The Forum
As Malaysia welcomes a new unity government, it provides a unique opportunity in interrogating the role of the State in promoting fundamental freedom of expression, media freedom and human rights environment, as the forefront of issues tackled moving forward. It is also timely to move the discussion on the establishment of a Malaysian Media Council, as an independent self-regulatory body, into a reality. These changes are in line with the values espoused by the concept of Malaysia Madani, introduced by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on 19 January 2023. Malaysia Madani emphasises values such as fair, just and effective governance and centers on the importance of humanity.
The Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD), Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), the United Nations in Malaysia (through the Peace Results Group), and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands will organise a one-day forum to commemorate World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) 2023 to facilitate discussions around this year’s global theme “Shaping A Future of Rights: Freedom of Expression as A Driver for All Other Human Rights”. These discussions will involve media practitioners, state agencies, including the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia, international organisations, civil society organisations, academics and media students.
AGENDA
WPFD FORUM 2023
SHAPING A FUTURE OF RIGHTS: FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AS A DRIVER FOR ALL OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS
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Thursday, 8 June 2023
9.00am to 5.00pm
PART 1
The first part will begin with the screening of a short documentary related to how freedom of expression is fundamental for the media when reporting on issues.
Panel 1
This will be followed by a panel discussion, consisting of representatives from the government, the media, the United Nations, and civil society. The panel of speakers will reflect on issues highlighted in the documentary and link it to current trends of issues surrounding the media environment in Malaysia.
Panel 2
This panel session will be a talk show with the Protem Committee on Media Council. It will focus on the importance of the role of a Malaysian Media Council. A Q&A session will be held during the panel discussions to allow for an interactive dialogue between the speakers and the audience.
PART 2
Part 2 of the Forum will be parallel roundtables, where participants, consisting of panel speakers and audience, will be divided into four groups to discuss separate areas that affect media practicing their right to freedom of expression while reporting.
The topics would include:
i) Tackling disinformation and combating hate speech in digital spaces
ii) Addressing Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) as a threat to media freedom and freedom of expression
iii) Intersections of media freedom and labour rights iv) Accountability of social media platforms
The discussion, facilitated by a moderator, will flash out the challenges faced by media within these issues and how they impact the future of media and basic human rights. Next, each group will deliberate solutions for the issue they have been assigned to – bringing a multi stakeholder view on the challenges and solutions to the issues. The solutions will be presented by the group rapporteur at the end of the session to the large group. Finally, these solutions will be incorporated into an outcome document of the Forum.