World Press Freedom Day

We thank the Chair of the Permanent Council for including this item on the agenda, and the Permanent Mission of Chile for its diligent and timely efforts to bring about this meeting.

We likewise thank the panelists for the information provided today, of which we have taken due note.

Mr. Chair,

The Dominican Republic joins in commemorating World Press Freedom Day. Freedom of the press is a right enshrined in Article 49 of our Constitution, which provides that “Everyone has the right to freely express their thoughts, ideas and opinions, by any means, without prior censorship.” We are likewise signatories to the Declaration of Chapultepec and the Declaration of Salta on Principles of Freedom of Expression in the Digital Era.

At present, our country has been working on the creation of a security protocol for journalists and media workers, with the aim of guaranteeing their protection and preventing attacks against them. The country has also implemented the National Human Rights Plan, which provides for the protection of freedom of expression and the right to information.

It should be emphasized that our President, Luis Abinader, reaffirmed his commitment to the defense of journalistic independence, to the right to speak, and to the guarantee that “the Dominican Republic will never be a nation that persecutes those who have committed themselves to truth, freedom and democracy.”

Mr. Chair,

We recognize the fundamental role played by a free press, which is nothing less than the backbone of democracies, and we believe that it must be professional, independent and responsible. We likewise highlight the impact of the media on society as the force that drives public opinion, since traditional and digital media influence millions of people.

Among the advances achieved in the Dominican Republic with regard to freedom of the press is the Law on Free Access to Public Information, which establishes the right of citizens to access public information and sets out the obligations of government bodies to provide it. In addition, less than a year ago a presidential commission was created to update the legislation in force on freedom of expression.

As for the protection of journalists, security measures have been created for journalists and media workers, with the aim of guaranteeing their physical integrity. In this regard, a security protocol for journalists and media workers was established in 2019, which includes measures of prevention, protection and assistance for journalists at risk. For this and other reasons, according to the World Press Freedom Index of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the Dominican Republic advanced significantly in the press freedom ranking in 2022.

Mr. Chair,

Freedom of the press in the region faces great challenges that deserve attention, and we reiterate our commitment to work at home, with other States and with the working group of the OAS Group of Friends of Freedom of the Press and Journalism in its defense and promotion. As is well known, some of these challenges are violence and intimidation, media concentration, censorship and regulation, economic pressures, and disinformation and fake news.

These last two challenges are of particular interest today. We cannot conclude this statement without referring to freedom of the press in the digital age, in which information moves faster than ever and social media have become an essential tool. With it, new challenges have arisen, such as the spread of false news and the polarization of society. The age of social media and artificial intelligence has transformed the world of communication and has had a significant impact on freedom of the press.

The democratization of information brought by social media has allowed anyone to publish and share information quickly and easily. Yet this freedom has also allowed the spread of false information and disinformation that can damage the credibility of traditional media. Social media have also allowed the creation of information bubbles, in which people see and share only information that confirms their own beliefs and perspectives. This can limit the diversity of opinions and the plurality of voices in public debate.

Finally, artificial intelligence also presents challenges and opportunities for freedom of the press. The capacity of artificial intelligence to analyze large quantities of data and generate content automatically can be a useful tool for the media, but it can also lead to the creation of false news and manipulated content. Moreover, the growing capacity of artificial intelligence to analyze user behavior can be used to personalize content and limit the diversity of opinions.

Thank you very much.