"Yemen was added as a beneficiary country under the MDP in 2020, with the aim of promoting joint and/or coordinated media development actions to reinforce access to information and freedom of expression, both online and offline. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, activities had to be postponed t
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o 2021. In the meantime, the MDP organized a series of trainings for local journalists in partnership with Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalists (ARIJ) in response to the COVID-19 health crisis. In a country like Yemen, whose depleted health system is struggling, equipping local journalists with the necessary skills to best inform the public, raise awareness about the pandemic and fight against disinformation appeared as an urgent need." (Page 2)
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"From 2018 to 2021, the implementation of the MDP has been significant for the community media sector of Nepal. UNESCO has led continuous multi-stakeholder dialogue towards an improved framework for community media sustainability. This included the
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endorsement of the definition of community broadcasting, the allocation of frequencies, ensuring ownership and participation of community members in radio stations, the establishment of an independent regulatory agency for media, and setting up an independent fund for the development of the broadcasting sector, with the aim of securing the government’s consideration. Duty bearers from federal, provincial, and local levels have themselves now become the advocates of community media friendly policy and a Mass Media Bill, currently under revision at the Ministry of Law and Justice, defines for the first time community radio and includes provisions for community radio operations." (Page 1)
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"The first component of UNESCO’s action in Mongolia under the MDP therefore aimed at promoting the recognition of community media in the national legal framework. During the reporting period, UNESCO has also been working to improve the technical
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and editorial capacities of managers, staff and volunteers of nine community radio stations in Mongolia, with particular emphasis on digital broadcasting, including through various trainings. Finally, UNESCO has supported the association of community radio stations in Mongolia: CRAMO (Community Radio Association of Mongolia), which allows better sharing of resources, technical means and skills between its members." (Page 1)
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"The role of the media is critical for the future of South Sudan’s peacebuilding process, democracy and development. For this purpose, the Multi-Donor Programme has since 2018 supported the establishment of a safe and enabling environment for media through advocacy, awareness-raising, capacity-bui
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lding and policy advice. This support builds on past actions undertaken by UNESCO, such as advocacy towards the adoption of Access to Information, Broadcasting Corporation and Media Authority laws, the set-up of a national monitoring and reporting mechanism on media violations through the Union of Journalists’ Media Observatory, and the production of safety training modules adopted by the University of Juba, the Media Development Institute and the Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS)." (Page 2)
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"Through the implementation of the MDP, UNESCO has sought to contribute to better democratic governance through improving freedom of the press and the quality of information available to the population in The Gambia. The “Support to Policy Develo
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pment for Sustainability of Community Media in The Gambia” initiative specifically targeted community media, with the ultimate output being a policy that addresses their financial, technical and administrative needs to ensure their sustainability." (Page 1)
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"Burundian authorities have shown promising signs of substantive change by initiating the revision of the disputed 2018 press law, an exercise for which they requested UNESCO’s technical support. UNESCO’s participation in this process was made possible by continuous dialogue between
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UNESCO and the Burundian Ministry of Communication on media pluralism issues, and particularly on the issue of community radio stations, an endeavour which has been supported by the MDP since 2018." (Page 2)
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"UNESCO has been a part of the community media development process in Bangladesh since the early days. While the support from UNESCO consisted initially in providing radio equipment to community r
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adio stations, the MDP funded activities in the 2018-2021 period shifted the focus to the reinforcement of capacities, convening key stakeholders, and promoting networking and knowledge exchange among crucial entities." (Page 1)
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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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"This note provides suggestions for Member States on how to word the recommendations for the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in the field of freedom of expression, safety of journalists and access to information. The background and recommendations below can also assist UN Country Teams, National Hum
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an Rights institutions (NHRIs) and civil society in relation to UPR submissions and follow up." (About this guidance note, page 1)
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"UNESCO strived to improve access to information for Yemeni youth through building capacities of young Yemeni journalists to produce content that ensures balanced coverage of the peacebuilding process. The produced content necessitated the developm
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ent of an information platform to disseminate messages to the youth. In addition, the intervention supported youth-led peacebuilding initiatives through the “My Solution” activity, further promoting content creation for the youth and by the youth. In order for the Yemeni Youth to be able to express themselves freely and in a secure and welcoming environment, UNESCO and its partners worked around different platforms, either physical or online, to provide them with safe places to exchange. Whether through online surveys (Yemeni Youth Barometer), debates, community radio programmes, or through their participation in international platforms, Yemeni youth were given the opportunity to share among themselves but also with decision-makers their views and opinions." (Page 7)
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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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"The Multi Donor Programme on Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists focuses on two thematic areas with the objective of enabling a free and safe environment for a free, independent and pluralistic media, freedom of expression, access to information and the safety of journalists – what
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UNESCO considers key components for the achievement of SDG 16. Through this, Member States can expand their typical interventions on Freedom of Expression, Safety of Journalists, Access to Information, Gender Equality in Media, MIL media viability and pluralism, and countering hate speech and disinformation to also address strategic elements at the sector-wide level. While this is not mandatory, it is expected that this more flexible approach to planning and delivery will strengthen UNESCO’s position at the country level and allow the Programme to be more reactive to country needs." (Page 4)
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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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"This report produced by UNESCOs shows an assessment of the achievements and best practices derived from the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity over the last decade. It also offers recommendations to combat emerging challenges going forward.” (commbox)
"These Guidelines offer short tipps on interviewing the survivor(s), depiction and news framing, use of sources, and the embedding in the broader context and a solution-oriented approach." (commbox)
"This consultation on the safety of journalists in the digital age focused on developing risk assessment frameworks and enhancing transparency of online platforms. The consultation took place in a hybrid format on 13 September 2022, virtually and in Copenhagen, Denmark. Online disinformation, hate s
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peech, surveillance, and other forms of harassment against journalists, particularly women journalists, was identified as new challenges whose characteristics and dimensions were not as apparent at the time UN Plan of Action was first developed and approved. The consultation was therefore organized as part of the ongoing initiatives to address the increasing online harms that journalists face, and to discuss the strategic roles of tech companies in addressing these challenges." (Executive summary, page 6)
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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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"During the reporting period 2018-2021, UNESCO has worked closely with Kenyan youth leaders, media professionals, parliamentarians and religious leaders to encourage the government to adopt a Draft National Media and Information Literacy Strategy.
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The first outcome realized during this period was the drafting of the Media and Information Literacy Curriculum for Teachers in Kenya. It was prepared through a consultative process – led by the Centre for MIL in Kenya. It was an adaptation of UNESCO’s Model Media and Information Literacy Curriculum for Teachers, while ensuring that the developed curriculum conforms to Kenya’s national curriculum policy, competency-based education and training policy framework, and East Africa e-learning strategy. The second outcome was the drafting of the first Media and Information Literacy Policy and Strategy document, which was developed through multi-stakeholder consultative process led by the Media Council of Kenya through application of the UNESCO MIL Policy and Strategy Guidelines and Kenya’s national development aspirations, guidelines and policies." (Page 2)
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"In the context of the International Year and International Decade of Indigenous Languages, a Global Call for Research Papers was commissioned with the aim to show a diversity of scholarship in the field of Indigenous languages and related issues. The international peer-review team carried out a com
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prehensive review process of nearly 300 papers from 63 countries, facilitated the final compilation of 38 selected papers by researchers from 26 countries, and the production of 10 articles by peer-reviewers. Overall, this multilingual collection includes 48 articles by researchers and analytical pieces by peer reviewers from 30 countries. This initiative aims to contribute to the creation of favourable conditions for knowledge-sharing and dissemination of good practices on Indigenous languages, as well as growth and development through elaboration of new knowledge." (Back cover)
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