuring safety from legal, political, technological and economic threats; and protecting human rights in both media outlets and online platforms.

To learn more, please read:

http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=23026&LangID=E

http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Opinion/JointDeclaration2May2018_EN.pdf

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