World Press Freedom Day (3 May 2025)
On World Press Freedom Day, France reaffirms its commitment to the freedom to inform and be informed, which is essential to all democratic societies, and condemns the violence committed against journalists and media professionals, information manipulation campaigns, and restrictions on freedom of the press in many countries across the globe.
France reiterates its commitment to freedom of the press and expression and the protection of journalists and media professionals everywhere in the world. It pays tribute to those who are risking their life on a daily basis to convey free, plural and reliable information that is critical to democracy, as well as to those who have lost their lives doing their job. It is with this in mind that the second annual Anna Politkovskaya-Arman Soldin Prize was awarded in November 2024.
This year marked the tenth anniversary of UNSC Resolution 2222 on the protection of journalists in armed conflicts, adopted in May 2015 at the instigation of France and Lithuania. This resolution recalls that journalists must be protected, including in the most dangerous contexts, and attacks on their safety are unacceptable. France condemns the increase in the number of journalists killed or wounded on the job. Journalists are protected by international humanitarian law as are all civilians. France will champion a resolution on the protection of journalists at the Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva from 16 June to 11 July 2025.
France is pursuing its efforts to rally support from the international community for a global space of free, democratic and trustworthy information through the Information and Democracy Partnership, which brings together 55 States. France is contributing to media pluralism and economic sustainability of independent media via Canal France International (CFI) and its contribution to the International Fund for Public Interest Media (IFPIM). France supports the Journalism Trust Initiative, an international norm developed by Reporters Without Borders to promote reliable information sources and journalism that complies with an ethical framework.
At a time when artificial intelligence is upending the media ecosystem, new risks are emerging including uncontrolled automation of information, manipulation of algorithms, amplification of unauthentic content, and large-scale manipulation of information. France is working to build inclusive and lasting international governance of artificial intelligence, having it serve the general interest and uphold human rights. It supported the adoption of the Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law in 2024 at the Council of Europe. This is also the reason for the Statement on Inclusive and Sustainable Artificial Intelligence for People and the Planet adopted on 11 February 2025 at the AI Action Summit. Amid the era of artificial intelligence and in light of Resolution 2222, France reaffirms that informing is not a crime, but a common good to be protected.