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Ukraine: UNESCO launches a new programme to support Ukrainian journalists
Freedom of expression and freedom of the press are fundamental freedoms particularly crucial in times of conflict. In this regard, Ukrainian journalists have a critical role in guaranteeing citizen’s right to information. UNESCO is therefore committed to supporting them to ensure their safety and the capacity to carry out their work.
The programme will sustain Ukrainian journalists’ livelihoods and the continuation of their work to inform the public during the conflict, despite the loss of revenues and the collapse of advertising in the media sector.
UNESCO will endow $100,000 to grant 160 journalists to ensure that the population has access to critical and reliable information.
This agreement falls within the framework of a number of activities undertaken by UNESCO since the beginning of the war to provide immediate assistance to journalists and the media sector in Ukraine, particularly through actions to support the safety of journalists with trainings and safety equipment. It was developed after technical missions carried out by UNESCO’s experts to Ukraine, which mapped extra needs faced by Ukrainian journalists.
Journalists on the ground face numerous challenges in their work to provide information to the public. They need to be supported, both in terms of their safety, with protective equipment to cover the war, but also in terms of financial stability so that they may continue their profession. We are grateful for this new partnership between UNESCO and WFP in this regard and hope for continued support by the international community.
Thanks to a UN-UN cooperation agreement, the cash transfers will be facilitated by the UN World Food Programme (WFP), which has already distributed US$300 million to internally displaced and vulnerable populations in Ukraine since March 2022.
This activity is also part of the implementation of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, which marked its tenth anniversary this year. The event was celebrated by High-level Conference on “Safety of Journalists: Protecting media to protect democracy” on 3-4 November 2022 in Vienna, Austria.
This initiative aligns with the UNESCO’s Executive Board decisions (16 March 2022), which notes that “In a conflict situation, free and independent media are essential to ensure civilians’ access to life-saving information and to identify what is disinformation and rumour”.
This programme is notably supported by UNESCO’s Multidonor Programme for Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists.
