On this International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, France reaffirms its commitment to defending the freedom of the press and freedom of speech. It pays tribute to all those who work to share reliable information ? necessary to the exercise of democracy ? sometimes risking their lives to do so.
In light of growing restrictions on the freedom of speech and freedom of the press, as well as infodemics and the manipulation of information, France intends to continue working with its European and international partners to protect journalists, foster an environment that allows them to do their jobs, and end impunity for crimes committed against them.
At the UN in New York and Geneva, at UNESCO in Paris, at the OSCE in Vienna, at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg and with all of its EU partners, France is striving to defend media pluralism and independence, the right to inform and to be informed, and the ability to express critical viewpoints.
It was with this goal in mind that Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian, together with Reporters Without Borders (RSF), launched the Partnership for Information and Democracy, now supported by 43 nations. The first ministerial summit of that organization met on September 24 in New York and was attended by 2021 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Maria Ressa.