"Human rights, the rule of law and democracy are interlinked and mutually reinforcing. Within the framework of international human rights law, the right to freedom of expression particularly stands out, as it constitutes a pre-requisite for the fulfilment of other fundamental rights. In this regard,
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as ‘guardian of the rule of law’, the judiciary plays a particularly important role in guaranteeing the respect for the fundamental right to freedom of expression and its corollaries, access to information and the safety of journalists. To do so, however, judicial actors need to be well versed on freedom of expression challenges (both online and offline), and knowledgeable about the related international standards and regional jurisprudence. To share best practices and lessons learnt in this regard, this essay will be structured in two parts: first, it will discuss the crucial role of an independent judiciary in protecting the rights to freedom of expression and access to information, while falling under the obligation to act in full transparency itself. Second, it will present an in-depth analysis of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s Judges’ Initiative, presenting the concrete experience of a United Nations’ body engaging with its constituents. At the heart of this endeavor is the goal of enhancing the international human rights legal framework, by raising, in full cooperation with them, the knowledge an capacities of judicial actors from around the world on the need to protect and promote freedom of expression, access to information, and the safety of journalists to guarantee the respect for human rights, democracy, and the rule of law." (Abstract)
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"UNDP's Digital Strategy builds on the momentum created by the first strategy launched in 2018 and lays out a long-term vision for UNDP to 'help create a world in which digital is an empowering force for people and planet'. It outlines three interconnected objectives through which UNDP will support
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countries in reaping the benefits of digital technology while mitigating the risks. Digital Strategy 2022-2025 is intended to maintain and accelerate the momentum that has already been generated across UNDP and among its partners. Indeed, many of the components are already in place such as the Accelerator Labs, the Digital Advocates Network, a comprehensive IT transformation, and the Chief Digital Office. Continuing to build the capabilities of UNDP's workforce to imagine, plan, and implement integrated digital approaches has the potential to truly generate a multiplier effect on its support to partners." (Publisher description)
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"Biodiverse ecosystems play a key role in maintaining life on earth. In response to rapid declines in biodiversity throughout the world, the UN Biodiversity Summit 2020 brought together world leaders to discuss potential solutions. We draw on cognitive linguistics, critical discourse analysis and ec
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olinguistics in analysing the summit contributions. All speakers blended vocabulary from the fields of BUSINESS and NATURE; in doing so, they were able to advocate solving biodiversity loss by implementing approaches commonly found in business. In addition, three main ‘moves’ were employed in these speeches: (i) the state of nature was lamented, (ii) the interdependent relationship between humans and nature was mentioned and (iii) a call to action was given. It is argued that relying on the BUSINESS–NATURE blend for solutions to environmental problems serves to maintain the status quo and may obscure pathways to transformational change. Linguistic strategies for more effective environmental communication are suggested." (Abstract)
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"[...] in 2019, UNESCO’s Addis Ababa Liaison Office engaged the African Union, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) and a wide range of partners to ensure adequate responses to the protection of journalists and the fight against impunity in Africa. These consultative meeti
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ngs led to the submission of a request for the establishment of a ACHPR Working Group on the Promotion and Protection of Journalism and the Safety of Journalists in Africa. The same year, UNESCO also contributed to the ACHPR’s revision of the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa. Based on these calls and numerous consultations, UNESCO gave in 2020 the impetus for the creation of a continental safety mechanisms involving 54 African Union Member States, inspired by the Council of Europe’s Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists. The creation of this platform involved four African Union bodies, as well as the African Editors Forum (TAEF), the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), the Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and ARTICLE 19. This online coordination platform allows for real time monitoring, reporting and follow-up actions by both duty-bearers and right-holders. It represents remarkable progress in the fight against impunity for violence against journalists, while also creating long-lasting synergies among African media stakeholders." (Pages 1-2)
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"This guide aims to encourage civil society and community organizations, activists and individuals to engage with the United Nations' (UN) Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism on freedom of expression, safety of journalists and access to information issues. The guide explains why it is importan
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t to focus on freedom of expression in the UPR, followed by an overview of the UPR mechanism; a brief introduction to freedom of expression; and practical guidance on civil society engagement with the UPR. It also provides a set of resources for further information on the topics addressed. These guidelines build upon a joint Amnesty-UNESCO survey of more than 70 civil society respondents from different regions; a series of consultation webinars held between March and June 2022; and comprehensive interviews with civil society organizations from different regions." (Introduction, page 1)
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"Este informe elaborado por el Instituto de Desarrollo Digital de América Latina y el Caribe (IDD LAC) describe y analiza diversos modelos e iniciativas (tanto estatales como de la sociedad civil) sobre formas de institucionalidad para la supervisión de obligaciones de transparencia y rendición d
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e cuentas de las grandes plataformas digitales, dado su creciente rol en el flujo de información y comunicación en Internet. Como corolario, se presentan una serie de conclusiones y recomendaciones que puedan ser insumos útiles para enriquecer la búsqueda de soluciones democráticas y adecuadas al entorno digital." (Observacom)
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"The stories presented here are some examples of how the Multi-Donor Programme for Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists (MDP) works to provide countries and their populations with the necessary tools to nurture a free and independent media. This includes promoting the adoption of policies
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and standards on freedom of expression and safety of journalists, and fostering diversity, gender equality and media and information literacy through and with the media." (https://en.unesco.org/themes/fostering-freedom-expression/mdp/stories)
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"With the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA) package, the European Union will adopt what is probably the most significant international standard-setting project besides the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It is expected that the DSA will have far-reaching impact
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beyond the EU. This legal opinion deals with concrete questions on the effectiveness of the DSA, as well as in the areas of conflict with freedom of communication and dissemination of disinformation. The opinion concerns the draft published by the European Commission in December 2020." (Executive summary, page 5)
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"Africa has become a linchpin in the EU’s ambitions to support economic development, particularly through digital transformation. The February 2022 EU-African Union (AU) Summit will provide an opportunity to present the EU’s Global Gateway not only in opposition to China’s Belt and Road Initia
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tive but also as a cooperation project between two interested parties. The goal should be to jointly accelerate digital development, not only in infrastructure but also in the development of sector-specific digital applications digital skills and capacity building as well as policy frameworks and regulations. Such efforts require a partnership of mutual respect and shared interests that advances individual and human rights and democratic norms and that addresses pivotal issues such as health, education, climate change and sustainability. The EU also needs to ensure a coherent and coordinated approach that links Global Gateway with the European Green Deal." (Summary)
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"Over the past few years, a growing barrage of disinformation has targeted UN peacekeeping operations, particularly the missions in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), Mali (MINUSMA), and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). This includes false allegations that UN peacekeepers are tra
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fficking weapons to armed groups, supporting terrorists, and exploiting natural resources. This disinformation makes it harder for peacekeeping operations to implement their mandates and has put the safety of peacekeepers at risk [...] But considering how quickly this challenge has grown in scale, missions are still playing catch-up. They need greater capacity and coordination to monitor and analyze disinformation both online and offline. They need more streamlined approval processes that allow them to respond to disinformation more quickly. In the longer term, they also need to shift toward preventive approaches, including by proactively reshaping narratives about the UN and contributing to a healthier information environment through support to local journalists." (Executive summary)
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"This study discusses how and to what extent peace operations are affected by digital disinformation and how international organisations (UN, EU, OSCE and NATO) as mandating bodies for peace operations have responded to limit the effect of disinformation or even prevent it. Based on this assessment
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of the current situation, the study identifies areas in need of action and suggests options for peace operations. These focus on four areas [Situational awareness; Response; Resilience; Cooperation] and include both short- and long-term measures." (Introduction)
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"This exercise - bringing together eminent experts to look ahead - has enabled the Representative on Freedom of the Media to update and strengthen her toolbox so as to be better prepared to address media freedom challenges to our common security. The recommendations provided in this report are not a
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pick and choose menu; only by taking them all together can we strengthen freedom of the media, human rights, democracy, and security in the years to come. This takes joint efforts and collaboration of many stakeholders." (Conclusion, page 49)
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"The 64th meeting of the IPDC Bureau (June 2020) requested the Secretariat to develop a strategy to approach the private sector and civil society in accordance with UNESCO’s fundraising strategy. A targeted fundraising strategy was developed and presented to the 32nd session of the Intergovernment
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al Council of the IPDC in November 2020. The Council then instructed the Secretariat to implement resource mobilization aimed at the private sector and civil society. The Secretariat presented a Visibility and fundraising strategy for IPDC to the 65th Bureau meeting in June 2021. This document reports on the implementation actions thus far." (Page 1)
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"This document reports on the implementation of projects approved by the 64th meeting of the IPDC Bureau (June 2020) and implemented in 2020-2021, and on projects approved as part of IPDC’s rapid response mechanism in January 2021. It also includes the implementation reports of several projects th
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at were approved by the 63rd Bureau meeting in June 2019 but whose implementation timeframe was extended until December 2021 due to delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is meant for the information of the IPDC Bureau Members and donors." (Page 1)
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"In conformity with Article 8.1 of the Statutes for the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize and the Revised Overall Strategy for UNESCO Prizes and its Constituent Criteria, an external evaluation of the Prize was carried out from June to July 2022 for the past six years of the Prize (201
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6-2022). By way of this report, the Director-General informs the Executive Board about the results of the evaluation and recommends the continuation of the Prize." (Summary)
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"The commentary highlights the analysis of an international organizations’ technocrat in charge of implementing multilateral policy designed to increase the safety of journalists by preventing, protecting, and prosecuting crimes against them. Being UNESCO the leading coordinating UN agency in the
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implementation of these policies, the lessons learnt from the first decade of the implementation of the UN Plan of Action on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity are the crosscutting element of this commentary, particularly aiming to suggest areas of research that could further support evidence-based policymaking." (Abstract)
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"These UNESCO guidelines aim to provide practical support to National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) on the use of the UPR process to improve freedom of opinion and expression, safety of journalists, and access to information and to strengthen their capacity to engage with the process in all its
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stages." (About, page 1)
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"This document offers a summary of a broad-based process underway in the wider media development community to develop principles for effective support to the media sector, and its relevance for the work of the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC). The document includes
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background information on IPDC’s engagement in this process. Continued IPDC participation is proposed." (Page 1)
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