Brazil: The National Federation of Journalists (FENAJ) and the Observatory of Journalistic Ethics (objETHOS) will launch next Tuesday, May 3, the file “Attacks against journalism and its right to information”, a publication which deepens the debate on the violence against journalism in Brazil and its impact on the rights of society, such as the right to information. To commemorate World Press Freedom Day and present the dossier, a live broadcast on YouTube brings together the president of the federation, Maria José Braga, and the coordinator of the research group, Rogério Christofoletti. The live begins at 7:30 p.m. with a simulcast by journalists’ union channels across Brazil on Facebook.

Cambodia: CamboJA, in collaboration with UNESCO and other CSO partners of the World Press Freedom Day Task Force, will organize a face-to-face debate on World Press Freedom Day to discuss and better understand the potential impact of restrictive legislation on fundamental freedoms, including the sub-decree establishing the National Internet Portal (NIG), the sub-decree relating to the management, use and security of the protection of personal identity data (PID) and the bill on cybercrime. This year’s main theme will align with the overall theme “Journalism beleaguered by the digital”.

Canada: Unifor’s media sector in Canada plans to release the results of a union survey on harassment of journalists. The results/press release will also highlight a new section on our website that offers information for journalists – union, non-union and freelance – on how to respond to harassment and get help. The launch of the website and the results of the survey will not be ready before World Press Freedom Day. They are also partnering with the Council of Canadians to publish an opinion piece in a major Canadian newspaper, highlighting the problem of harassment and its impact on journalists and democracy, and ultimately is a freedom of the press issue.

On World Press Freedom Day, the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance calls on all political parties to act on a range of reforms needed to ensure journalists can continue to do their job essential to finding the facts, seeking the truth and holding power accountable. .

Croatia: On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, the Syndicate of Croatian Journalists and the Association of Croatian Journalists paid tribute to the journalists killed in Ukraine and to all journalists whose freedom of expression is threatened. In a statement sent to all newsrooms, the Syndicate of Croatian Journalists reiterated the need for better protection of journalism as an indispensable factor in any genuine democracy. The increasingly precarious and temporary work in the media, especially in many portals and other online media, reduces the ability of journalists to protect themselves and their profession and thus to defend the credibility of the media in which they work and collaborate.

Estonia: The The Estonian Association of Journalists marks WPFD2022 with the hybrid discussion “In Crisis with Ethics” on media ethics, media freedom and the role of journalists in times of crisis. Presenters come from Estonia, Ukraine, Russia and Georgia.

Finland: The Union of Finnish Journalists celebrates World Press Freedom Day with a special event in Helsinki, which will host a panel discussion on what is missing in Finnish media and journalism.

France: The National Union of Journalists (SNJ-France) is organizing on May 3 at 12:30 p.m., place Ghislaine-Dupont-Claude-Verlon-Camille-Lepage in Paris (2nd arrondissement), a special ceremony for journalists who “died for information” in presence of Anthony Bellanger, IJF General Secretary and Dominique Pradalié, member of the IJF Executive Committee.

The SNJ and the IFJ are also organizing a screening of the film “Hacking Justice” and a debate on “Freedom, rehabilitation and compensation for Julian Assange” on May 3 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the auditorium of the Paris City Hall. In the presence of Cédric Villani, MP; a family member of Julian Assange; Anthony Bellanger, IFJ General Secretary; William Bourdon, lawyer; and David Dufresne, journalist and director.

The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) is organizing a conference on human and trade union rights in Afghanistan on 2 May in Paris. Speakers include ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow, IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger and the General Secretaries of the French trade unions CGT, CFDT and FO as well as a representative of the ILO.

Gambia: In the context of the press freedom situation in The Gambia, journalists still operate under the threat of digital surveillance and digital intrusion due to the existence of an authoritarian legal and technological framework, put in place by the former administration, which still allows unchecked government surveillance of information and communication technologies. The GPU urges the Gambian government to speed up media law reforms and uphold its commitment to press freedom.

Indonesia: This year’s WPFD celebration parallels Eid Al-Fitr, a holy day for most Indonesian Muslims. Therefore, the celebration of the Association of Indonesian Independent Journalists will take place after May 3. The union will organize various events in 20 cities, such as debates, radio and television shows, photo exhibitions and training for journalists on holistic violence. The highlight of the event will take place on June 6 with the launch of the report on press freedom in Indonesia.

Italy: OOn the occasion of World Press Freedom Day 2022, the Italian National Press Federation (FNSI) will be in Conselice, a small town in Emilia-Romagna which houses the Monument dedicated to the freedom of the press: a old printing press similar to the one used by the clandestine printers who during the Liberation struggle worked to inform about what was happening on the front of the National Liberation Committee. The initiative is promoted in collaboration with the Press Association of Emilia-Romagna, the Region of Emilia-Romagna, the Province of Ravenna, the Union of Municipalities of Lower Romagna, the Municipality of Conselice. Alongside the general secretary of the FNSI, Raffaele Lorusso, and the local authorities, will be present threatened reporters, such as Paolo Berizzi, president of the Observatory of freedom of the press born in Conselice last year. Since 2019, Berizzi has been forced to live under surveillance due to threats received from neo-Nazi and neo-fascist groups.

Burma: The Myanmar Journalists Association will celebrate World Press Freedom Day on May 3 at the MPC office in Yangon with a panel discussion on “real news” to further reach people and fight fake news.

Pakistan: The The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has planned a number of programs at the level of the federation and regional unions. The following events are scheduled in the coming days as part of World Freedom Day: Seminar in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad; Candlelight vigil in memory of martyred journalists; Gatherings at Regional Union level and memorandum to be sent to government authorities.

Somalia: Shining a light on digital-locked journalism in Somalia is at the center of this year’s World Press Freedom Day. As the journalism industry in Somalia has become adept and vigilant in the face of physical attacks on journalists, the same sense of importance is needed to deal with an increase in online attacks, says NUSOJ. The digital environment has brought new targeted threats to male and female journalists as it offers relatively easy opportunities to track and harass members of the media community.

Spain: The UGT Journalists Group (AGP-UGT) calls for the protection of journalists, on the one hand to safeguard their own lives – whether in their country of origin or as war correspondents – and on the other hand to to freely exercise the profession of journalist, in celebration of World Press Freedom Day, which was established by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1993.

The Journalists Group and Comisiones Obreras media sector join the call of the International Federation of Journalists, of which they are members, for governments to respond to the call of unions to negotiate and develop protective rules to prevent any type of espionage on the work of the press and that professional communications are inviolable.

Sri Lanka:The Federation of Media Employees Unions (FMETU) will hold a seminar on “Press Freedom and Journalists’ Responsibility” near the International Media Centre, Gogotagama, Galle face. The Free Media Movement and the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association jointly organized a panel discussion on “Democracy, Social Responsibility and Responsible Journalism”, particularly in light of recent developments in Sri Lanka. Journalists who wish to attend this discussion are invited with this link.

Swiss: Press freedom is under pressure all over the world. Also in Switzerland. The Media Union presents three current examples: super-provisional decisions, which amount to muzzling media professionals, must be simplified. The banking law prohibits investigative reports. And the police are increasingly hindering media professionals in their work. On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, the union opposes all forms of restriction in Switzerland and other countries.

UK: The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) is hosting a month-long series of online events with speakers exploring global threats to journalism. Sessions will cover the union’s work campaigning for the safety of journalists, examine the use of spyware, the abuse of harmful legal challenges through SLAPPs and much more. Registration details will soon be available on the NUJ website. Members can attend all sessions free of charge. The Slapps event is May 10.

Uruguay: The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), in collaboration with the Uruguayan Press Association (APU) and the International Federation of Journalists of Latin America and the Caribbean (FEPALC), will organize a round table during the World Conference on on World Press Freedom Day, which takes place on May 3. The panel will focus on the situation of media workers in the region facing digital surveillance and the need for collective organizing tools to deal with it.