The Global Investigative Journalism Conference will be held in parallel with the Latin American and Brazilian Conferences. It is being co-organized by Global Investigative Journalism Network, IPyS and Abraji, with the support of several partners, including UNESCO.

UNESCO highlights the centrality of investigative journalism for fostering democracies and development. Investigative journalists are central elements of guaranteeing the accountability of governments and other stakeholders, which is crucial for democracy and development.

Key debates under the umbrella of the investigative reporting are being supported by UNESCO. With Frank la Rue and Catalina Botero, Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression at UN and OAS, UNESCO will moderate the debate on the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity on Sunday, 13 October. On the same day UNESCO, Transparency International, OECD and UNODC will discuss investigative reporting on corruption and crime. On Tuesday, 15 October Mark Lee Hunter will present the successful book, Story Base Inquiry: a manual for investigative journalists, which will be launched also in Spanish and Portuguese.

On Monday, 14 October UNESCO will moderate a debate with the Brazilian Minister Jorge Hage, in charge of implementing the Brazilian Freedom of Information Act.

Finally, a Colloquium on International and National Measures to Protect Journalists will be held in partnership with the Brazilian Ministry of Human Rights and the United Nations Center in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, 15 October.

The Global Conference in Rio de Janeiro will offer dozens of opportunities for capacity building, debating and networking for investigative journalists from different parts of the world. Within this context, UNESCO has assisted in the organization of several sessions and has supported the participation of various Latin American investigative journalists in the Conference.