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An inaugural high-level meeting hosted by UNESCO and African Union partners brought together governments, media stakeholders, and international organisations to strengthen cooperation on protecting press freedom and improving the safety of journalists across Africa. The event marked the formal convening of the “Group of Friends on Safety of Journalists,” an initiative aimed at coordinating policy action and reinforcing regional commitments to freedom of expression.
According to UNESCO, the meeting focused on advancing practical mechanisms to address threats faced by journalists, including violence, intimidation, arbitrary detention, and legal harassment. Participants emphasized that ensuring journalist safety is essential for protecting democratic governance, public accountability, and the free flow of information across African societies.
Discussions at the event highlighted the growing need for stronger national and regional frameworks to prevent attacks against journalists and to ensure accountability when violations occur. The initiative aligns with broader African Union and United Nations efforts to combat impunity for crimes against media workers and to promote coordinated responses between governments and civil society actors.
UNESCO representatives also underscored that freedom of expression remains under pressure in many parts of the continent, with journalists facing both physical and digital threats. The meeting stressed the importance of building national safety mechanisms, improving legal protections, and enhancing cooperation between law enforcement agencies, media institutions, and human rights bodies.
A key outcome of the engagement was the reinforcement of a shared commitment to implementing existing international frameworks on press freedom, including the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists. Participants also discussed the need for stronger data collection, monitoring systems, and capacity-building programs to better identify risks and respond to attacks against journalists.
The event further reflected broader UNESCO priorities, including addressing gender-specific threats faced by women journalists and strengthening institutional responses to online harassment and disinformation campaigns. These challenges were identified as growing concerns that require coordinated policy responses at both national and continental levels.
Overall, the inaugural meeting of the Group of Friends was framed as a strategic step toward consolidating political will and operational cooperation on press freedom in Africa. Organisers emphasized that sustained collaboration between African Union member states, UNESCO, and civil society will be critical to ensuring that journalists can work safely and independently across the region.
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