UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for greater protection of journalists who are providing the “antidote” to what he has characterized as a pandemic of misinformation surrounding the COVID-19 crisis.
Guterres made the appeal in a video message for World PressFreedom Day, observed today, in which he underscored the crucial role media hasin helping people make informed decisions.
He added that under the current circumstances, thosedecisions can make the difference between life and death.
“As the pandemic spreads, it has also given rise to a secondpandemic of misinformation, from harmful health advice to wild conspiracytheories”, he said.
“The press provides the antidote: verified, scientific,fact-based news and analysis.”
As the COVID-19 crisis has deepened, both the UN chief andthe World Health Organization (WHO) have been focused on countering theCOVID-19 “infodemic”.
In late March, the Secretary-General announced the launch ofa communications strategy to fight the rise in misinformation and conspiracytheories surrounding the new disease.
Guterres urged governments to protect journalists and otherswho work in media, and to uphold press freedom.
He said while temporary movement constraints are essentialto beat back COVID-19, “they must not be abused as an excuse to crack down onjournalists’ ability to do their work”.
Meanwhile, a UN independent human rights expert reportedthat since the start of the disease outbreak, he has received “alarmingaccounts” of retaliation against journalists, under the guise of spreadingdisinformation.
David Kaye, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion andprotection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, has documentedthese threats in his latest report to the UN Human Rights Council, whichoversees his mandate.Kaye underlined the critical role of a freepress, especially during a health crisis.