The ministerial meeting took place under the auspices of the Third Global Conference for Media Freedom hosted by Estonia. The participants were addressed by the ministers of the co-chairs of the Coalition, namely Canada, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. The United Kingdom also passed on the co-chair position to the Netherlands, which will lead the Coalition together with Canada. 

In his address, State Secretary Raščan pledged Slovenia’s support for the Coalition, noting that journalism remains a dangerous profession and many countries continue to restrict and censor the media. He said that free, independent and diverse media significantly contribute to transparency, accountability and the rule of law, while at the same time fulfilling the important tasks of informing societies and fighting disinformation. Freedom of expression, access to information, independence and pluralism of the media together with their transparent ownership are the cornerstone of our democratic societies. The State Secretary added that countries need to demonstrate the political commitment to prevent attacks and violence against journalists and media workers and to ensure criminal responsibility for crimes committed against them. He underlined the important role of the Coalition, commended the work of the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom, and concluded his address by reaffirming Slovenia’s commitment to media freedom.

Canada and the United Kingdom formed the Media Freedom Coalition at the first Global Conference for Media Freedom in 2019. This partnership links 50 countries working together to advocate for media freedom and the safety of journalists. As a network of like-minded countries, it plays a significant role in raising awareness and ensuring the safety of journalists and media workers around the world.