The African Union (AU), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is hosting a global conference on ‘Media for Democracy: Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation’. The Conference is part of the activities to commemorate the World Press Freedom Day 2019.

The 26th celebration of World Press Freedom Day is jointly organized by UNESCO, the African Union Commission and the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

The main event will take place in Addis Ababa, on 1 – 3 May at the African Union Headquarters. This year’s theme “Media for Democracy: Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation” discusses current challenges faced by media in elections, along with the media’s potential in supporting peace and reconciliation processes.

As the United Nations agency with a specific mandate to promote “the free flow of ideas by word and image”, UNESCO works to foster a free, independent and pluralistic media and the safety of journalists.

Every year, 3 May is a date which celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom, to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession. World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 following a Recommendation adopted at the twenty-sixth session of UNESCO’s General Conference in 1991. This in turn was a response to a call by African journalists who in 1991 produced the landmark Windhoek Declaration (link is external) on media pluralism and independence.

At the core of UNESCO’s mandate is freedom of the press and freedom of expression. UNESCO believes that these freedoms allow for mutual understanding to build a sustainable peace.

It serves as an occasion to inform citizens of violations of press freedom – a reminder that in dozens of countries around the world, publications are censored, fined, suspended and closed down, while journalists, editors and publishers are harassed, attacked, detained and even murdered.

It is a date to encourage and develop initiatives in favour of press freedom, and to assess the state of press freedom worldwide.

3 May acts as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom and is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics. Just as importantly, World Press Freedom Day is a day of support for media which are targets for the restraint, or abolition, of press freedom. It is also a day of remembrance for those journalists who lost their lives in the pursuit of a story.

As a side event of the Conference, the AU Directorate of Information and Communication in collaboration with the African Governance Architecture Secretariat will be organising a One-Day Design Thinking Workshop on Interactive Communications between the AU and Citizens. The workshop is conceptualized as an open space for journalists, public relations experts, techies, creative designers, content producers etc, to come together with the AU Communication counterparts and ideate solutions to assist the African Union in enhancing its interaction with African citizens.

Using a design thinking methodology, participants will empathise, design and conceive prototype ideas that will bring the citizens closer to the AU and vice versa and tackle disinformation all over Africa. ​

The prototype ideas may contribute to any of the following areas:

• Popularisation of AU Shared Value Instruments
• Fact-based media reporting and citizens journalism
• African Union – Citizens Interaction and Engagement

It is expected that the participants will come up with ideas for digital interaction formats/tools, audio-visual content/campaigns or mobile applications. Participants will include journalists, public relations experts, techies, creative designers, content producers etc.