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<p>Far too many journalists have been killed, arrested and imprisoned over the last
five years. The situation appears to have deteriorated during this time, including
the number of journalists threatened, abused or attacked. This is why the former Foreign
Secretary launched a global media freedom campaign in November 2018, to shine a spotlight
on media freedom and increase the cost to those abusing media freedom and persecuting
journalists. The Media Freedom Coalition was one initiative created under the campaign.
The Coalition is a partnership of countries working together to advocate for media
freedom and safety of journalists and hold to account those who harm journalists for
doing their job. It continues to expand, and consists of 47 members who have pledged
to improve media freedom at home and abroad. It has issued a number of statements
including, this year, on cases related to Uganda, China, Belarus and Myanmar, as well
as to mark World Press Freedom Day. Another initiative of the campaign was the establishment
of the Global Media Defence Fund, managed by UNESCO. Following its first project round
in 2020, over 40 projects, aimed at enhancing journalists' legal protection and access
to specialised legal assistance, as well as supporting investigative journalism, were
selected for funding. The projects are reported to be benefitting over 1100 journalists
and 65 media lawyers. Three years after the launch of the campaign, media freedom
and the defence of journalists remains a priority for this office. We have used our
presidency of the G7 this year to promote media freedom, securing strong language
in the G7 Foreign Ministers' communique committing members to champion media freedom,
support the work of the Media Freedom Coalition and lead by example in undertaking
measures to improve media freedom.</p>
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