The G7 Media Ministers’ Communiqué to protect journalists

The G7 Media Ministers’ Communiqué condemns Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine, highlighting efforts to spread disinformation and suppress independent media. They are united in protecting journalists and upholding freedom of expression, focusing on enhancing media landscapes to support democratic values and rights.

The G7 stands up for open, free and democratic societies and their media ministers, met in Bonn on 19 June 2022 to work more closely together on issues regarding our media policies and their role in strengthening democracy.

Their report said they condemn Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. It also said that Russia sought to disseminate disinformation abroad and censor independent media at home. Journalists and the free media as a whole have been among the first targets of this war.

To counter these threats, they will work together to protect and advance the freedom of opinion and expression as laid down in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and further enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. 

The G7 will take measures to preserve and promote free, independent and pluralistic media landscapes and improve economic, social, legal and actual conditions for those who shape those media landscapes to serve our

democracies.