As Heads of Government prepare to approve the Commonwealth Principles on Freedom of Expression at their summit in Samoa, a side event is exploring practical ways in which the organisation can strengthen this most fundamental of rights into the future.
The session, hosted by several organisations including the CJA and the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, will confront the urgent challenges to freedom of expression that are growing across the Commonwealth. Speakers will explore how the contraction of civic space impacts everything from election integrity to environmental reporting, as well as the crucial role of online platforms as both tools of empowerment and vehicles for disinformation.
Over a third of Commonwealth nations experienced sharp declines in media freedom in the decade to 2022. This decline, coupled with rising censorship and legal attacks on free expression, threatens transparency, accountability, and the ability of Commonwealth citizens to participate in their governance.
