Ukrainian journalists report the truth about Russia’s war of aggression every day and document genocidal crimes for the world. The role and contribution of women journalists, who continue to ensure access to reliable information during Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, became the central theme of a national UNESCO event in Kyiv held on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day.
Kiára Deczi Bardeschi, Head of the UNESCO Office in Ukraine, emphasized the importance of media freedom and support for the work of women journalists in these challenging times.
The event, attended by representatives of the Фундація Суспільність, included discussions on current safety risks, gender-based threats, as well as practical measures and collective efforts needed to better protect women journalists and support their work.
In a broader professional discussion involving journalists, diplomats, government representatives, and sectoral organizations, wider trends shaping media freedom and journalism—both globally and in the context of the ongoing war—were also examined.
Special thanks to the co-organizers of the event, our colleagues from the NGO “Women in Media,” for their key contributions and important work.
World Press Freedom Day, observed annually on May 3, was proclaimed by the United Nations in 1993 to promote press freedom and freedom of expression worldwide. The date commemorates the Windhoek Declaration of 1991, which called for an independent, pluralistic, and free press.
