- Written Statement -

Mr President,

The European Union and its Member States subscribe to freedom, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law on which the European Union is based.

Independent journalism is a key pillar of a functioning democracy, it ensures a plurality of information and discourse and helps to hold authority to account. Free press is instrumental in the protection and promotion of human rights, in particular the freedom of opinion, information and expression.

Independent media and journalists are essential in providing us with factual information of the situation on the ground, which helps us to form our opinion and feed into our policies. And they are a crucial stakeholder in the fight against foreign disinformation and information manipulation. The free flow of independent and reliable information is essential in conflict situations. 

The UN Security Council resolution 2222 from 2015 was a milestone for the protection of journalists. The resolution condemned all violations and abuses committed against journalists and affirmed that states must respect and protect journalists as civilians. It confirmed that that media equipment and installations constitute civilian objects and shall never be the object of attack or reprisals.

While States have the primary responsibility to ensure the safety of journalists and prevent impunity, the Security Council should step up its efforts to promote and ensure accountability for crimes committed against journalists, media professionals and associated personnel in situations on its agenda.

This Council is not alone in addressing this issue. The General Assembly and the Human Rights Council adopt annual consensual resolutions on the safety of journalists and the issue of impunity.

In this context, the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity a work led by UNESCO, aiming at greater cooperation between UN organizations and other stakeholders, is a key document that is celebrating its 10^th anniversary this year. The 2021 Windhoek+30 Declaration on information as a public good is also of particular importance. Moreover, in his “Call to action for human rights”, launched in February 2020, the Secretary-General noted the worrying general trend of shrinking civic space and its negative impact on journalists, especially women.

Pressure on independent media has significantly increased in recent years. Journalists across the world have been intimidated and threatened (both online and offline), and fined, jailed, assaulted and even killed for doing their job.

We have seen the adoption of draconian new laws targeting media, individual journalists and bloggers in a number of countries, threatening to further restrict citizens’ access to reliable information. With so-called “fake-news” laws, many governments and leaders have taken advantage of the health crisis to escalate censorship, ill-treatment of journalists and restrictions aimed at silencing free speech.

We all have an obligation to react to this worrying trend of increased level of intimidation and violence that journalists, media actors and other individuals face. Coordinated efforts are needed to break this negative trend. Threats and acts of violence must be prevented. Accountability must be ensured through impartial, prompt, thorough, independent and effective investigations into all alleged incidents of violence, threats to and attacks on journalists and media workers.

Mr President,

The European Union is gravely concerned about the continued threats and attacks against journalists and media workers in many countries and conflict situations across the world, some of them on the agenda of the Council.

In recent months, brave journalists, camera crews, reporters, photographers and bloggers are risking their lives to keep us informed about Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine. Russian forces are detaining, abducting or kidnapping and targeting journalists and civil society actors to prevent the world from hearing the truth.

By reporting from the front lines and shedding light on the gross human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law committed by the Russian armed forces, journalists contribute to counter disinformation and information manipulation surrounding the invasion. They play a crucial role in ensuring that these atrocities do not remain unpunished. Those responsible will be held accountable for their actions. The EU is providing emergency support to media outlets and journalists covering the war in Ukraine, including psychological support, helmets and other protective equipment, as well as financing to cover salaries.

In Russia and Belarus, despite the risk of long-term prison sentences and prolonged arrests, courageous independent media and individual journalists strive to inform about the war waged by the Russian leadership against Ukraine and the atrocities committed against Ukrainian people.

On 11 May 2022, Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh was killed in Jenin, in the occupied Palestinian territory. The EU joined many other actors asking that a thorough, independent investigation clarifies all the circumstances of these incidents as soon as possible and that those responsible are brought to justice.

These are just three examples of situations on the agenda of the Security Council where journalists face unacceptable threats and attacks for doing their important work. There are many others, including Myanmar, Somalia and Mali. On World Press Freedom Day (3 May 2022), the EU High Representative/Vice-President on behalf of Member States confirmed that safety of journalists is a priority for the EU.  The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said that ‘threats to journalists and media workers are growing by the day’.

Mr President,

The European Union has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to supporting independent media and protecting of journalists as shown by the recent EU Anti-SLAPP initiative and Recommendation on the protection, safety and empowerment of journalists.

The European Union works around the world to contribute to the safety and protection of journalists by condemning attacks, as outlined in the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy for 2020- 2024.

The European Union assists those intimidated or threatened via the EU human rights defenders protection mechanisms and supports media initiatives and appeals to state authorities to prevent and condemn such violence and take effective measures to end impunity.

EU Delegations around the world attend and monitor court cases involving journalists, helping to identify those cases that need a special attention. In the last 12 months, the European Union has supported more than 400 journalists with emergency grants, temporary relocation, or support to their respective media outlets. Dedicated programmes are implemented in all regions to support independent media and journalists' safety such as 'COVID-19 response in Africa: together for reliable information' or the programme 'Safejournalists', run by Western Balkans journalist associations. A Handbook on journalists’ safety has been distributed to all EU Delegations.

The European Union is working on a daily basis to strengthen the media environment in the world, not least in the EU’s Neighbourhood, with a focus on promotion safety of journalists; sustainable financing; diversity, inclusion and empowering; and fight against foreign disinformation, information manipulation and interference.

Through bilateral human rights dialogues with third countries, the European Union has encouraged States to take active steps to prevent violence and to promote a safe environment for journalists and other media actors, enabling them to carry out their work independently, without undue interference and without fear of violence or persecution.

In closing, the European Union will continue to support independent journalism and all efforts to promote the protection of journalists and media workers around the world.

I thank you.