皇冠体育app

皇冠体育app move underlines the Government鈥檚 commitment to press freedom and the safety of journalists to operate in the UK and comes as the Foreign Secretary hosts an International Conference for Media Freedom in London.

皇冠体育app Committee will be asked to devise a National Action Plan on the Safety of Journalists and ensure that those who threaten journalists are held to account. 皇冠体育app plan will examine current protections offered to journalists in the UK, and consider how to work together to build on existing strengths.

DCMS Secretary of State Jeremy Wright said:

With rising disinformation and threats against the media, the UK鈥檚 strong and independent press is a beacon of freedom that this Government is committed to supporting and preserving.

皇冠体育app Committee will champion journalists鈥� ability to safely carry out their important roles in society and to continue to hold the powerful to account. This is part of our broader commitment to ensuring the future sustainability of hiqh-quality, public interest news.

皇冠体育app announcement follows a recommendation to its member states by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the world鈥檚 largest security oriented inter-governmental organisation.

Membership of the Committee is to be decided, but the intention is that it will bring together representatives from journalism organisations and relevant government departments.

It is envisaged the Committee will make recommendations to Government, but will not be able to interfere with the independence of the press.

DCMS will now engage across government and more widely to agree the terms of reference and membership of the Committee.

As well as supporting media freedom in the UK, the Government has also made clear its commitment to promoting this freedom abroad. It is encouraging all governments at the Global Conference for Media Freedom to commit to developing a National Action Plan.

皇冠体育app establishment of the Committee is in line with the Government鈥檚 objectives on reinforcing the rules-based international system and supporting a prominent UK role in the United Nations and OSCE post-Brexit.

皇冠体育app conference is a key part of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office鈥檚 international campaign to shine a global spotlight on media freedom and increase the cost to those who are attempting to restrict it.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

• 皇冠体育app International Conference on Media Freedom is taking place on 10 and 11 July in London, co-hosted with the Canadian Government.

• In the context of recent attacks, threats, and murders of journalists, in April 2019 the OSCE urged member states to establish 鈥渁 national committee for safety of journalists which would gather representatives of the prosecutor鈥檚 office, the police and journalist associations to verify that all attacks and threats are properly investigated, improve procedures if needed; propose protection measures when necessary and implement preventive action to reinforce the security of journalists.鈥�