ANNUAL REPORT 2020 A

The MDP falls under the authority of the Director-General and it is managed by the Communication and Information Sector Assistant Director-General, and in particular by the Chiefs of the Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists Section, and Media and Information Literacy and Media Development Section. [...] The JCMG was also supported in preparing a report in response to the UNESCO Director General’s requests for information on the status of judicial enquiries into the killings of journalists, thereby feeding into UNESCO’s monitoring of killings of journalists and the elaboration of the Director General’s Report on the Safety of Journalists and the Danger of Impunity. [...] This project was carried out within the framework of the amended Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa (2019), and contributes both to the implementation of the UN Plan of Action and to the mandate of the ACHPR Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa. [...] These guidelines were produced in the framework of this programme for judicial actors, and will support the work of members of the judiciary and prosecution services in upholding the respect of the rule of law, freedom of expression and safety of journalists during and beyond the pandemic. [...] The role of media in times of elections was too at the heart of a regional conference organized in Mauritania under the theme “The Role of the Media in Enhancing the Fairness and Credibility of the Electoral Process” and organized in collaboration with the Organization of Arab Electoral Management Bodies (ArabEMBs), the Independent National Electoral Commission of Mauritania and the UNDP Regional.