Belgium: IFJ welcomes UN Special Rapporteur’s priorities on freedom of expression

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) welcomes the four priority areas outlined by Leopoldo Maldonado Gutiérrez, the new United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, during his address at the opening of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) summit in Brussels on 12 October. The IFJ is committed to working alongside him to advance these priorities, particularly in the areas of journalists’ safety and surveillance.

In his address, Leopoldo Maldonado Gutiérrezhighlighted four key areas of work for protecting freedom of expression and opinion:

The relationship between freedom of expression and democracy;The impact of new economic models on the financial sustainability of journalism;The protection of journalists;The creation of an enabling environment for freedom of expression. 

Leonardo Maldonado Gutiérrez concluded his address by saying: « We are not only defending journalists, media organisations or one professional sector. We are defending the democratic space in which all of us exercise our rights. »

At the beginning of his mandate, the IFJ met with Leopoldo Maldonado Gutiérrez online and again on 11 October in Brussels to discuss the surveillance of journalists and explore opportunities for collaboration. These discussions highlighted the threats posed by surveillance technologies to press freedom and the confidentiality of sources, as well as journalists’ ability to work without interference.

“We fully support the four priorities outlined by Leopoldo Maldonado for his new mandate. The UN Special Rapporteur plays a crucial role not only in assessing the progress and setbacks of States in fulfilling their obligations to guarantee freedom of expression, but also in promoting concrete measures to protect journalists’ safety and ensure they can carry out their work without threats, surveillance or reprisals. The IFJ is committed to working alongside the Special Rapporteur to advance these goals and strengthen international mechanisms to protect journalism and journalistic sources,” said IFJ President Zuliana Lainez.

As part of this ongoing cooperation, Leopoldo Maldonado Gutiérrez will speak at the IFJ conference on the surveillance of journalists, to be held in Brussels on 19 November. The event will provide further opportunity to strengthen international efforts to protect journalists and their sources and join forces with other like-minded organisations to regulate the use of surveillance.