UN Resident Coordinator remarks at Commemoration of World Press Freedom Day

The Honourable Minister of ICT and National Guidance,

The Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission,

The Coordinator, Uganda Media Sector Working Group, and the Media more broadly,

Representatives of the Private Sector and Civil Society Organisations,

UN Human Rights Country Representative and all my UN colleagues,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

To work as a journalist today, you need a great deal of courage. Hundreds of journalists, photographers and camera operators the world over have been killed, injured, jailed and threatened. This is a worrying global trend, including on our continent and we must work to reverse this trend.

A free, safe, independent, and pluralistic press is a core element of any functioning democracy because it supports the protection of all other human rights.

Press freedom is an acknowledged human right enshrined both in national and international laws, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights, which also protects the physical integrity of journalists.

On behalf of the United Nations System in Uganda let me express our solidarity with all journalists and renew our commitment to work with the Government and all her development partners, civil society and professional media organisations, and journalists’ associations towards a safe and secure working environment for journalists. 

The world today has changed significantly since we started celebrating this day in 1993. In 1993 barely any of us had a functioning email address. There was no google, no facebook, no twitter. We didn’t have citizen journalists in quite the same way we have them today.

The widespread diffusion of the Internet, mobile communication, digital media and a variety of social software tools throughout the world has transformed the communication system into interactive horizontal networks that connect the local and global. New forms of social media, such as SMS, blogs, social networking sites, podcasts and wikis, cater to the flow of messages from many-to-many. They have provided alternative mediums for citizen communication and participatory journalism.  And with the growth of digital journalism and digital tools, we now have new opportunities and threats to both our democracies and journalists.

The opportunities of the internet are generally agreed upon – the internet has made information and knowledge easier to access and consume. We can connect with others – and not just one or two others, but millions of others - more easily and cheaply. I don’t think anyone here would disagree with that.

There might be more disagreement regarding the threats. Firstly, these spaces and platforms can be turned off. We have seen that in many places, including in Uganda with facebook. Second, our data can be more easily manipulated both politically and economically by companies and individuals. Remember the allegations against a certain consulting firm in Europe that amassed, analysed and exploited facebook data to help individuals and groups politically? And isn’t this the same technology companies use to get us to buy more of a particular brand of soap, diapers, breakfast cereal and pizza around the globe? I personally think we underestimate this particular threat and how it undermines choice and the democratic space.

Other threats have directly targeted the safety and security of journalists – especially female journalists. As a result, these threats tend to silence some journalists’ voices and to deplete freedom of speech by interrupting valuable investigative journalist work.

There are a number of things we should all be doing to support the media.

Firstly, we need to develop a culture that always condemns violence against the media. Policy and opinion makers, as well as public personalities, should lead this and accept a higher degree of public scrutiny and possibly criticism. Public discussions can help. Because while there are rules, state and other sensitive secrets need to be protected, society more broadly needs to understand what the boundaries are and what is fair game.

It is also particularly important to eradicate impunity by effectively investigating all cases of violence against journalists, including those involving state actors like law enforcement institutions. This can be reinforced by specific instructions and training for the police on the protection of journalists.

We need the media to really commit to its key educating role on public and current affairs and trends. Our democracies are still developing and are fragile. Votes can still be bought in some places. The education role of the media cannot be underestimated.

We also needs to better tackle online violence of journalists – especially women journalists, including awareness raising on safety of online journalists. And for that to effectively happen we also need to see more women take up leadership positions in media organisations.

And we need greater collaboration between government, media owners and all stakeholders, working together to improve the welfare of journalists.

As I conclude, on behalf of the United Nations system in Uganda, I reiterate our commitment to continue working with the Government, development partners, civil society and media organisations, and journalists’ associations towards a safe and secure working environment for journalists; through implementing the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Uganda (2021-2025) in support of the third National Development Plan (NDP III) and Vision 2040 of a transformed and prosperous Uganda.

Thank you for your attention and best wishes to all.