For several years now, UNESCO has been supporting independent media in conflict and post-conflict situations to enable them to gather and disseminate non-partisan information. In this respect, the assistance provided to independent media in South East Europe, Angola, the Great Lakes Region in Africa, the Middle East, East Timor, and Afghanistan has contributed to peace building and reconciliation processes.

UNESCO’s action in this area includes the promotion of dialogue among media professionals in zones of conflict and the outside world and provision of advice to the authorities of countries in postconflict situations in drafting new media legislation, which enhances the development of freedom of expression.

This action in promoting independent media in conflict situations has been recognized by the international community. The humanitarian nature of this work was recognized by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Department of Humanitarian Affairs in the June 1994 United Nations Inter-Agency Appeal. In 1996 the Appeal designated UNESCO as lead agency for assistance to independent media for the reconstruction period in the former Yugoslavia. Since then the Organization has received considerable financial support from a number of donor countries.

Media and democracy in Iraq

At a time of increasing sectarian conflict in Iraq, a free and professional media can provide a vital forum for dialogue and for non-violent resolution of differences, as well as represent an invaluable source of information. >> Read more

05-07-2011 (Tunis) 

Second round of trainings on election reporting for Tunisian media professionals starts this week

01-07-2011 (Paris) 

UNESCO Director-General condemns killing of Congolese journalist Witness-Patchelly Kambale Musonia

01-07-2011 (Paris) 

UNESCO Director-General deplores death of Iraqi cameraman Alwan al-Ghorabi

01-07-2011 (Paris) 

UNESCO rejoices at the release of journalists Hervé Ghesquière and Stéphane Taponier and their interpreter, Reza Din

16-06-2011 (Addis Ababa) 

Building journalists’ unions: Regional conference ended in Addis Ababa

15-06-2011 (Rabat) 

UNESCO starts series of trainings on election reporting for Tunisian media professionals

18-04-2011 (Paris) 

Director-General condemns killing of Iraqi TV executive Taha Hameed

04-04-2011 (Paris) 

Director-General condemns killing of Iraqi journalist in Tikrit

28-03-2011 (Paris) 

UNESCO Director-General condemns killing of Libyan journalist Mohammed al-Nabbous and calls for freeing of detained media workers

16-03-2011 (Paris) 

Director-General condemns violence and intimidation of journalists in Libya

10-03-2011 (Paris) 

Director-General condemns killing of Iraqi journalist Hilal al-Ahmadi

10-03-2011 (Juba) 

UNESCO holds training on post-conflict sensitive reporting in Juba

28-02-2011 (Paris) 

Director-General condems murder of Pakistani journalist Abdost Rind in Balochistan

22-02-2011 (Paris) 

UNESCO Director-General expresses alarm over information clampdown and virulent attacks against the media in Libya

15-02-2011 (Port-au-Prince) 

UNESCO assists unemployed Haitian journalists

10-02-2011 (Paris) 

UNESCO condemns murder of Egyptian journalist Ahmed Mohammed Mahmoud

28-01-2011 (Liaquatpur) 

UNESCO organizes workshops on safety for rural journalists in Pakistan

30-12-2010 (Port-au-Prince) 

UNESCO supports training of Haitian journalists on election reporting

10-11-2010 (Paris) 

Arab New Media for Peace and Dialogue: Best practice guide published

04-11-2010 (London) 

UNESCO supports online youth TV programme

15-06-2010 (Paris) 

UNESCO supported training on conflict reporting for African journalists

25-03-2010 (Kathmandu) 

Enhancing personal security skills of women journalists in Terai

15-03-2010 (Windhoek) 

Role of community radio in disaster management on agenda of workshop in Namibia

04-03-2010 (Amman) 

Online culture of peace discussed at Arab New Media Summit

02-03-2010 (Paris) 

UNESCO publishes curriculum on conflict-sensitive reporting

23-11-2009 (Paris) 

UNESCO trains Sudanese journalists on election reporting

05-11-2009 (Kathmandu) 

Training for women journalists ended in Janakpur

23-09-2009 (Nairobi) 

UNESCO commissions media assessment for the Great Lakes region

18-09-2009 (New York) 

DR Congo: UN deplores death threats against journalists

11-09-2009 (Ramallah) 

UNESCO provides safety training to Gaza media professionals

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