2024 marked the 5th year of the Media Freedom Coalition, a partnership of 51 governments from six continents that work together to promote media freedom at home and abroad.
There have been many important developments over the MFC’s first five years, including the launch and growth of the Embassy Networks Initiative, an expansion of state action on safe refuge for journalists at risk, and closer collaboration with the key stakeholders of the Coalition: the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom and the Consultative Network comprising civil society organisations from across the world. The last five years have also seen impressive achievements from the Global Media Defence Fund, which is administered by UNESCO and supported by MFC member governments.
On September 26, 2024, the MFC held a 5th anniversary event to take stock of the MFC’s progress and redouble states’ commitments to promote press freedom. This event, hosted by MFC co-chairs Estonia and Germany, marked the anniversary as part of UNGA High Level Week 2024.
This event featured:
Prepared remarks from current and founding co-chairs of the Media Freedom Coalition, reflecting on the past, present and future of the MFC
- H.E. Margus Tsahkna, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, current co-chair of the MFC
- H.E. Lord Collins of Highbury, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Africa), Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the United Kingdom, founding co-chair of the MFC
- H.E. David Angell, Political Director and Assistant Deputy Minister, International Security and Political Affairs Branch, Global Affairs Canada, founding co-chair of the MFC
- H.E. Luise Amtsberg, Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Assistance at the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, current co-chair of the MFC
- Maria Ressa, co-founder and CEO of Rappler, Philippines, and Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021
- Jodie Ginsberg, CEO, Committee to Protect Journalists, and MFC Consultative Network
A report entitled “Why Media Freedom Matters” was published alongside the Coalition’s 5th anniversary, which seeks to make the argument for protecting media freedom even stronger. The report pulled together over 100 pieces of research evidence on the benefits that media freedom brings to society and humanity, focussing on its links to democracy and participation, health, peace and security, the economy and the environment
- Mark Zellenrath, Director of Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, former co-chair of the MFC
- Andrea Cairola, Advisor for Communication and Information at the Section for Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists, UNESCO
- Catherine Amirfar, Deputy Chair, High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom
- Paulina Gutierrez, Head of Protection, Article 19
- Jason McLure, Correspondent, The Examination
