The event was officially opened by H.E. Mr Takehiro Kano, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Japan to UNESCO and Chair of the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC); Ms Mariya Gabriel, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information; and Hon. Mr Cornelius Mweetwa, MP, Zambia’s Minister of Information and Media. In their opening remarks, speakers emphasized the essential role of independent journalism in sustaining peace, democratic governance and sustainable development.
Journalists in the face of conflict
A central focus of the conference was the escalating danger faced by journalists working in conflict zones in Africa and beyond. With 61 active armed conflicts recorded globally in 2024—the highest number since World War II—the risks confronting media professionals continue to rise. According to data presented by UNESCO, between January 2022 and September 2025, at least 162 journalists were killed while covering conflicts. Alarmingly, only 1.23 percent of these cases have been reported as resolved, highlighting persistent impunity.
A powerful testimonial was delivered by Mohamed Zakaria, a photojournalist and filmmaker recognized for documenting the humanitarian crisis in Sudan’s ongoing civil war. His account offered a stark reminder of the personal and professional risks journalists endure in pursuit of truth.
Focus on Africa and regional action
Press freedom in Africa featured prominently on the agenda with the launch of the sixth edition of the Southern Africa Press Freedom Report 2026 by the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA). Covering 11 countries, the report identifies a critical inflection point for the region’s media environment. MISA urged governments, academic institutions and civil society organizations to engage with the findings and commit to comprehensive policies that safeguard public interest journalism.
Another major milestone was the launch of the African Union Group of Friends on the Safety of Journalists. The initiative aims to strengthen regional monitoring of press freedom and improve coordination in efforts to protect journalists and combat impunity. The group complements similar mechanisms at UNESCO, the United Nations in New York and Geneva, and other regional bodies such as the Organization of American States, the Council of Europe, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
The Conference continued on 5 May with the opening of the fourth edition of the African Media Convention (AMC), one of the continent’s most significant gatherings of editors, journalists, and media development organizations. The event was officially opened by Mariya Gabriel, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, alongside Churchill Otieno and Susan Makore, Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the AMC. During the meeting, delegates discussed the adoption of the Convention’s organizational charter, reinforcing collaboration with international organizations such as the African Union and UNESCO.
Also on 5 May, the Academic Conference on the Safety of Journalists brought together approximately 150 students from Zambia. Participants engaged with international research on media freedom, peace, development, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and journalists’ safety.
The 2026 edition of the Academic Conference was organized by the University of Zambia in partnership with the University of Liverpool, the University of Sheffield, Tampere University, the Worlds of Journalism study, the Centre for Freedom of the Media, and UNESCO. The conference was officially opened by H.E. Ms Ingrid Mollestad, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of the Kingdom of Norway to UNESCO, together with Dr Vera Slavtcheva-Petkova of the University of Liverpool, Non-Executive Director of the UK National Commission for UNESCO.
Additional side events included workshops on supporting economic journalism organized by the International Monetary Fund; sessions on gender, safety, and press freedom organized by WAN-IFRA Women in News; and a stakeholder validation workshop on the Africa Media and Information Literacy Framework jointly organized by UNESCO and the African Union.
READ MORE: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/world-press-freedom-day-conference-convened-lusaka-amid-growing-global-media-challenges?hub=701
