UNESCO & OHCHR receive €7m from Netherlands to reinforce freedom of expression

Stef Blok, the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, has announced a grant of €7 million for the United Nations to enhance press freedom and safety of journalists worldwide, at the just concluded 2020 World Press Freedom Conference. 

Minister Blok on press freedom

Envisioned activities would be implemented through a partnership between UNESCO and OHCHR to foster an independent and free press, the safety of journalists (with a specific focus on female journalists), access to information, and to tackle impunity for crimes against journalists. 

No journalist should have to fear intimidation, violence or persecution. Journalists should just be able to do their job. They are the oxygen of free, inclusive, and diverse societies,” underlined Minister Blok.

Read more on en.unesco.org.

About the online conference
More than 3,500 participants from 133 countries (66% women) registered to actively digitally attend the virtual conference, broadcast live from the World Forum in the Hague, while thousands more followed livestreaming on social media.

Check our social media channels for the latest updates on the conference: