The gathering, attended by prominent journalists, media leaders, and human rights advocates, sought to enhance societal dialogue on human rights and the role of the media in this regard while bolstering the relationship between the NCHR and media institutions.

They agreed that mutual efforts could transform the media landscape into a more proactive force for justice and accountability.

“This conference aims to give a renewed push to the relationship between the council and the media,” said Ezzat Ibrahim, editor-in-chief of Ahram Weekly and NCHR spokesperson, in his opening remarks.

One of the meeting's primary focuses was the crucial role of fair media coverage in strengthening the council's independence and assessing the human rights situation.

NCHR Chairperson Moushira Khattab highlighted the state’s “voluntary decision” to establish independent national mechanisms for human rights, aligning with the Vienna Declaration of 1993 and the Paris Principles. 

The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (VDPA) is a landmark human rights declaration adopted by consensus at the World Conference on Human Rights in 1993 in Austria.
It is considered a watershed moment in the global human rights movement, reaffirming the universal nature of human rights and committing states to promote and protect them.

Meanwhile, the Paris Principles are guidelines adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 1993 for establishing and functioning national human rights institutions.

“Without independence, establishing such mechanisms is meaningless,” Khattab stressed. 
She also emphasized that strengthening ties with the media is essential for encouraging human rights enforcement, which entails the role of an informed and independent media in advancing human rights.

 “The media acts as a watchdog over the government, which is responsible for enforcing human rights,” she added.

Khattab called for open dialogue, strategic partnerships between media institutions and the council, and capacity-building initiatives to help journalists spotlight human rights issues.

Khaled El-Balshy, head of the Journalists’ Syndicate, echoed these sentiments, insisting that media freedom is a non-negotiable prerequisite for a functioning democracy.  “Without freedom, there is no media,” El-Balshy said firmly. 

He used the platform to renew his call for the release of 24 detained journalists, some of whom have been held for as long as five years. 

“It is unacceptable to imprison journalists for their opinions,” El-Balshy argued.

He also called for legislative reforms to enshrine constitutional guarantees on the free flow of information and to abolish custodial sentences in cases involving expression. 

In a constructive proposal, he called for joint training programmes between the NCHR and the syndicate to equip journalists with the skills needed to navigate human rights issues effectively.

He also suggested allocating an annual award for the best investigative report on human rights. “Such initiatives could inspire a culture of professionalism and accountability in the media,” he noted. 

Both proposals were adopted in the final recommendations of the day, and an annual award should be established in the name of the NCHR to recognize outstanding human rights journalism.

“No one should remain imprisoned for expressing an opinion as long as they have not engaged in violence,” said Essam El-Amir, the newly appointed deputy chair of the Supreme Media Council. He addressed the pressing need for freedom of opinion and expression, which he said is the backbone of thriving media. 

“Media cannot flourish without freedom,” El-Amir asserted. He said that, in recent years, nationalist fervour often overshadowed professionalism. However, he now believes it is time to enforce ethical journalism that prioritizes accountability and "exposes human rights violations, regardless of the power wielded by the perpetrators."

Other key recommendations included holding regular joint sessions between the council and the Supreme Council for Media Regulation and the journalists' and media professionals' syndicates.

“Media students should be equipped with a strong understanding of human rights issues during their studies,” read the final text, stressing that “a media code of ethics should be developed and implemented to include human rights language.”

Most importantly, the meeting recommended swift enactment of the pending law, guaranteeing the right to access information “to promote transparency, fact-checking, and combat misinformation.”