Committee publication · Correspondence · 29 June 2026
Letter from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Multilateral, Human Rights, Latin America and the Caribbean relating to steps the FCDO is taking to improve conditions for journalists working in hostile environments, 4 June 2026
From: Public Accounts Committee
Inquiry: BBC World Service 2024-25
Summary
Chris Elmore, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Multilateral, Human Rights, Latin America and the Caribbean, outlines FCDO steps to protect journalists in hostile environments. The UK co-chairs the Media Freedom Coalition with Finland, has increased BBC World Service funding to £148 million annually (42% rise), and supports journalists through targeted country programmes in Sudan, Iran, Russia/Ukraine, Georgia, Gaza, and Myanmar via diplomatic advocacy and direct assistance.
Key findings
- UK increased BBC World Service Grant-in-Aid funding to £148 million per annum—a 42% increase from £104.4 million in 2024/25
- UK co-chairs Media Freedom Coalition alongside Finland, working with High Level Panel of Legal Experts chaired by Baroness Helena Kennedy on journalist safety and media freedom
- Country-specific initiatives include Sudan Digital Resilience project and Thomson Foundation's Sudan Digital Investigation Hub to counter disinformation; UN human rights resolutions on Iran (November 2025, January 2026); support for Ukrainian media and international journalist access; OSCE support for Georgia; UNESCO Gaza fund; Myanmar MFC network relaunched December 2025
- UK coordinates through multilateral organisations (UN, OSCE, Council of Europe) and global embassy network to advocate for journalist protection under international humanitarian law
- UK recognises essential role of journalists in exposing conflict realities and commits to upholding protections in dangerous environments
Tone
SupportiveTopics
Key actors
Chris Elmore MP, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Baroness Helena Kennedy, BBC World Service, Media Freedom Coalition, Thomson Foundation, United Nations, OSCE
Notable line
“A robust and independent media, reflecting diverse local voices and perspectives, is fundamental to democracy, security and prosperity.”
Key Quotes
“A robust and independent media, reflecting diverse local voices and perspectives, is fundamental to democracy, security and prosperity.”
“The UK remains firmly committed to promoting media freedom and protecting journalists worldwide, particularly those operating in dangerous or highly restricted environments.”
“We have increased Grant-in-Aid funding for the BBC World Service for the next three years to £148 million per annum.”
“They are afforded protection under international humanitarian law, and we continue to advocate for these protections to be upheld.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗