Community of Democracies Working Group on promoting Freedom of Opinion and Expression is holding a high level side event to the UNGA on best practices for safety and protection of journalists on September 23, 2016 from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. EST. This event will provide an opportunity for states, experts and media activists to discuss the threats facing journalist today and share best practices to end impunity and more broadly, to improve the safety and protection of journalists worldwide. The Community of Democracies Working Group on Freedom of Opinion and Expression seeks to foster collaboration among the Community of Democracies’ member and participating states and civil society organizations to promote freedom of opinion and expression and to counter global suppressive trends.
Sponsors:
- U.S. and Uruguay as Co-Chairs of the Community of Democracies – FOE WG
- Austria, Colombia, Poland, Argentina, Chile, Morocco, Tunisia, Greece, France, Mexico, Brazil, (others TBD).
- David Kaye, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression
- Committee to Protect Journalists
- Article 19
Moderator: Quinn McKew, Deputy Executive Director, Article 19
Panelists:
- H.E. Ambassador Maria Leissner, Secretary General of the Community of Democracies
- David Kaye, UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Ona Flores, Senior Attorney, Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the IACHR
- Robert Mahoney, Deputy Executive Director, Committee for the Protection of Journalists
- Abdalaziz Alhamza, co-founder of the Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently
- Scott Busby, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Department of State, U.S.
WHAT: Safety and Protection of Journalists – Best Practices
WHEN: September 23, 2106. 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. EST.
WHERE: Conference Room F, United Nations Headquarters, New York.
UN ground passes required to attend this event.
* * * NOTE: The event might be recorded and parts of it might be featured in a new documentary by the Academy Award Nominee and Emmy Winning filmmaker Matthew Heineman.