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Thank you, Mr Chair, A free media is both a cornerstone of democracy and one of its strongest safeguards. It informs citizens, holds power to account, exposes corruption and strengthens security. The UK takes our OSCE commitments seriously. A recent report we commissioned on the safety of journalists in the UK found 79% said they felt able to work freely, citing our history of democracy, free speech and an independen...
Thank you, Mr Chair, A free media is both a cornerstone of democracy and one of its strongest safeguards. It informs citizens, holds power to account, exposes corruption and strengthens security. The UK takes our OSCE commitments seriously. A recent report we commissioned on the safety of journalists in the UK found 79% said they felt able to work freely, citing our history of democracy, free speech and an independent press. In contrast, 13% noted restrictions, a percentage we are committed to reducing. As co-chair of the Media Freedom Coalition, the UK will champion independent, pluralistic media. We thank ODIHR and the Representative on Freedom of the Media for their work, urge participating States to uphold the 2018 Milan Decision on the Safety of Journalists. Yet within the OSCE region, journalists are threatened, detained, exiled and killed. Outlets face censorship, abusive legal action and financial pressure. Women journalists face targeted abuse. And disinformation erodes trust. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has shown the connection between media freedom and security. Journalists and aid volunteers near the frontline face risks to their safety, particularly from drones. Civilians must never be targeted, and Russia must distinguish between civilian and military objects under international humanitarian law. In Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia, independent media face systematic repression. At least 26 Ukrainian journalists remain in Russian captivity. The UK calls for the immediate release of all journalists and media workers held by Russia, and accountability for attacks upon them. We support Ukrainian media, including Hromadske Radio. And we continue to condemn attacks and counter Russian information warfare. We remain concerned by democratic backsliding in Georgia. We condemn politically motivated detentions, including Mzia Amaglobeli, and call for the immediate release of those detained. Georgia should reverse repressive legislation and engage with independent experts deployed under the OSCE Moscow Mechanism. The UK will not tolerate foreign states targeting critics, including journalists, on British soil. Journalists in exile must be able to work safely. Through the Media Freedom Coalition, we will pursue advocacy, share expertise, address threats to women journalists, support sustainable public-interest media, and confront the risks of artificial intelligence. OSCE officeholders, States, journalists and civil society must use the organisation’s mechanisms. Journalists must work without fear: when independent voices are silenced, disinformation spreads, corruption flourishes and democracies become less secure. Those who tell the truth must be protected, not punished. In an age of weaponised information, independent journalism has never mattered more. Thank you, Mr Chair.
Speech Brief