Ambassador Elisabeth Millard
Senior Area Advisor for Europe and Eurasia
New York, New York
November 2, 2021
AS DELIVERED
A free and independent media are essential to democracy and play a crucial role in the free exchange of information and ideas, combating corruption, and making government more accountable and transparent.
The United States is deeply concerned over the targeted harassment against women journalists in many places around the world, including Belarus, Iraq, Mexico, and the Philippines.
As set forth in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, freedom of expression includes the right of all persons to “seek, impart, and receive information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”
The United States condemns all threats, harassment, and violence targeting any journalists and media workers. No member of the press should be threatened or physically attacked by anyone for any reason, or arrested or detained, simply for doing their job. Journalists’ voices are essential to a fully functioning, free society.
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