How is the world really going ?
Defending the free flow of ideas through words and images.
The exhibition “Le monde comme il va” (The World as It Goes ) presents works by contemporary artists that reflect the instability of our world and the current crises it is going through.
One of the works on display, Of What Is, That It Is; of What Is Not, That It Is Not, by Polish artist Goshka Macuga, consists of a panoramic tapestry made from black-and-white photographs, the two parts of which are designed to be exhibited simultaneously in two separate locations, Kassel (Germany) and Kabul (Afghanistan). Presented here face to face in the Gallery 2 of the museum, the two parts of the tapestry reposition our view of historical events, established histories and power dynamics.
This same awareness of the symbolic value of images has been experienced throughout history, particularly when their circulation and dissemination altered the official narratives of power. In relation to this observation, the importance of the protection of the journalists is obvious: they are the guardians of information for the public, a pillar of democracy.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion and protection of freedom of expression and press freedom. UNESCO has a specific mandate to promote “the free flow of ideas by word and image” and sees freedom of expression as an inalienable human right set down in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. UNESCO promotes policies for press freedom as well as the safety of journalists more broadly. It aims to create a free and safe environment for journalists and media workers, both in conflict and non-conflict situations, online and offline.
Masterclass in English with Guilherme Canela, Chief, Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists, UNESCO
Guilherme Canela holds the position of chief of the section of Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. For 8 years, he held the position of Communication and Information Regional Adviser for Latin America and the Caribbean at UNESCO Montevideo Office. During those years, he performed as Regional Coordinator of the UNESCO Initiative for the Promotion of Democracy and Freedom of Expression in judicial systems in Latin America. He has a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Brasília (UNB) and a Master’s Degree on Political Science from the University of São Paulo (USP).
