Canada and United Kingdom mark first anniversary of Global Conference for Media Freedom

July 10, 2020 - Ottawa, Canada - Global Affairs Canada

Global Affairs Canada and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom today issued the following statement:

“One year ago today, our two countries co-hosted the first Global Conference for Media Freedom in London, United Kingdom, to respond with a united front to ongoing challenges faced by journalists and media workers throughout the world.

“The event launched significant international efforts to protect and promote media freedom that continue today. This was made possible with the collaboration of the 36 member countries of the Media Freedom Coalition, their Advisory Network, and the High-Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom, all of which were formed as a direct result of this conference.

“As co-chairs of the Media Freedom Coalition, we remain committed to leveraging innovative and coordinated international approaches to ensuring safe and secure environments for journalists regardless of the issues they cover or the borders they cross. Our societies cannot function without the independent media that hold us all to account.

“This one-year anniversary marks the perfect moment to reflect upon our progress and to anticipate and respond to emerging challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, with renewed vigour and collective resolve.”

Quick facts

• The Global Pledge on Media Freedom, introduced at the first Global Conference for Media Freedom, was signed by 36 countries.
• The Media Freedom Coalition was officially launched in September 2019 on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly.
• In 2019 the High-Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom was established to protect and encourage the functioning of a free media and to prevent and reverse abuses or violations of media freedom.
• This week, the UK established the Global Human Rights sanctions regime. This is a powerful new tool to hold to account those involved in serious human rights violations or abuses, including against journalists and media workers. The UK will continue to seek international cooperation on sanctions, including with Canada and the US, which already have similar sanctions regimes.

Associated links

• Global Pledge on Media Freedom
• UK announces first sanctions under new global human rights regime
• Freedom of expression and media freedom