MEDIA FREEDOM COALITION
MEDIA FREEDOM COALITION
https://mediafreedomcoalition.org/about
The Media Freedom Coalition currently has 51 members from six continents.
All members have signed the Global Pledge on Media Freedom, which commits them to promoting media freedom at home and abroad.
Countries are committed to working together to protect media freedom
They commit to speak out and take action together, through a Media Freedom Coalition that will:
- make the case for the fundamental importance of media freedom for the security, prosperity and wellbeing of all societies
- combine forces to share information, as appropriate, and take action on cases where journalists and media organizations are at risk
- shine a light on violations and abuses of media freedom, bringing them to the attention of the global public and working towards accountability
- stand together to intervene at the highest level with the governments of countries where media freedom is at risk and to show solidarity with countries that work to build media freedom
- consider all available measures to address violations and abuses of international human rights, including rights related to media freedom
They commit to harnessing the power of their diplomatic networks, through a new Media Freedom Contact Group so that their officials are instructed to:
- work directly with those at risk, to ensure we do no harm
- reach out to local journalists and civil society organizations, to stay connected with those on the front lines
- connect with local governments, to look for solutions
Through this Media Freedom Contact Group, their officials will extend their reach, including through existing networks already active in the multilateral system.
They commit to reinforcing international initiatives to champion media freedom.
- they commit to supporting and enhancing efforts by multilateral institutions, journalists’ associations, and civil society organizations that provide support for media workers and media entities at risk, including mechanisms to raise and respond to individual cases of violations and abuse
- they commit to encouraging and supporting governments to take action to strengthen media freedom, bringing together civil society, media organizations, lawyers, journalists and communication experts to help establish sustainable, cross-government structures to take plans forward. This will include showing solidarity with governments that create national frameworks and action plans to implement the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity. They will encourage efforts by the UN and other organizations to establish a Task Force dedicated to this purpose
- they commit to supporting the work of the UN, and other organizations, to tackle a range of challenges affecting journalists. They welcome the creation of a Global Media Defense Fund to support journalists in distress, cover legal expenses and initiatives, create peer support networks and support governments to develop national action plans
- they commit to supporting the development of diverse, independent, public interest media
- they welcome the establishment of the independent High Level Panel of Legal Experts, which will, inter alia, provide advice to governments who want to strengthen legal mechanisms to improve media freedom
They commit to maintaining these principles and being vigilant.
They commit to meeting annually to renew their commitments and to address emerging threats and opportunities.
Members
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Belize
- Botswana
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Chile
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Ghana
- Greece
- Guyana
- Honduras
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Kosovo
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Maldives
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Portugal
- Republic of Korea
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uruguay
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