The National Committee of the UNESCO International Program for the Development of Communications (IPDC) convened for its first constituent meeting on May 20. The meeting was held online and was led by the Chairperson of the National Council of Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine, Olha Herasymiuk, who headed the IPDC National Committee in Ukraine.
The International Program for the Development of Communications (IPDC) was created to support independent media in developing countries, post-conflict regions, and states with economies in transition. The program helps strengthen freedom of speech, the safety of journalists, media education, and institutional capacity of the media.
The International IPDC Program includes 38 member states. By becoming an active participant in this structure, Ukraine not only promotes the priorities of freedom of speech, but also contributes to reducing the destructive influence of the Russian side in UNESCO intergovernmental bodies.
The participants of the inaugural meeting, including leading Ukrainian experts in the field of media, human rights, strategic communications and information policy, diplomats and parliamentarians, considered the key tasks of the newly created body. In particular, the issues of setting priorities for the committee’s activities, Ukraine’s participation in UNESCO global initiatives and support for national media projects were discussed.
Thanks to participation in the work of committees such as IPDC, our state not only strengthens its own positions in the global information field, but also plays the role of a facilitator of important decisions that shape the new media architecture of the world, – emphasized Olha Herasymiuk in her welcoming speech. The Head of the media regulator recalled that in recent years, Ukraine has been actively integrating into UNESCO international structures, forming expert leadership in issues of information security, freedom of speech, and sustainable development of communications. In particular, thanks to the active work of the Ukrainian National Committee of the UNESCO Information for All Programme (IFAP), the facts of Russia’s crimes against freedom of speech, journalists, and media infrastructure are systematically reported to the international community.
The Ukrainian delegation consistently uses UNESCO opportunities to tell the world the truth about the shelling of editorial offices, the destruction of publishing houses, the persecution of journalists, and the crimes of restricting citizens’ access to information. One practical example of such cooperation was assistance to the Kharkiv publishing house Vivat, which was damaged by Russian shelling. UNESCO purchased books from the press, which will soon be on the shelves of Ukrainian libraries.
The head of the IFAP National Committee has also repeatedly raised the issue of the illegal imprisonment of journalists by the Russians in international organizations, in particular the murder of the young Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna by the occupiers. The UNESCO leadership has added its voice to the demand for an independent investigation into this cruel crime.
“Now we continue to put pressure on UNESCO so that the world insists on punishing the aggressor for crimes against journalists. Our delegation is struggling and will fight Russian manipulations at UNESCO”, – emphasized Olha Herasymiuk.
Thus, Ukraine is not only shaping a meaningful agenda within UNESCO, but also implementing specific initiatives aimed at protecting freedom of speech and restoring communication capacity in times of war.
Mykola Movchan, Deputy Permanent Delegate of the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to UNESCO, introduced the meeting participants to the mandate and activities of IPDC at the international level. According to him, UNESCO traditionally responds to high-profile crimes against media workers, and Ukraine’s participation in the International Program for the Development of Communications allows raising these issues at the global level.
Mykola Movchan also emphasized the importance of promoting gender equality within the organization’s programs. “Women in UNESCO have the green light! Women in science, in the media, in management – their contribution is undeniable”, – he specified. The speaker emphasized that the protection of women in the media is one of the priorities of the international community. A number of relevant projects are currently being implemented.
Natalia Shakuro, Counselor of the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to UNESCO, added that the organization systematically monitors the situation with the safety of journalists and systematically receives relevant information from the Ukrainian delegation. The Director General of UNESCO regularly reports on this by publishing special reports.
The National IPDC Committee includes:
- Olha Herasymiuk – Chair of the National Council of Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine, Chair of the IPDC Committee of Ukraine, Chair of the IFAP National Committee;
- Ganna Krasnostup – Vice-Chair of the IPDC National Committee, Director of Department of Strategic Communications and Promotion of Ukrainian Culture of the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine;
- Yevheniya Kravchuk – Member of Parliament (Verkhovna Rada) of Ukraine, Deputy Chair of the Parliament Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy;
- Yaroslav Yurchyshyn – Member of Parliament (Verkhovna Rada) of Ukraine, Chairman of the Parliament Committee on Freedom of Speech;
- Mykola Movchan – Deputy Permanent Delegate of the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to UNESCO;
- Olha Vdovenko – attorney, media lawyer, expert of the NGO “Human Rights Platform”;
- Liza Kuzmenko – head of the NGO «Women in Media», member of the Commission on Journalistic Ethics;
- Taras Shevchenko – representative of the NGO «Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law;
- Stanislav Miroshnychenko– Executive Director of «Media Initiative for Human Rights»;
- Diana Dutsyk – Executive Director of Ukrainian Media and Communication Institute.
