Can Yeginsu to speak at the United Nations on World Press Freedom Day
On Thursday 2nd May 2024, Can Yeginsu will speak at the United Nations at a commemorative event Calling for the Protection of Journalists on World Press Freedom Day. The meeting will be live-streamed from 2:00 to 3:15 pm EST and open to the press at the United States Mission to the United Nations in New York City.
The commemorative event will be hosted by the US Ambassador to the United Nations, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, and The Wall Street Journal. As chair of the event, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield will join speakers in calling on governments and civil society to fulfil their duty to protect freedom of expression and hold accountable those who impede or intimidate journalists and the media.
Professor Yeginsu will participate as a speaker on the panel discussion with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Russian Federation, Mariana Katzarova, and the CEO of Dow Jones and Publisher of The Wall Street Journal, Almar Latour. The panellists will address the increased use of judicial harassment and other means to silence journalists and address the wider issues of press freedom and protection of democratic values.
The Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations and Co-Chair of the United Nations Group of Friends for the Protection of Journalists, Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris, will provide closing remarks. The event will feature remarks by a member of Mr. Evan Gershkovich’s family.
The United Nations General Assembly recognises World Press Freedom Day on 3rd May, and the recent one-year anniversary of the detention of The Wall Street Journal reporter, Mr. Gershkovich, who was imprisoned in Russia on 29th March, 2023. The event can be streamed online here: Home | UN Web TV.
Can has acted in over 40 cases before the European Court of Human Rights and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. He is currently Counsel for Nobel Peace Laureate, Maria Ressa, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
In December 2022, Can was appointed by Lord Neuberger as the Deputy Chair of The High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom, the independent legal advisory arm to the Media Freedom Coalition of States.
