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UNESCO organizes a session on Safety of Journalists in Ukraine War on the occasion of WPFD 2022
The dialogue, held in Punta del Este, Uruguay, gathered participants both in presence and online and highlighted the importance of ensuring the safety and security of journalists in times of conflict, so that they may report freely and inform the world on the reality of the situation.
The session provided a forum for discussions on the current challenges facing journalists in Ukraine, presented perspectives and experiences from media workers both within and outside of the country, as well as responses from the international community. The dialogue, moderated by Tom Law, Head of Policy and Learning from the GFMD, included participation of international and regional organizations, NGO’s and the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU).
Free and independent media are critical for ensuring civilians have access to potentially lifesaving information and debunking disinformation and rumors, particularly in times of conflict. Journalists are frontline witnesses to the war in Ukraine, risking their lives to keep their fellow citizens and the international community informed. Indeed, since the start of the war in Ukraine, UNESCO’s Director-General has officially condemned the killing of 9 journalists, who have died in the exercise of their work to inform the world of the realities of war.
Ms Teresa Ribeiro, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, highlighted the importance of the work of journalists in reporting on the war:
In this regard, Ms Rebecca Vincent, Director of Operations and Campaigns of Reporters Without Borders (RWB), highlighted the velocity of the reaction of the international community in response to the crisis, and in particular mentioned the rapid outreach and support provided to Ukrainian journalists at the very start of the crisis.
In addition, the conflict is also threatening the future livelihood and viability of the media sector and its workers, as a number of media outlets have had to stop their work. Indeed, Ms Daryna Shevchenko, Co-founder of The Fix and CEO of the Kyiv Independent, stressed that Ukrainian newsrooms should be funded for the long term, so they have the time and possibility to adapt to the changing circumstances.
In his concluding remarks, Tom Law called for increased support of independent media and journalists in Ukraine, notably through the signature of the Perugia Declaration for Ukraine. Launched at the International Journalism Festival on April 9, 2022, the declaration calls for action from the international community to stand in solidarity with journalists in Ukraine and commit to intensifying efforts to support journalists in conflict zones. The declaration has already been signed by 11 Ukrainian media organizations and 204 international media organizations.
Since the start of the crisis, UNESCO has been supporting journalists in Ukraine, including by supplying personal protective equipment, relocating the country’s two journalists’ unions to safer areas and concluding a mission to Ukraine to assess the needs of media workers. This session on the safety of journalists in Ukraine was organized in continuation of these efforts.