Seven World Leaders Commit To Promoting Freedom Of Expression In Open Letter

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th November, 2018) The leaders of seven countries, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pledged in an open letter on Wednesday to establish road maps to promote freedom of expression in the coming months.

The open letter, published in Le Monde newspaper, was also signed by President of Costa Rica Carlos Alvarado, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, President of Senegal Macky Sall and Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi.

"The goal is for our countries to develop their own road maps in the coming months to promote freedom of expression in the technological and political context of the 21st century," the letter read.

The leaders said there was an urgent need to protect access to independent and pluralistic information based on facts.

They also pointed to the "widespread misinformation" online, which seeks to guide debates, and "even meddle in elections" to skew their results.

The politicians also voiced support to a declaration presented by the independent international commission on information and democracy, created at the initiative of the Reporters Without Borders (RSF), at the Paris Peace Forum earlier this week.