UN Summit of the Future Breaches Promise on Right to Information and Expression

At the United Nations Summit of the Future in September 2024, expectations were high that global leaders would commit to robust protections for freedom of expression and access to information. However, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Article 19, the summit ultimately delivered a diluted outcome, prioritizing rhetoric over decisive action.

RSF sharply criticized the final Pact for the Future and accompanying Global Digital Compact, describing them as “a missed opportunity” for advancing journalism and democratic information governance. These documents—adopted by UN member states on September 22—mention protecting journalists in conflict zones and combating misinformation. But RSF argues they lack concrete accountability measures to guarantee citizens’ rights to independent, diverse information.

Although paragraph 33 of the Global Digital Compact acknowledges that access to “relevant, reliable and accurate information” is essential for an inclusive digital space, RSF notes it stops short of obliging states or platforms to act on that recognition. In response, RSF is urging like-minded governments to form coalitions—such as the Partnership for Information and Democracy—to translate these commitments into enforceable frameworks.

Similarly, Article 19 lamented that the SDG Summit completely neglected freedom of expression and access to information—core components of SDG 16.10—in its Political Declaration. Despite acknowledging corruption and transparency, no nation pledged to adopt or implement access-to-information laws or to protect journalists from attacks. Article 19 underscored that without such commitments, development cannot be truly inclusive or sustainable, as informed civic participation is foundational to achieving broader SDGs.

Both organizations argue that the summit’s failure weakens the connection between human rights and sustainable development. They call on UN member states to elevate free expression and information rights in upcoming follow-up dialogues, especially in the lead-up to the next Summit for the Future in 2025.

While the Summit for the Future established important frameworks, RSF and Article 19 agree it lacked transformative commitments on media freedom and access to information. With pressing global challenges—democracy, climate, inequality—those rights must be enshrined in actionable policy, not just diplomatic language. The next summit provides another chance—but only if member states move beyond words toward genuine accountability.