UN leader António Guterres visits RSF headquarters, reaffirms commitment to press freedom and reliable information
On the sidelines of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit in Paris, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres visited Reporters Without Borders (RSF) headquarters and reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to press freedom and citizens’ right to access reliable information. António Guterres marked his visit with a tribute to the legacy of former RSF Secretary-General Christophe Deloire, unveiling a commemorative plaque in his honour in the presence of RSF staff and the late journalist’s family.
“I want to reaffirm my support for all journalists who fight to inform the public. Shedding light on the truth is an essential combat. There is no democracy without press freedom. And press freedom also means freedom for journalists. The battles for press freedom are growing, becoming more sophisticated and more deadly. I am shocked by the impunity granted to those who murder journalists. Your work is essential, and we share your goals and concerns. Press freedom is a fundamental pillar of any democracy. The UN fully supports the work of RSF. You can count on us — we stand with you.
A renewed commitment alongside RSF
Ten years after Christophe Deloire’s address to the United Nations Security Council in May 2015, the UN remains an active supporter of RSF initiatives — particularly the International Initiative on Information and Democracy, launched in 2018. Now led by the Forum on Information and Democracy, the initiative continues to work toward implementing democratic safeguards in the digital sphere — a mission that has become all the more urgent with the rise of artificial intelligence.
During his visit, António Guterres praised RSF work, especially concerning:
- the protection of journalists in the most dangerous environments, including the press freedom centres set up in Ukraine, Beirut, and Chiang Mai.
- the fight against impunity through proactive legal action.
- the World Press Freedom Index, an international benchmark for assessing the state of journalism worldwide.
- innovation against disinformation and censorship, including initiatives such as Collateral Freedom and the Svoboda satellite package.
- addressing the challenges of artificial intelligence, particularly through the Paris Charter on AI and Journalism and the Spinoza project.
"As attacks on the press multiply across the world, this visit from the UN Secretary-General represents strong, vital support for the mission of RSF. It serves as a reminder that the freedom to inform and be informed is a fundamental right that must be protected — now more than ever. Today, it is crucial to place the issue of public access to reliable information at the heart of our shared battles.
AI: a major challenge for the future of journalism
As artificial intelligence transforms the media landscape, António Guterres emphasised the urgent need for regulations to safeguard the integrity of information against AI-generated disinformation. Through systemic solutions such as the Journalism Trust Initiative, RSF is working to promote ethical, reliable journalism and defend the right to information.
