Media Freedom at a new Crossroads? A Shared Responsibility in the Digital Age

I n an era defined by the speed of information and the complexity of worldwide narratives, media freedom has become both a lifeline for democratic accountability and a casualty of resurgent authoritarianism. Speaking at a recent key annual summit, a powerful call to action was issued by the top diplomat, the UN Undersecretary General Olga Algayerova (2017-23). It was during the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE) first Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting (SHDM) of 2025, titled “ The Role of Civil Society in the Promotion and Protection of International Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Law ” that was organised by the International Institute IFIMES.” The 57 participating States of the OSCE and their partners from the Middle East and Asia, discussed the current geopolitical moment and the security challenges of today. Less known outside Europe, the OSCE is the second largest multilateral system in the world, right after the UN. A...