Thank you, Ms Fleming. Let me express my appreciation to H.E. Ambassadors Aglaia Balta for organising this event.
And to our fellow co-sponsors: Colombia, Denmark, France, Liberia, Panama, and the UK. I also thank UN Women, UNESCO, Ms Ressa and all other courageous journalists being present today and sharing their experience.
I would like to begin with a quote from a woman of remarkable courage. Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who was murdered by the Russian regime in October, 20 years ago.
“People sometimes pay with their lives for saying out loud what they think.”
Indeed, this is what today’s meeting is about. Every voice for peace counts and must be protected.
My country, Latvia, firmly upholds the freedom of expression as one of the fundamental pillars of human rights. Latvia ranks among the world’s top 20 countries in terms of press freedom, according to Reporters Without Borders.
We take this commitment seriously. Which is why Latvia has been a founding member of the Media Freedom Coalition since its establishment in 2019.
Latvia has provided refuge to more than 200 journalists, protecting them from repression in Russia following the launch of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine in 2022.
Latvia also addresses gender-based disinformation in the information space.
Over the last decade, female journalists have been increasingly exposed to hate speech, violence, and harassment. In Latvia, women make up over 67% of the journalism profession, making their safety a crucial priority.
The Latvian Journalists Association established an online “Alarm Button,” allowing journalists to report violations anonymously.
Latvia’s Memorandum on the Safety of Journalists has established a dedicated contact person within the State Police to ensure a rapid response in emergency situations.
As a member of UN Security Council, Latvia will continue to champion the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
So that women journalists can carry out their work, without fear of violence or self-censorship, online or offline.
I thank you.