World Press Freedom Day 2023; May 3rd.

FORUM: “Shaping a Future of Rights – Freedom of expression as a driver for all other human rights.”. World Press Freedom Day 2023.

The right to free expression affects us all, let’s come together to protect it. The World Press Freedom's community including civil society organizations, universities, media freedom networks and international organizations will organize a series of Conferences, workshops, seminars and webinars. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #WorldPressFreedomDay, #3May, #ShapingaFutureofRights.

Statement by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, on World Press Freedom Day 2023; May 3rd.

"For three decades, on World Press Freedom Day, the international community has celebrated the work of journalists and media workers. This day highlights a basic truth: all our freedom depends on press freedom. Freedom of the press is the foundation of democracy and justice. It gives all of us the facts we need to shape opinions and speak truth to power. And as this year’s theme reminds us, press freedom represents the very lifeblood of human rights. But in every corner of the world, freedom of the press is under attack. Truth is threatened by disinformation and hate speech seeking to blur the lines between fact and fiction, between science and conspiracy. The increased concentration of the media industry into the hands of a few, the financial collapse of scores of independent news organizations, and an increase of national laws and regulations that stifle journalists are further expanding censorship and threatening freedom of expression. Meanwhile, journalists and media workers are directly targeted on and offline as they carry out their vital work. They are routinely harassed, intimidated, detained and imprisoned. At least 67 media workers were killed in 2022 — an unbelievable 50 per cent increase over the previous year. Nearly three quarters of women journalists have experienced violence online, and one in four have been threatened physically. Ten years ago, the United Nations established a Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists to protect media workers and end impunity for crimes committed against them. On this and every World Press Freedom Day, the world must speak with one voice. Stop the threats and attacks. Stop detaining and imprisoning journalists for doing their jobs. Stop the lies and disinformation. Stop targeting truth and truth-tellers. As journalists stand up for truth, the world stands with them".

U.N. Secretary-General.

Statement from Ms Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day 2023; May 3rd.

Freedom of the press is the cornerstone of democratic society. Without a debate of ideas, without verified facts, without diversity of perspectives, democracy is a shadow of itself; and World Press Freedom Day was established to remind us of this.For the international community, it is first and foremost a question of combating the impunity that still surrounds crimes of which journalists are victims, with nearly nine out of ten murders of journalists going unpunished. This, for instance, is the objective of the United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, which UNESCO has been leading for ten years.It is also about ensuring that independent media can continue to exist. With the digital revolution, the information landscape and its modes of production and distribution have been radically disrupted, jeopardizing the viability of independent professional media. To ensure that information remains a common good in the digital age, our Member States, through the Windhoek +30 Declaration of 2021, have undertaken to support independent journalism, ensure greater transparency of online platforms, and develop media and information literacy. We will not be able to do this without the actors who now have significant control over access to information: the digital platforms. This is why UNESCO held the “Internet for Trust” conference in February, as an essential step towards the development of principles to regulate digital platforms. This is a fundamental issue, because it involves both protecting freedom of expression and fighting disinformation and hate speech.Thirty years after the first World Press Freedom Day, we can see how far we have come and how far we still have to go. So, let this Day be an opportunity to renew our commitment, within international organizations, to defending journalists and, through them, press freedom.

Ms Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO.

 

EVENTS: On May 3rd, We will celebrate the World Press Freedom Day 30th Anniversary.

The World Press Freedom Day Conference 2023 and Worlwide Celebrations.

New York City will be the venue of multiple events dedicated to press freedom from 1 - 4 May, 2023. The events are organized by the World Press Freedom's community including civil society organizations, universities, media freedom networks and other New York-based and international organizations. The Columbia Global Freedom of Expression is organizing a series of side events, the day prior and the days after the UN Headquarter activities. The program’s current agenda includes twelve side events, in collaboration with partner organizations, including UNESCO, Meta’s Oversight Board, the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, and the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom.

MONDAY, MAY 1

10:00 AM – 1:00 PM	UNESCO’s World Press Freedom Day 2023 Academic Conference: The Role of Academia in Protecting Freedom of Expression as a Driver for Other Human Rights In-Person Registration / Online Registration Location: MLK Conference Room 527, Riverside Church, Columbia University Sponsored by: Columbia GFoE, University of Liverpool, University of Sheffield, and Worlds of Journalism Study Speakers: Jackie Harrison, University of Sheffield; Vera Slavtcheva-Petkova, University of Liverpool; Gemma Horton, University of Sheffield; Sejal Parmar, Cardiff University; Edward L. Carter, Brigham Young University; Emily Harmer, University of Liverpool; Diana Maynard, University of Sheffield; Benjamin P. Tetteh, Syracuse University; Leire Iturregui Mardaras, University of the Basque Country; Rosalynd Southern, University of Liverpool; Ivor Shapiro, Toronto Metropolitan University; Smitha Khorana, Independent Journalist and Academic; Colette Wahlqvist and Binod Bhattarai, International Media Support and Tribhuwan University *In English
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM	“Weaponizing the Law: Attacks on Media Freedom.” Findings and Discussion with Guest Experts on Salient Points and Solutions Online Registration Location: MLK Conference Room 527, Riverside Church, Columbia University Note: Due to space limitations, in-person attendance is invitation only. Sponsored by: Columbia GFoE, Thomson Reuters Foundation, and Tow Center for Digital Journalism Speakers: Hawley Johnson, Columbia GFoE; Antonio Zappulla, Thomson Reuters Foundation; Ona Flores, international human rights lawyer; Joel Simon, Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism; Carlos Lauria, journalist and international press freedom expert *In English
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM	Shaping a Future of Rights: Latest Initiatives for the Protection of Journalists in Latin America and the Caribbean In-Person Registration / Online Registration Location: MLK Conference Room 527, Riverside Church, Columbia University Sponsored by: Columbia GFoE, UNESCO Regional Office in Montevideo, SOCOLAC (Society of Correspondents in Latin America and the Caribbean) Speakers: Rosa M. González, UNESCO; Nathalie Castillo, Chile Chamber of Deputies; Cristina Zahar, Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism; Eduardo Bertoni, Inter American Institute of Human Rights; Alejandra Negrete, Expert in gender and freedom of expression; Ginna Morelo, journalist; José María Costa, Bureau for the Safety of Journalists; Mauricio Weibel, SOCOLAC; Ricardo Rivas, SOCOLAC *In Spanish

 
WEDNESDAY, MAY 3

9:00 AM – 10:20 AM	Protecting Freedom of Expression through Comparative Global Case Law: Databases to Advance Rights In-Person Registration / Online Registration Location: Satow Room, Lerner Hall, Columbia University Sponsored by: Columbia GFoE and UNESCO Speakers: Catalina Botero, Columbia GFoE; Hawley Johnson, Columbia GFoE; Juan Manuel Ospina, Columbia GFoE; Daniel Ospina Celis, Dejusticia; Nelly Chepngetich Rotich, Strathmore University, Natalie Alkiviadou, Future of Free Speech; Alberto Godioli, University of Groningen; Laura Little, Temple University Law School; Raisa Carrillo, Fundación para la Libertad de Prensa; Stephen Townley, Trial Watch, Clooney Foundation for Justice *In English
10:45 AM – 11:55 AM	Media Freedom in the face of Blasphemy Laws In-Person Registration / Online Registration Location: Satow Room, Lerner Hall, Columbia University Sponsored by: Columbia GFoE, High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom, and PEN America Speakers: Catalina Botero, Columbia GFoE; Can Yeginsu, Columbia Law School; Baroness Helena Kennedy KC, IBA Human Rights Institute; Hina Jilani, Supreme Court of Pakistan; Karuna Nundy, Supreme Court of India; Suzanne Nossel, PEN America *In English
12:10 PM – 1:30 PM	Content Moderation, Free Speech and the Eternal Search for Truth In-Person Registration / Online Registration Location: Satow Room, Lerner Hall, Columbia University Sponsored by: Columbia GFoE, Meta Oversight Board, and PEN America Speakers: Catalina Botero, Columbia GFoE and Meta Oversight Board; Suzanne Nossel, PEN America and Meta Oversight Board; Alan Rusbridger, Prospect and Meta Oversight Board; Michael Zelenko, Rest of World; Preethi Nallu, Report for the World *In English
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM	New and Old Challenges to Guaranteeing Freedom of Expression in Latin America In-Person Registration / Online Registration Location: MLK Conference Room 527, Riverside Church, Columbia University Sponsored by: Columbia GFoE, UNESCO Regional Office in Montevideo, OBSERVACOM (Latin American Observatory for Regulation, Media and Convergence) Speakers: Camila Vallejo Dowling, Government of Chile; Rosa M. González, UNESCO; Gustavo Gómez, OBSERVACOM; Beatriz Solís Leree, Mexican Association of Audience Defenders; Damián Loreti, lawyer; Bia Barbosa, Coalition for Rights on the Web; Agustín Espada, National University of Quilmes *In Spanish
3:15 PM – 4:45 PM	Freedom of Expression, a Prerequisite for the Enjoyment of Other Human Rights in Latin America In-Person Registration / Online Registration Location: MLK Conference Room 527, Riverside Church, Columbia University Sponsored by: Columbia GFoE and UNESCO Regional Office in Montevideo Speakers: Rosa M. González, UNESCO; Pedro Vaca, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights; Edison Lanza, UNESCO; Catalina Botero, Columbia GFoE; Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International; Ricardo Pérez Manrique, Inter-American Court of Human Rights; Ricardo Calderón, Caracol Television *In Spanish
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM	Contributing to the Regional Dialogue on Content Moderation Note: This is a closed event. Location: MLK Conference Room 527, Riverside Church, Columbia University Sponsored by: Columbia GFoE, UNESCO Regional Office in Montevideo, and Social Media 4 Peace Colombia *In Spanish

 
THURSDAY, MAY 4

10:00 AM – 11:30 AM	Press Freedoms in Decline: How Threats Against the Media Have Evolved Over the Past 15 Years In-Person Registration / Online Registration Location: MLK Conference Room 527, Riverside Church, Columbia University Sponsored by: Columbia GFoE and Media Defence Speakers: Hawley Johnson, Columbia GFoE; Carlos Gaio, Media Defence; Aryeh Neier, Human Rights Campaigner; Khadija Ismayilova, Azerbaijani investigative journalist; Dariia Opryshko, media lawyer and author; Fatu Camara, journalist; Dana Green, The New York Times *In English
12:00 PM – 1:20 PM	Book Presentation: “Handbook for the defense of freedom of expression: Inter-American Standards for the defense of Freedom of Expression” In-Person Registration / Online Registration Location: MLK Conference Room 527, Riverside Church, Columbia University Sponsored by: Columbia GFoE, UNESCO Chair on Freedom of Expression at Universidad de Los Andes, Asomedios, and Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law Speakers: Catalina Botero, Columbia GFoE; Pedro Vaca, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights; Edison Lanza, UNESCO; Tulio Ángel, Asomedios *In Spanish
2:00 PM – 3:20 PM	Report Launch: ​​How are courts responding to SLAPPs? Analysis of selected court decisions from across the globe In-Person Registration / Online Registration Location: MLK Conference Room 527, Riverside Church, Columbia University Sponsored by: Columbia GFoE, ARTICLE 19, and UNESCO Speakers: Catalina Botero, Columbia GFoE; Barbora Bukovska, ARTICLE 19; Mehdi Benchelah, UNESCO; Ginna Anderson, American Bar Association Center for Human Rights and Justice Defenders Program *In English

*All times are in Eastern Time (ET)


AM LIVE SESSION: 30th Anniversary of World Press Freedom Day Global Conference

PM LIVE SESSION: 30th Anniversary of World Press Freedom Day Global Conference.

ABOUT THE DAY: Every year, 3 May is a date which celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom, to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession. The World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 following a Recommendation adopted at the twenty-sixth session of UNESCO's General Conference in 1991. This in turn was a response to a call by African journalists who in 1991 produced the landmark Windhoek Declaration.