On 2-5 May 2022, UNESCO and the Republic of Uruguay hosted the annual World Press Freedom Day Global Conference in a hybrid format in Punta Del Este, Uruguay. Under the theme “Journalism under Digital Siege”, participants discussed the impact of the digital era on freedom of expression, the safety of journalists, privacy and access to information.

As part of this timely initiative, APC and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, Irene Khan, co-organised a session on 3 May focusing on a key aspect of disinformation: its gendered component.

Building on our previous work on disinformation and gendered disinformation, APC believes it is key to continue to focus on the impact of disinformation on women and gender-diverse people. Gendered disinformation particularly targets women journalists, women human rights defenders (WHRDs) and women in politics.

To raise specific examples of how this type of disinformation works and how to address it, we talked with:

Irene Khan, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression

Lucina di Mecco, of the #ShePersisted campaign

Nkemakonam Agunwa, of Witness organisation

Julissa Mantilla, president of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

Paula Martins, of the Association for Progressive Communications, facilitated the discussion.