A PRESS FOR THE PLANET: PROTECTING JOURNALISTS AND SCIENTISTS IN DEFENSE OF THE ENVIRONMENT
30 years after the first World Press Freedom Day celebration in 1994, and the adoption of the historic Santiago Declaration, Chile and UNESCO hosted World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) 2024 in Santiago from 2-4 May.
WPFD 2024 was dedicated to the importance of journalism and freedom of expression in the context of the current global environmental crisis.
It aimed to highlight the significant role that the press, journalism, and access to information play to ensure and secure a sustainable future that respects the rights of individuals, the diversity of their voices, and gender equality.
In this context, UNESCO, UNEP, WHO, OHCHR, the Permanent Mission of Austria to Geneva, the Permanent Mission of Chile to Geneva, and the Geneva Press Club, organized a WPFD event on the 7th of May in the Palais des Nations.
The event focused 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
COFFEE [14h30 - 15h]
INTRODUCTION [15h - 15h15]
MRS. TATIANA VALOVAYA, DIRECTOR GENERAL, UNITED NATIONS AT GENEVA
DR. TAWFIK JELASSI, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR - GENERAL FOR COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION, UNESCO (VIDEO MESSAGE)
MRS. ANA LUIZA THOMPSON - FLORES, DIRECTOR, UNESCO LIAISON OFFICE IN GENEVA
H.E. MRS. DÉSIRÉE SCHWEITZER, AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPONTENTIARY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF AUSTRIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE AND SPECIALIZED INSTITUTIONS IN GENEVA
H.E. MRS. CLAUDIA FUENTES JULIO, AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPONTENTIARY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF CHILE TO THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE AND SPECIALIZED INSTITUTIONS IN GENEVA
MR. ABDOUL THIOYE, CHIEF A.I, RULE OF LAW, EQUALITY AND NON-DISCRIMINATION BRANCH, THEMATIC ENGAGEMENT, SPECIAL PROCEDURES AND RIGHT TO DEVELOPMENT DIVISION, OHCHR
PRESENTATION: "JOINT STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY, UNESCO GENERAL CONFERENCE,
UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL, AND UN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL" [15h15 - 15h35]
H.E. AMB. SIMONA-MIRELA MICULESCU, PRESIDENT OF THE UNESCO GENERAL CONFERENCE
H.E. AMB. OMAR ZNIBER, PRESIDENT OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
COMBATING CLIMATE DISINFORMATION PANEL [15h35 - 16h35]
MODERATOR - MRS. ISABELLE FALCONNIER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GENEVA PRESS CLUB
MR. DANIELE MORETTI, DEPUTY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, SKY TG24
MR. SAMUEL SCHLAEFLI, JOURNALIST, REPORTER AND EDITOR
MRS. MEERA SELVA, JOURNALIST AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE, INTERNEWS EUROPE
MRS. CAROLINE VUILLEMIN, DIRECTOR-GENERAL, FONDATION HIRONDELLE
CLOSING: MR. RENAUD DE VILLAINE, RULE OF LAW AND DEMOCRACY SECTION, OHCHR
BREAK [16h35 - 16h45]
PROTECTING ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISTS AND SCIENTISTS PANEL [16h45 - 17h45]
MODERATOR - MR. ANDREA CAIROLA, ADVISOR FOR COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION, UNESCO
DR. VIVI STAVROU, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE ISC COMMITTEE ON FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY OF SCIENCE
MRS. BARBARA TRIONFI, PRESS FREEDOM AND ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISM ADVISER, INTERNATIONAL PRESS INSTITUTE
MR. JAMIL CHADE, JOURNALIST AND REPORTER
DR. RAYMOND JAGESSAR, PROFESSOR IN CHEMISTRY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GUYANA AND FOREIGN SECRETARY OF THE CARIBBEAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (VIDEO MESSAGE)
CLOSING: MRS. MARIKA PALOSAARI, PROGRAMME COORDINATOR, UNEP
CLOSING [17h45 - 17h50]
MR. ANDREA CAIROLA, ADVISOR FOR COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION, UNESCO
______________________
The event is in hybrid form
To register for the event:
• For in-person attendance, please register using the following link on INDICO.
• For online attendance, please fill in the online questionnaire.
For additional information please contact geneva@unesco.org
