UNESCO takes part in the 7th Meeting of the Social Communication Council of Brazil’s National Congress to address press freedom

UNESCO took part in the special session of the 7th Meeting of the Social Communication Council of the National Congress, held at the Federal Senate in Brasília. The event marked World Press Freedom Day, celebrated on Sunday (3 May).

"Press freedom is a prerequisite for the exercise of other rights. It is directly connected to the right of access to information, citizen participation, the integrity of democratic processes, gender equality, environmental protection, the fight against corruption, and sustainable development," said Adauto Soares, Coordinator of UNESCO's Communication and Information Sector in Brazil, on 4 May.

The session addressed the defense of press freedom, the protection of journalists and media outlets, the sustainability of journalism, and the fight against disinformation. "More than celebrating World Press Freedom Day, this is about raising awareness of the risks faced by journalists," stated Patrícia Blanco, Chair of the Council and Executive President of the Palavra Aberta Institute, who moderated the session.

Brazil has risen 58 positions in the latest press freedom ranking published by Reporters Without Borders and now ranks 52nd. João Brant, Secretary for Digital Policies at the Secretariat for Social Communication of the Presidency of the Republic, emphasized that the defense of press freedom must be continuous.

"There is no doubt that press freedom is a guarantee that requires special attention. What we have witnessed in recent years, for different reasons, shows that vigilance must indeed be permanent and urgent, given the threats faced by press freedom," he said.

Journalists Basília Rodrigues and Bia Barbosa, Representative of the Coalition in Defense of Journalism, also participated in the meeting.

World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993, following a recommendation adopted by UNESCO's General Conference. The date of 3 May was chosen to commemorate the anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration, a landmark document reaffirming the importance of free, independent, and pluralistic press as an essential condition for democracy and development.