The Commonwealth and challenges to media freedom

When: 10:00 – 18:00,  4 & 5 April 2017

Where: Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU

Baroness Patricia Scotland who, in 2015, became the first British citizen to be elected secretary-general of the Commonwealth in its 66-year history, is heading a line-up of speakers at a special conference designed to examine the increasing hostility to press freedom and journalistic independence across the 52-nation group.

For two days leading journalists, academics, lawyers, magistrates, judges, policymakers and human rights practitioners will converge on Senate House to take part in ‘The Commonwealth and challenges to media freedom’ symposium. It is organised by the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, part of the School of Advanced Study at the University of London, and will call on heads of government to take a more robust view on these new threats which challenge democracy and human rights as much as freedom of speech.

The international gathering will debate the increasing obstruction and even physical dangers journalists face. They will use real examples of government interference and restrictions gathered from a range of Commonwealth countries including Malaysia, South Africa, Botswana, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Kashmir, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The debate will also call attention to regional threats and personal violence in India and highlight that there is no room for complacency in the UK in the post-Leveson environment.

Costs: Knowledge Quarter members pay concession rate of £15.00

For more information and to register click here.

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