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Video Remarks by the President of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ General Assembly,
H.E. Mr. Philemon Yang,
World Press Freedom Day event organised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵESCO)
Wednesday, 7 May 2025 ¨C Brussels – Belguim.
[As Delivered]
Excellencies,
I thank the President of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization General Conference, Ms. Simona-Mirela Miculescu, for the kind invitation to address this important event.
Press freedom is fundamental for free and democratic societies.
It is a core component of the right to freedom of expression.
It enshrines the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through the media without fear.
And it gives us the facts we need to make well-informed decisions.
As President of the General Assembly, I recognise the invaluable work of journalists and media professionals around the world.
Without it, we have no facts.
No truth.
No trust.
As this year¡¯s theme reminds us:
The rapid rise of artificial intelligence and the need for press freedom are two of the most transformative forces of our time.
Artificial intelligence offers vast benefits:
- It enables the free flow of information;
- It supports media freedom; and in these ways,
- It promotes peaceful, inclusive societies.
At the same time, it introduces new risks by:
- Spreading misinformation and disinformation;
- Amplifying online hate speech; and
- Enabling surveillance of journalists and citizens.
We must take steps to counter these risks.
The Global Digital Compact, adopted in September, offers a roadmap to do just that.
It sets out key commitments for freedom of expression and freedom of the media in the digital space.
It calls for integrating a human rights perspective in regulating new and emerging technologies.
And it presents a historic opportunity to close all digital divides, not least the gender divide.
I urge Member States to work with key stakeholders to implement the Global Digital Compact.
And to develop artificial intelligence governing structures that are transparent, accountable and rooted in human rights.
Together, we must defend the rights of journalists.
We must shape a future where artificial intelligence strengthens, rather than threatens, our fundamental freedoms.
I thank you.
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The detailed Programme of the day can be consulted here:
Additional details are available on the WWPD 2025 dedicated webpage:
The joint Statement is available here: .
Media Contacts
Sharon Birch, Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly, Tel: +1 212 963 0564, M: +1 646 342 5873, Email: birchs@un.org
Dr. Mariam Shaikh, Adviser/ Social and Digital Media/Media Relations, M: +1 917 3614990, Email: mariam.shaikh@un.org