By APCNews
Published onPage last updated on
On 2-5 May 2022, UNESCO and the Republic of Uruguay will host the annual World Press Freedom Day Global Conference in a hybrid format in Punta Del Este, Uruguay. Under the theme “Journalism under Digital Siege”, participants will discuss the impact of the digital era on freedom of expression, the safety of journalists, privacy and access to information.
Register to attend the event here.
Why should we talk about gendered disinformation?
As part of this timely initiative, APC and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, Irene Khan, will co-organise a session on 3 May at 21.30 UTC focusing on a key aspect of disinformation: its gendered component.
Building on our previous work on disinformation and gendered disinformation, APC believes it is key to continue to focus on the impact of disinformation on women and gender-diverse people. Gendered disinformation particularly targets women journalists, women human rights defenders (WHRDs) and women in politics.
To raise specific examples of how this type of disinformation works and how to address it, we’ll be talking with:
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Irene Khan, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
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Lucina di Mecco, of the #ShePersisted campaign
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Nkemakonam Agunwa, of Witness organisation
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Julissa Mantilla, president of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
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Paula Martins, of the Association for Progressive Communications, will be facilitating the discussion.
Threats to journalists and human rights defenders
APC has also been invited to the session on Digital authoritarianism and technology-facilitated threats to journalists and human rights defenders. The session, co-organised by the Media Freedom Coalition and the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC), will take place on 3 May at 13.30 UTC.
In a period of rising digital authoritarianism, journalists, media workers, and human rights defenders face unprecedented threats. Growing censorship and attempts to control information online have restricted civic space online and hindered the free flow of information. A panel of government officials, civil society organisations, human rights activists, digital specialists, and journalists will discuss these threats and the role governments and industry should play in defending freedom of expression, online and offline.
Speakers will include Veronica Ferrari of APC, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression Irene Khan, and representatives from ARTICLE 19, the High-Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom, and the Government of Canada, among others.
