Both Austria and the United States underlined their support for the crucial work of journalists by co-signing a joint statement, which was published on April 14, 2020, on the safety of journalists and access to information during the COVID-19 crisis.
Inititated by Austria, the statement is undersigned by the chairs and members of the Groups of Friends on the Safety/Protection of Journalists at the United Nations in New York and Geneva, OSCE in Vienna and OECD in Paris. It calls on all states to protect journalists’ and media workers’ safety, to safeguard a free and independent media, and to ensure unhindered access to information, both online and offline.
It adresses an increase in restricting measures taken by some states that disproportionately limit the right to freedom of expression and impede journalists and media workers from reporting on the COVID-19 crisis. These measures range from persecution and harrassement to smear campaigns and expulsion of foreign journalistsdue to their COVID-19 coverage. In addition, the statement also addresses the considerable physical and psychological risk journalists face while working on the front lines fo the crisis.
Therefore, governments must make exceptional efforts to protect the work of journalists and remain fully committed to protecting media freedom during these challenging times.
This is the first time the Groups of Friends published a joint statement, in an initiative that aligns with the spirit of multilateralism which has motivated the United Nations for 75 years.
To read the full statement with a list of all signatories, please click here.
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