A/HRC/50/29
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
20 April 2022
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Fiftieth session
13 June–8 July 2022
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights,
civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development
Reinforcing media freedom and the safety of journalists in
the digital age
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of
the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Irene Khan
Summary
In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the
right to freedom of opinion and expression examines the opportunities, challenges and threats
to media in the digital age. She highlights the societal relevance of independent, free and
pluralistic news media and underscores the importance of journalism as a public good. She
finds that violent attacks on journalists with impunity, including online gender-based
violence, legal harassment and targeted surveillance of journalists, censorship of content and
manipulation of regulatory authorities have at times been entrenched, aggravated and
augmented by digital technology. Noting that this year marks the tenth anniversary of the
United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, the
Special Rapporteur makes specific recommendations to States and the international
community to strengthen multi-stakeholder cooperation to protect and promote media
freedom and the safety of journalists in the digital age.
GE.22-05821(E)