Geneva: The Permanent Mission of Qatar to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, in cooperation with the permanent missions of Austria, Greece, and France, organised a side event on the role of media in promoting human rights, on the sidelines of the 59th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Among the speakers were Permanent Representative of Qatar to the UN in Geneva H E Dr. Hind Abdulrahman Al Muftah, Director of the Department of Media and Communication at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ibrahim bin Sultan Al Hashmi, Austria’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva H E Desiree Schweitzer, Greece’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva H E Ioannis Ghikas, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Freedom of Expression H E Irene Khan, representative from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michael Camilleri, Executive Director of Fondation Hirondelle Caroline Vuillemin, Callum Birch, Senior UN Advocacy Officer at ARTICLE 19, and Advocacy Director at the International Press Institute (IPI) Amy Brouillette. The event was moderated by CEO of Investigativ.ch Eva Hirschi. The event was attended by more than 80 participants, including diplomats, international and regional organisations, media institutions, and civil society organisations focused on human rights, peace, and development.
Dr. Al Muftah emphasised that media is a foundational pillar of contemporary society, playing a crucial role not just in shaping public opinion and facilitating information flow, but also in defending democratic values, human rights, dignity, equality, and justice. She said that media also helps bridge divides by promoting our shared humanity. She highlighted that Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees the right to freedom of expression including the right to seek receive, and impart information regardless of frontiers. She stressed that freedom of expression and freedom of the press are interlinked and essential for an informed and engaged society.
She noted that in the face of rising misinformation and polarisation in a rapidly changing world, it has become more urgent than ever to understand and strengthen the relationship between media and human rights. She stressed that when media adheres to ethical standards and truth, it doesn’t just reflect reality, but becomes a powerful force for positive change, raising awareness, empowering individuals, and advancing global human rights.
Al Hashmi said Qatar’s media model is based on supporting strong and credible media institutions in a secure environment that enables them to fulfil their vital role. He said the government respects journalists and maintains open, transparent engagement with them, while also actively working through diplomatic and multilateral channels to empower the media and provide necessary protections.
