Chairman of the General Press Authority Mr. Abdulrazaq Al-Dahesh,

Esteemed journalists,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a privilege to join you today to mark World Press Freedom Day. I would like to begin by expressing my sincere appreciation to the General Press Authority for organizing this important event. Your efforts ensure that we come together not only to celebrate the role of the media but also to reaffirm our shared commitment to a free and responsible press.

I wish to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all Libyan journalists—women and men—who strive to uphold the values of journalistic integrity in challenging circumstances, including political polarization, censorship, safety concerns, and underdevelopment. The fight for true press freedom has been long — your late colleague Khadija Aljahmi, whom UNSMIL recently honoured for Libya’s National Women’s Day, was speaking out against these challenges as early as the 1960s.  Your resilience is deeply inspiring.

At this sensitive time in Libya’s history, the media has a crucial role to play in creating a conductive environment to unify the country and its institutions and establishing lasting stability and prosperity.

As the UN Secretary-General stated, “Free and independent journalism is an essential public good. It is the backbone of accountability, justice, equality, and human rights.”

I encourage Libyan journalists to facilitate conversations that promote understanding, collaboration, and conflict resolution. The media can, and must, help bridge divides and create avenues for peacebuilding.

Investigative journalism and transparent reporting play a crucial role in holding political actors accountable. By shining a light on corruption, injustice, and abuse, the media can help build public trust in a country where governance is fragmented and many institutions remain dysfunctional.

Strong journalism is also key to combating the growing threat of misinformation, disinformation, hate speech and incitement.

These harmful practices undermine public trust, deepen division, and threaten the very foundations of democratic dialogue. In Libya, as in many parts of the world, these dangers are amplified by political instability and the absence of robust regulatory frameworks. We have seen firsthand how misinformation can inflame tensions and obstruct the path to peace.

Artificial intelligence adds a new layer of complexity to this already difficult environment. AI tools have the potential to enhance journalism through content verification, automation, and data analysis. However, when used irresponsibly or maliciously, AI can also accelerate the spread of false information, generate deepfakes, and target vulnerable audiences with disinformation at unprecedented speed and scale.

UNSMIL advocates for Libyan solutions to combat the threat of misinformation and disinformation and, to this end, has consulted with hundreds of media professionals, youth, women, civil society actors and others. One thing that has been highlighted is the need for professional development opportunities for the media sector.

With this in mind, UNSMIL will launch on 7 May a new professional development program for media professionals and students, which will include regular workshops and webinars to help build skills in digital fact checking, investigative reporting, conflict reporting—and more. The first discussions will be on AI’s impact on politics and the use of AI in the newsroom.

As we commemorate this day, let us not only celebrate the power of the press but also renew our commitment to protecting it. Let us stand together in defence of factual reporting, inclusive storytelling, and the ethical use of technology. In doing so, we not only empower journalists—we contribute to the resilience of Libyan society and the pursuit of lasting peace.

Thank you.