All around the globe, the ability of journalists to report the news and bring verified information to the public is being hampered by a wide range of attacks and violations, including threats, harassment, economic pressures, abusive judicial prosecutions (e.g. SLAPPs), arbitrary detentions, and a lack of access to specialized and gender-sensitive legal assistance. Administered by UNESCO, the Global Media Defence Fund is addressing these issues by supporting not-for-profit organizations in the implementation or upscaling of projects designed to bolster journalists' legal protection and enhance media freedom through investigative journalism or strategic litigation. This hybrid event shall showcase the results and impact of the GMDF around the globe, as well as exchange over the persisting needs identified on the ground vis-à-vis the defense of media freedom and the legal protection of journalists and media.

Organized by UNESCO.

Small hall/Väike saal.

Organized by Internews.

By Invitation Only. Special invitations.

D hall/D-saal.

Pledge Session (PDF)
Guide to Pre-Recordings (PDF)

Organised by Estonian MFA

The Cauldron hall/ Katelde saal.

When a woman journalist is targeted in the digital space, the whole sector is at risk. What is tech's role in gendered disinformation? How is the media and media freedom community an imminent target as well as an integral part of the long-term solutions?
Gendered and sexualised disinformation is a subset of online harassment and it is pushing particularly women journalists and other women social leaders out of the public debate at alarming rates. This form of harassment combines three defining characteristics of online disinformation: falsity, malign intent, and coordination.[1] For example, journalist and Nobel peace prize laureate Maria Ressa continues to be trolled en masse as a "presstitute" and hundreds of other women journalists have been threatened with the spread of super-imposed pornographic photos or other sordid images for speaking back to power.
As women's equal right to freedom of expression is indispensable for media freedom and the achievement of peace, democracy and sustainable development, this session explores how gendered disinformation is a defining challenge and part of a systemic problem with our current digital infrastructures-social media platforms, search engines, internet cables, app stores, and amongst other components.
This session asks what local and global coalitions are needed to ensure our digital infrastructures serve the public interest, media freedom, democracy and gender equality in the human rights framework?

Organized by International Media Support and Tech for Democracy.

D-Hall/D-saal

Black Box hall/Black Box saal.

Disinformation is clearly not a new phenomenon. Since ancient times, information has been manipulated to win wars and to advance political ambitions. Never before, however, have there been so many opportunities to create and spread disinformation on such scale and speed as today.
Addressing and countering disinformation, is however not an easy task. It is not always easy to differentiate between disinformation that is spread with the intent to cause harm and misinformation that innocent third parties share. How to ensure that any measures taken to address disinformation are in accordance with international law, including international human rights law? What is the role of media in combating disinformation? What are the possibilities and limits of media in tackling disinformation? What are the best ways to improve societal resilience to disinformation?

Black Box hall/Black Box saal.

Atrium/Vahetänav.

At 5 PM, the Red Cross and OSCE observers leave the frontline and leave the fighters behind. Hypocrisy takes over and this is where the story of our women, which kicked off on the Maidan Square in Kyiv seven years ago, begins. Heartache and hatred, breakdown of love, wrong decisions, and yet a hope for a new life in the face of death.
This is a documentary film about the war that broke out in Eastern Ukraine in spring 2014 through the eyes of women.

Media is often described as the fourth pillar of democracy or as a watchdog to protect public interests. Being a journalist is a dream job for many young people. However, even in democratic states, the profession of journalist can sometimes be dangerous. Journalists are under attack from an array of assailants, ranging from governments looking to suppress their investigations to private citizens seeking to quiet voices projecting news and opinions that they do not agree with. The COVID-19 pandemic has added a new layer to this, with governments being increasingly aggressive and less transparent to journalists looking for hard data on their responses.
The digital age has increased the opportunities for the dissemination of information and ideas. However, the digital means have also enabled new forms of harassment and discrimination to emerge. How can the media space be changed to ensure that journalists feel safe and empowered to do their invaluable work? How to address the emerging threats related to online spaces? How to ensure accountability?

Black Box hall/Black Box Saal.

Atrium/Vahetänav.

LIVE online

With the innovations such as social media, cloud computing, big data, and smartphones, some aspects of the media industry are unrecognizable compared to media at the turn of the millennium. Non-discriminatory access to and accessibility of the Internet have fundamental importance for exercising the freedom to seek, receive and impart information. Furthermore, oftentimes, internet freedom is a prerequisite for media freedom as internet shutdowns are preventing dissemination of information.
What can different stakeholders - governments, private sector and civil society - do, to promote and protect the free flow of information online? How can we improve the coordination and cooperation between different stakeholders? What are the rights and responsibilities of internet platforms?

Black Box hall/Black Box saal.

Atrium/Vahetänav.

Patron of the Conference is ALAR KARIS, the President of Estonia.
Conference music design: Kristjan Järvi

The organiser reserves the right to make changes in the program and the presenters.

By invitation only.