ONLINE EVENT: Voices in the Pandemic – Covid-19 and Freedom of Expression in the Americas
COVID-19 AND LATIN AMERICA EVENT SERIES
Among Covid-19’s many consequences for citizens in the Americas, disturbing trends on freedom of expression and access to information are already apparent. The invocation of emergency powers to fight the pandemic is in some cases being exploited by governments to target their critics or limit transparency, while disinformation online manipulates fear of the virus and undermines public health efforts. Reports of censorship, arbitrary detentions, media stigmatization, and restricted access to information threaten both freedom of expression and the pandemic response itself.
What challenges, legal and practical, confront journalists and media organizations seeking to report accurately on Covid-19? What are the causes and consequences of government opacity about the pandemic? And what options exist for combating disinformation about the disease?
To discuss these questions and more, the Dialogue is pleased to partner with Global Affairs Canada and the Office of the Special Rapporteur of Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to host “Voices in the Pandemic: Covid-19 and Freedom of Expression in the Americas.”
Follow this event on Twitter at #PressFreedomAmericas and @The_Dialogue. We invite participants to submit questions using the event hashtag on Twitter OR by emailing questions to meetings@thedialogue.org.
Please note that this conversation will be held in both English and Spanish. Simultaneous translation is available for those who join the event online through the RSVP.
Watch the event live here
OPENING REMARKS:
HUGH ADSETT
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the Organization of American States
SPEAKERS:
EDISON LANZA
Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (@EdisonLanza)
RACHAEL KAY
Deputy Executive Director, IFEX (@IFEXALC)
ELEONORA RABINOVICH
Government Affairs and Public Policy Senior Manager for the Southern Cone, Google (@eleorabinovich)
FRANK LA RUE
Advocacy and Human Rights Director, Fundamedios; Former UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection for the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression (@FLarue_libex)
MODERATOR:
MICHAEL CAMILLERI
Director, Peter D. Bell Rule of Law Program, Inter-American Dialogue (@camillerimj)
