UNESCO, CCJ forge partnership to strengthen freedom of expression, journalist safety

CMC:

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Friday said it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) to bolster the protection of freedom of expression, journalist safety and other fundamental freedoms.

“The agreement underscores the shared commitment to upholding democratic principles and enhancing the rule of law throughout the Caribbean region,” said UNESCO, adding that, with the agreement, it “further strengthens its relationships on freedom of expression and journalists’ safety with regional and sub-regional courts on human rights worldwide.”

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, said judges and prosecutors play a vital role in defending freedom of expression

“Through this new partnership with the Caribbean Court of Justice, we will be able to further expand our important work to train these essential actors, and together build stronger judicial systems that protect the right to information, contribute to the safety of journalists and end impunity for crimes committed against them,” said Azoulay.

CCJ President, Justice Adrian Saunders said the regional court established in 2001 to replace the London-based Privy Council is “pleased to enter into this Memorandum of Understanding with UNESCO,” adding that the MoU “will contribute to strengthening the rule of law and will in no way compromise the court’s judicial independence.

“The Court looks forward to our joint pursuit of the initiatives identified in the memorandum,” he said.

UNESCO said the agreement targets several key areas, particularly the protection of rights enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international instruments.

“The MoU provides a structured framework for joint initiatives to achieve shared goals, promoting cooperative efforts in the areas of freedom of expression, access to information and safety of journalists,” UNESCO said.

CREATING A SAFER ENVIRONMENT FOR JOURNALISTS

In light of the escalating threats to journalists worldwide, UNESCO said the agreement also supports the implementation of the United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.

UNESCO said it will collaborate with the CCJ to create safer environments for journalists and media workers across the Caribbean region.

Additionally, it said the MoU highlights the judiciary’s role in safeguarding freedom of expression and other human rights, “ensuring justice and promoting transparency.”

UNESCO said this includes specialized training for judicial officials to enhance knowledge and capacities on issues related to freedom of expression, access to information and journalist safety.

The Paris-based organisation said the agreement also addresses emerging challenges such as misinformation and disinformation, the impact of artificial intelligence in judicial systems, and the judicial weaponisation through Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs).

UNESCO said this MoU follows similar cooperation agreements it signed with other regional courts of human rights, notably with the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (October 2019), the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (August 2018), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice (May 2019) and the Eastern African Court of Justice (December 2021).

“It represents a milestone in joint efforts to reinforce judicial capacities and uphold democratic values in the Caribbean region,” UNESCO, adding that the MoU aligns with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly Goal 16, which advocates for peace, justice and strong institutions.

“The partnership aims to contribute significantly to regional stability and development by strengthening judicial frameworks,” UNESCO said, stating that the signature of this MoU falls under its global efforts “aimed at raising knowledge and capacities of judicial actors on freedom of expression and safety of journalists through the development of effective tools, regional and on-the-ground workshops and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs).”

UNESCO said these activities, supported by the Multi-donor Program for freedom of expression and safety of journalists, have helped “improve and reinforce the application of international standards on these issues, “fostering an environment where journalists are protected and the rule of law is upheld.”

Since 2013, through its flagship initiative, UNESCO said it has engaged with over 36,000 judicial actors from more than 160 countries across the world, the largest such training programme of its kind throughout the UN system.