Side event

“A Press for the Planet: Protecting Journalists and Scientists in Defence of the Environment.”

Tuesday 7^th of May from 15:00-18:00, Palais des Nations, Room XXIII

Background

OHCHR, jointly with UNESCO, UNEP, WHO, the Permanent Missions of Austria and Chile to Geneva, and the Geneva Press Club, will organize this event to celebrate in Geneva the World Press Freedom Day, which theme this year is: “Journalism in the face of the Environmental Crisis”. The event will focus on science communication in shaping public understanding and policymaking regarding environmental issues, strategies to ensure the dissemination of accurate and reliable information, combating climate disinformation, corporate capture and greenwashing, addressing misinformation and disinformation in environmental reporting, and safeguarding journalists and scientists, particularly women, against the specific challenges and threats they encounter in these fields.

Programme

Introductory remarks by:
Ms Tatiana Valovaya, director general, United Nations at Geneva
Mr Tawfik Jelassi, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, UNESCO (video message)
Ms Ana Luisa Thomson Flores, Director, UNESCO Liaison Office Geneva
H.E. Ambassador Désirée Schweitzer, Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations in Geneva
H.E. Ambassador Claudia Fuentes Julio, Permanent Representative of Chile to the United Nations in Geneva
Mr Abdoul Thioye, Chief a.i., Rule of Law, Equality and Non-Discrimination Branch, OHCHR

Joint Statement by the Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly, UNESCO General Conference, United Nations Human Rights Council, and United Nations Economic and Social Council

Panel 1: “Combatting Climate Disinformation”
Moderation by Ms Isabelle Falconnier, Executive Director, Geneva Press Club
Speakers:
Mr Daniele Moretti, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, SKY TG24
Mr Samuel Schlaefli, Journalist, Reporter and Editor
Ms Meera Selva, Journalist and Chief Executive, InterNews Europe
Ms Caroline Vuillemin, Director-General, Fondation Hirondelle
Professor Raymond Jagessar, Professor in chemistry at the University of Guyana and Foreign Secretary of the Caribbean Academy of Sciences (Video Message)
Closing by Mr Renaud de Villaine, Rule of Law and Democracy Section, OHCHR

Panel 2: “Protecting Environmental Journalists and Scientists”
Moderation by Mr Andrea Cairola, Advisor for Communication and Information, UNESCO
Speakers:
Ms Vivi Savrou, Executive Secretary, ISC Committee on Freedom and Responsibility of Science
Ms Barbara Trionfi, Press Freedom and Environmental Journalism Adviser, International Press Institute
Mr Jamil Chade, Journalist and Reporter
Ms Sara Rodrigues Lima, Fisherwoman and Journalists (Video Message)
Closing by Ms Marika Palosaari, Programme Coordinator, UNEP

Closing of the event by Mr Andrea Cairola, Advisor for Communication and Information, UNESCO

Link to the video of the event

https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1x/k1xdnrso1j

Documentation

• Flyer
• Briefers:
  • Briefer on National Frameworks for the Safety of Journalists
  • Self-protection measures to respond to threats to journalists
  • How international human rights standards and mechanisms help protect journalists
  • The impact of SLAPPs on human rights and how to respond