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UN General Assembly Special Session on Corruption commits to protect journalists and the fundamental right of access to information

09/06/2021

On 28 May 2021, the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on Corruption adopted a Declaration to address challenges and implement measures to prevent corruption and strengthen international cooperation, including by enhancing the safety of journalists and promote public access to information. In the Declaration, signatory Member States committed to “provide a safe and adequate environment to journalists, and (…) investigate, prosecute and punish threats and acts of violence, falling within [their] jurisdiction, committed against them”.

Marking the first-ever UNGASS dedicated to preventing and combating corruption, the Declaration called for effective international cooperation, and stronger preventive measures to protect actors who work to report, denounce and fight against corruption. It further highlighted the role of law enforcement officials, and prosecutorial and judicial authorities as key actors in enforcing anti-corruption laws, promoting transparency and upholding the rule of law.

The Declaration was welcomed by the Ministers of the G7 countries and the High Representative of the European Union, who issued a joint statement reaffirming the crucial role of civil society and free media in preventing and combatting corruption. The statement reiterated support for the strong and effective implementation of the Declaration, indicating that the G7 would “protect and promote access to information for all citizens, including civil society organisations, media and journalists”.

In view of this commitment, UNESCO contributed to a side event, organized by ARTICLE 19 on 4 June 2021, on the importance of protecting journalists and strengthening the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As the custodian agency for monitoring of SDG 16’s target 16.10 on ensuring public access to information and protecting fundamental freedoms, UNESCO emphasized the protection and promotion of investigative journalism as a key component in the fight against corruption.

Investigative journalism, and media reporting in general, serve a crucial function in bringing allegations and cases of corruption to light. It is thus critically important to secure a safe and free environment for journalists to enable them to uncover corruption and crimes ranging from money laundering to organized crimes.

Guilherme Canela, Chief of UNESCO’s Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists’ Section

Access to Information and fighting corruption

Designation of UNESCO to act as a custodian agency for SDG Indicator 16.10.2 on public access to information (ATI) within the UN system provided key impetus for the Organization to step up its efforts in promoting the right to information.

Based on monitoring results of SDG 16.10.2 UNESCO played a key role in increasing UN support for the development of access to information laws and policies that protect the right to equal participation and civic space as well as provides tools for civil society and media to inform citizen and increase transparency of procurement, budgeting and many other spheres of public life. Only in the last four years, UNESCO assisted 14 countries in the adoption of Access to Information laws.

Access to information empowers citizens to obtain information held by public bodies. It encompasses a right to request and receive information and an obligation on governments to publish information proactively.

Jaco du Toit, Chief of UNESCO’s Universal Access to Information Section

Using information, the public are equipped to participate in public debate and engage with decision-makers, including in the development of public policy and laws.

The ratification of the UNGASS Declaration joins the growing commitment by the international community to tackle the issue of impunity for crimes against journalists. Recently, the Declaration of the 14th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice recognized the specificity of threats faced by journalists, and further called for renewed global cooperation to end impunity for crimes committed against them.

To that effect, since 2013, UNESCO and its partners have trained over 18,000 judicial actors and 8,500 security forces on international and regional standards on freedom of expression, in order to foster a freer and safer environment for journalists and media workers around the world.