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OHCHR / WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY
STORY: OHCHR / WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY
TRT: 04:30
SOURCE: OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 03 MAY 2022, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Various shots, Geneva Graduate Institute
2. Various shots, HC Michelle Bachelet and Simonetta Sommaruga Conseillère Fédérale meeting with 2021 Nobel Peace prize journalists Maria Resssa and Dmitry Muratov before the annual award of the Freedom Cartoonist Foundation, at the Geneva graduate Institute.
3. Wide shots, award ceremony of the Freedom Cartoonist Foundation, at the Geneva graduate Institute
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“It is an honour today to speak alongside two esteemed journalists, Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov. Operating in highly sensitive and risky media spaces, where journalists are frequently subject to intimidation and arrest, both have faced a mountain of challenges in the name of safeguarding freedom of expression in their home countries.”
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“The symbolism of your Nobel Peace Prize last year could not be more pertinent in today’s world. With conflicts intensifying, many of which demonstrate little or no regard for international human rights and humanitarian law, the work of journalists to expose atrocities is ever more crucial.”
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“Their work helps build the foundation for some of the fundamental human rights we should all enjoy: freedom of opinion, information and expression.”
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“Yet despite their crucial role in society, journalists continue to operate under grave threat. Whether in conflict zones, in countries with restricted civic space or high levels of organised crime, and even in so-called safe and democratic spaces, their security is increasingly at risk.”
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“In Mexico for example, eight journalists were killed last year and two were disappeared. Already this year, a further six journalists and one media worker have been murdered. And in Ukraine, where the fight against growing misinformation and propaganda is ever more crucial amidst the context of the ongoing Russian armed attack, there have been twelve journalists killed.”
9. Wide shot, award ceremony of the Freedom Cartoonist Foundation, at the Geneva graduate Institute
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“I turn now to the focus of this year’s World Press Freedom Day, which highlights the very real threat that surveillance poses to journalists’ work. Rising use of surveillance tools – such as the Pegasus or Candiru spyware – intrudes deeply into people’s devices and lives.”
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“Such tools are an affront to the right to privacy and an obstruction to freedom of expression.”
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“The use of spyware has led to arrests, intimidation and even killings of journalists. It has endangered their sources. It has put their families at risk. To counter these risks, journalists are often forced to take the dangerous path of self-censorship. Pegasus spyware is reportedly being used in at least 45 countries, often in total secrecy and outside of any legal framework.”
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“In my recent call for a moratorium on this, I stated that until human rights safeguards are in place, we must stop the export, sale, transfer and use or servicing of privately developed surveillance tools. I thank the organisations and States who have supported this moratorium, as well as the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression who has advocated strongly for it to be implemented.”
14. Wide shot, award ceremony of the Freedom Cartoonist Foundation, at the Geneva graduate Institute.
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“I urge States who purchase or use surveillance technologies to do so in accordance with human rights standards. They must ask three crucial questions in this assessment: Are the tools legal? Are they necessary? Are they proportional to any risk? Domestic laws must only permit their use if they meet a legitimate goal. They must also recognize the right to remedy and should maintain strong and independent oversight measures.”
16. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“By tackling the threats of surveillance to journalists, we will be fortunate enough to hear and read about the realities of our world – whether in all of its tragedy, its chaos or its glory- without risk or danger to the people who are bringing us the stories.”
17. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“Your voices, your insights, your ideas and your analysis bring to light the human stories – and human tragedy – that otherwise would be invisible to the world.”
On World Press Freedom Day, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet made the following address at the annual award by the Freedom Cartoonist Foundation.
Before the ceremony the High commissioner met with last year’s Nobel peace prize winners, journalists, Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov.
“It is an honour today to speak alongside two esteemed journalists, Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov. Operating in highly sensitive and risky media spaces where journalists are frequently subject to intimidation and arrest, both have faced a mountain of challenges in the name of safeguarding freedom of expression in their home countries,” said Bachelet
She added “The symbolism of your Nobel Peace Prize last year could not be more pertinent in today’s world. With conflicts intensifying, many of which demonstrate little or no regard for international human rights and humanitarian law, the work of journalists to expose atrocities is ever more crucial.”
Describing the vital role of journalists, the High Commissioner said: “Their work helps build the foundation for some of the fundamental human rights we should all enjoy freedom of opinion, information and expression.”
“Yet despite their crucial role in society, journalists continue to operate under grave threat. Whether in conflict zones, in countries with restricted civic space or high levels of organised crime, and even in so-called safe and democratic spaces, their security is increasingly at risk.”
Last year, the number of journalists detained worldwide rose to 293. Legal proceedings are also increasingly being used against investigative journalists to obstruct their work according to the UN Human Rights Office. Killings of journalists have continued around the world. According to UNESCO, although the number of reported killings of journalists at 55 was lower than in the previous year, impunity remains widespread – a shocking 87% of murders since 2006 remains unresolved.
“In Mexico for example, eight journalists were killed last year and two were disappeared. Already this year, a further six journalists and one media worker have been murdered. And in Ukraine, where the fight against growing misinformation and propaganda is ever more crucial amidst the context of the ongoing Russian armed attack, there have been twelve journalists killed,”the High Commissioner said.
“I turn now to the focus of this year’s World Press Freedom Day, which highlights the very real threat that surveillance poses to journalists’ work. Rising use of surveillance tools – such as the Pegasus or Candiru spyware – intrudes deeply into people’s devices and lives. Such tools are an affront to the right to privacy and an obstruction to freedom of expression,” Bachelet added.
“The use of spyware has led to arrests, intimidation and even killings of journalists. It has endangered their sources. It has put their families at risk. To counter these risks, journalists are often forced to take the dangerous path of self-censorship. Pegasus spyware is reportedly being used in at least 45 countries, often in total secrecy and outside of any legal framework,” she said.
“In my recent call for a moratorium on this, I stated that until human rights safeguards are in place, we must stop the export, sale, transfer and use or servicing of privately developed surveillance tools. I thank the organisations and States who have supported this moratorium, as well as the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression who has advocated strongly for it to be implemented,” she said.
“I urge States who purchase or use surveillance technologies to do so in accordance with human rights standards. They must ask three crucial questions in this assessment: Are the tools legal? Are they necessary? Are they proportional to any risk? Domestic laws must only permit their use if they meet a legitimate goal. They must also recognise the right to remedy and should maintain strong and independent oversight measures,” Bachelet said.
“By tackling the threats of surveillance to journalists, we will be fortunate enough to hear and read about the realities of our world – whether in all of its tragedy, its chaos or its glory- without risk or danger to the people who are bringing us the stories,” she said.
“Your voices, your insights, your ideas and your analysis bring to light the human stories – and human tragedy – that otherwise would be invisible to the world,” Bachelet concluded.
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