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• Among the keynote speakers will be Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO; Gabriel Boric, President of Chile; Mexican actor Gael García Bernal, and notable figures such as Alyaa Abo Shahba; Andrea Isabel Ixchíu; Sebastião Salgado; Mónica González; María Ressa; Maksuda Aziz; Suntariya Muanpawong, among others. See the list of speakers here

Between May 2 and 4, Chile and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will host the 31st World Press Freedom Day Conference, under the theme "Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Environmental Crisis." For three days, Santiago will be the venue for this gathering, which will focus on the critical role the press plays in accessing and disseminating information to ensure and secure a sustainable future that respects human rights and the diversity of voices.

Activities will kick off on the morning of May 2 with the international meeting "The Challenges of Artistic Freedom and Creativity in the Context of the Environmental Crisis and Artificial Intelligence," organised by UNESCO and Chile's Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage. This will take place at the NAVE Center for Artistic Creation and Residence. In the afternoon, Chile's Supreme Court will host a discussion on "Crimes Against the Environment: The Role of the Judicial System in Ensuring the Safety of Journalists." The day will conclude with UNESCO’s presentation of the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize.

The agenda continues on May 3 with the opening of the conference, featuring welcome speeches by the President of the Republic of Chile, Gabriel Boric, and UNESCO’s Director-General, Audrey Azoulay. The keynote speech will be delivered by former President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet.

From May 2 to 4, the World Press Freedom Day Conference will include three plenary sessions and more than 45 parallel events, discussing topics such as building a sustainable future with freedom of expression; old and emerging challenges; governance and decision-making; Santiago + 30: Where Are We Now?, and freedom of expression in Latin America, among others.

"This event will serve as a reminder to governments of the need to honour their commitment to press freedom, and it will also be an opportunity for media professionals and other stakeholders to reflect on the vital role of investigative journalism and the public's access to essential information. Journalists' work bridges complex environmental issues and the public’s understanding of these topics, driving awareness and action," said Esther Kuisch Laroche, Director of UNESCO Santiago, Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Panelists in these discussions will include figures such as Brazil’s Secretary for Digital Policies, Joao Brant, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, Irene Khan. Other notable speakers include Maria Angelita Ressa, Filipino journalist and 2021 Nobel Peace Prize laureate; Gael García Bernal, actor and environmental activist; Leonor Varela, actress and environmental activist; Mónica González, Chilean journalist and recipient of the 2010 Guillermo Cano Prize; Sebastião Salgado, environmental photojournalist; Fredrick Mugira, Ugandan journalist specialising in water and climate change, among others.

The closing day, May 4, will feature a series of parallel events organised by civil society, along with academic discussions hosted by the University of Chile and the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.