UNESCO defends and promotes freedom of expression, media independence and pluralism, and the building of inclusive knowledge societies underpinned by universal access to information and the innovative use of digital technologies. 

Through capacity-building, policy advice, international cooperation, monitoring and foresight in the fields of freedom of expression, access to information, and digital transformation, UNESCO will continue to empower key actors with a view to ensuring that fundamental freedoms are guaranteed online and offline, in line with international standards. 

This is all the more relevant to ensure the ethical development and use of emerging technologies, which have a growing impact on all aspects of the world’s societies. Citizens will also be empowered to enjoy these fundamental freedoms through the development of 21st century skills and the fostering of enabling environments for media pluralism and diversity.

High-level Celebration of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (IDIL2022-2032)
Defamation laws and SLAPPs increasingly “misused” to curtail freedom of expression
Knowing the Truth is Protecting the Truth

2022 UNESCO Director-General's Report on the Safety of Journalists and the Danger of Impunity

Communication & Information

Promoting free flow of ideas by word and image

Press and media on news conference. Filming an event with a video camera.

Knowing the Truth is Protecting the Truth

Accountability. Without it, crimes just like this one go unpunished. 9 out of 10 journalist killings remain unsolved. Indifference is the deadliest weapon. Don’t let their deaths be invisible to society, #MakeImpunityVisible.

Facts and Figures

135
UN Member States

have adopted various Access to Information legal guarantees

8,324
languages

are documented with approximately 7,000 still in use

press-journalist-woman

Our Publications

Inside AI: an algorithmic adventure
UNESCO
2022
UNESCO
0000382456
To recovery and beyond: 2021 UNESCO report on public access to information
UNESCO
2022
Report supported by Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands through the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC).
0000380520
Elections in digital times: a guide for electoral practitioners
UNESCO
2022
Publication supported by the Multi-Donor Programme (MDP) on Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists.
0000382102
Multistakeholder AI development: 10 building blocks for inclusive policy design
UNESCO
Innovation for Policy Foundation
2022
UNESCO
0000382570