Found: We have been working on media freedom, and I was involved in an exercise on that just before covid

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps his Department is taking to support free, fair and peaceful elections in Senegal.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

Peaceful, free and credible elections are essential to Senegal's stability. Our Ambassador and Embassy in Dakar regularly engage with the Senegalese Government and civil society groups, together with international partners to reinforce these messages. The Embassy coordinated closely with international partners to observe the Senegalese Presidential elections, including by sending diplomatic staff as observers to polling stations across the country. British Embassy Dakar have also supported civil society groups through ODA programme funding to strengthen democratic practices, specifically media freedom during the elections period.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the governments of (1) Egypt, and (2) Israel, about allowing free access to Gaza for all foreign media through the Rafah Crossing.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We recognise the valuable work of journalists operating on the ground in Gaza, providing important coverage of the conflict in incredibly challenging circumstances. On 5 December, the UK supported a joint statement of the Media Freedom Coalition expressing concern over the repercussions for the safety of journalists and access to information due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. As the statement highlights, access to reliable, independent and diverse information sources and access to the internet are essential in times of conflict. We call on all parties to the conflict to comply with international law and protect civilians, including guaranteeing the protection of journalists and media workers.

We continue to engage closely with the Israeli Government to discuss a range of issues relating to access to Gaza, and we continue to reiterate the need for Israel to open more crossing points into Gaza. We are working with the Israeli and Egyptian authorities to support any remaining eligible people still in Gaza.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent steps he has taken to ensure the protection of journalists in Gaza.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

We recognise the valuable role of journalists operating on the ground in Gaza, providing important coverage of the conflict in incredibly challenging circumstances. On 5 December, the UK supported a joint statement of the Media Freedom Coalition expressing concern over the repercussions for the safety of journalists and access to information due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. We continue to call on all parties to the conflict to comply with international law and protect civilians, including guaranteeing the protection of journalists and media workers.

There must be a reduction in civilian casualties and Israel must take greater care to limit its operations to military targets. These are points that the Prime Minister has consistently made and reinforced with Prime Minster Netanyahu when they spoke on 15 February.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the joint debate entitled Countering SLAPPs: an imperative for a democratic society, and Guaranteeing media freedom and the safety of journalists: an obligation of member States at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on 25 January 2024.

Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

The UK implements the Council of Europe campaign through the National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists. The FCDO is committed to media freedom. We raise violations across the world including through the Media Freedom Coalition to hold to account those abusing or restricting media freedom. We oppose all attempts by any state to restrict press freedom, silence debate, abuse journalists, or spread misinformation - whether online or offline. The FCDO facilitates sharing UK best practice, including on developing and implementing legislation and measures to counter Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), in international fora.

Found: Where we have concerns about restrictions on political opposition, civil society and media freedom,

Found: Freedom ................................ ................................ ................... 12

Found: In October 2023 we instigated a Media Freedom Coalition statement on declining media freedom in BiH,

Found: Journal reporter, Evan Gershkovich, further illustrates Russia’s continued disregard for, and fear of, media

Found: We are also worried at wider constraints on media freedom, as well as the possible adoption of a draft

Found: Angola is at “medium risk” due to “abusive law enforcement” and “restrictions on media freedom” (V-Dem

Found: Where we have concerns about restrictions on political opposition, civil society and media freedom,

Found: The first being C lause 1, that a journalist, “at all times upholds and defends the principle of media