Croatia accepts the Global Pledge on Media Freedoms. 

The Croatian Government accepted the Global Pledge to Media Freedoms on the 7th of January. The document promotes the strengthening of international initiatives that advocate media freedoms.

In July 2019, Croatia participated in the Global Conference for Media Freedoms in London, and all governments were invited to sign the pledge. So far, the document ‘Global Commitment to Media Freedoms’ has been signed by 37 countries, including 16 European Union countries.

Afghanistan, Argentina, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Honduras, Iceland, Japan, Kosovo, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Montenegro, Netherlands, Northern Macedonia, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sudan, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay and the United States of America, have accepted the pledge. 

The document’s main features are advocating the importance of media freedom relevant to all societies’ prosperity and well-being. Countries will unite to share information and take action in cases where journalists and media organisations are at risk, highlighting violations and media violations freedoms and revealing them to the global public.

The goal is to establish accountability and joint intervention with the governments of countries where media freedoms are at stake. It will also provide solidarity to countries working to build media freedoms. To further develop this plan, countries plan to bring together civil society, media organisations, lawyers, journalists and communication experts to establish sustainable intergovernmental structures.  

Countries will consider all available measures to address violations of human rights, including those related to media freedoms and will liaise with local journalists, civil society organisations, and local governments to seek solutions. The organisation focused on responding to challenges affecting journalists, to support the development of diverse media that is independent and in public interest.

The document also welcomes establishing a UN Global Media Defense Fund which should help journalists in danger, pay legal costs and initiatives, and be funded by voluntary contributions from states.