On 9 December 2020, the Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edgars Rinkēvičs, took part in the World Press Freedom Day Conference, co-hosted by the Netherlands and the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organisation (UNESCO).
Edgars Rinkēvičs underlined that media freedom and safety of journalists is a priority of Latvia’s foreign policy in the field of human rights and called on the international community to respond, in a swift and decisive manner in cases where media freedom and the safety, health and life of journalists is exposed to a clear threat.
We wish to draw extra attention to the dramatic situation with the media in Belarus, said Minister Rinkēvičs and he informed the audiences that Latvia has been offering support, training and therapy programmes for journalists who have been injured in Belarus. We call on like-minded countries to enhance their support for the independent media in Belarus, the Foreign Minister said.
The Latvian Foreign Minister also emphasised the need for increasing support for a diverse, professional and stable media environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. To ensure continuity in the functioning of independent commercial media during the pandemic, the Latvian Government has allocated more than two million euros from the state budget towards capacity building for print and electronic media, Edgars Rinkēvičs noted.
Background information
The UNESCO World Press Freedom Day is celebrated annually to promote and protect the work of a pluralistic and independent press across the world. To mark the occasion, an online conference is being held on 9 and 10 December. The event seeks to promote the need to stand up for a free, safe and independent media and protect journalism from new and existing forms of unwanted control, pressure and influence, which is of key importance during the pandemic and in dealing with its consequences.