The UNESCO Director-General, Audrey Azoulay, ushered in the establishment of a new Global Media Defense Fund to support the UN Plan on the Safety of Journalists. The Fund was launched at the Global Conference for Media Freedom and its implementation will be led by UNESCO, which will also administer the Fund.
UK has pledged US$3.8 million and Canada has pledged US$765,000) over five years. Azoulay called on other Member States to follow the example of the UK and Canada in contributing to the work.