Journalists and Media Workers: Safety and Security

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon Excerpts

Thursday 24th April 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)]

My Lords, I begin by extending my mubarak to my noble friend Lady Mobarik for convening this debate. I declare my interest as a non-executive director of Asia Media Group.

In 2019, the then Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, and I launched the Media Freedom Coalition at the UN, together with our then media envoy Amal Clooney and Abdalla Hamdok, whom I know the noble Lord, Lord Purvis, knows all too well. How things have changed in Sudan since then. At that time, there were 22 members of the Media Freedom Coalition. When we left government there were 51 members.

I have three specific questions for the Minister in that regard. I associate myself totally with the call from the noble Lord, Lord Browne, on the recommendations. On the active use of human rights sanctions mentioned by my noble friend Lady Mobarik, I know the Minister cannot answer specifically whether they are actively being considered but they are a key pillar of human rights and sanctions are there for the Government to use.

How many countries have joined the Media Freedom Coalition since last year? In my experience, breadth of membership is important to seeing collective action.

How much funding is being allocated to UNESCO, the UN body administrating support for journalists, from the UK and collectively? I would appreciate an update specifically on that. UNESCO’s role was about directly supporting journalists. How many journalists were supported with their legal fees in 2024 and in advocacy and representation to other Governments?

Notwithstanding the challenges faced on the ODA budget, I hope that the focus and the prioritisation that I know the Minister is personally committed to will continue on this key human rights priority.