Over 1,500 media stakeholders from around the world, including journalists, policymakers, media freedom and human rights organizations, journalism associations, and other civil society actors, are expected to gather in Nairobi, Kenya, in November for the Global Press Peace Summit 2026 (GPPS 2026), an annual international initiative aimed at addressing growing threats to journalists and humanitarian workers operating in conflict zones.
Organised through a collaboration involving InfoNile Communications, Impact Afrika, and EcoPark Global Initiative, the three-day summit, formally described as the Nairobi International Summit on Peaceful Resolution of Conflicts, is scheduled to hold from November 25 to 27, 2026, at the University of Nairobi.
The event will bring together global leaders, governments and security agencies, United Nations agencies, media institutions, human rights defenders, philanthropic foundations, private sector leaders, telecommunications companies, journalists and other media practitioners, media freedom and human rights organisations, journalism associations, media councils, academics, technology companies, humanitarian organisations and peacebuilding actors, diplomats, and civil society actors, among others.
The organisers describe it as a high-level international gathering dedicated to protecting journalists, strengthening humanitarian support systems, and advancing peaceful approaches to conflict resolution.
The event comes amid mounting concern about attacks on journalists reporting from areas affected by war, political instability, and humanitarian crises.
According to the summit’s organisers, the gathering will seek to confront the reality that journalists increasingly face deliberate threats and attacks in conflict situations, rather than merely being exposed to the incidental dangers of war.
The Summit will examine six broad thematic areas, including the physical and digital protection of journalists; legal frameworks and accountability; peace, security, and mediation; protection of humanitarian support systems; countering misinformation and propaganda while protecting press freedom; and trauma support, rehabilitation, and livelihood pathways for affected journalists and media workers.
The organisers said the discussions would address a wide range of threats confronting media professionals working in high-risk environments, including physical violence, digital attacks, surveillance, arbitrary detention, psychological trauma, and the loss of livelihoods.
Particular attention is expected to be given to the persistent problem of impunity for crimes against journalists.
The organisers noted that a major focus of the legal and accountability discussions will be how to strengthen responses to attacks and ensure that perpetrators are held responsible.
Opening opportunities for participation in the summit, the organisers have issued a call for papers inviting researchers and other contributors to submit abstracts relating to the event’s six thematic areas, with particular attention to attack patterns affecting journalists and humanitarian workers between 2023 and 2026.
A baseline survey has also been launched for journalists, media workers, and humanitarian personnel operating in high-risk areas, as part of efforts to gather information on the threats and challenges confronting those working on the front lines.
One of the anticipated outcome of the event is the development and adoption of a Nairobi Declaration, which the organisers described as a framework for strengthening international accountability and protection for journalists and others working in dangerous environments.
The organisers said the proposed declaration is intended to contribute to a broader international effort to protect those who report from conflict zones and to reinforce the role of independent journalism in promoting peace, accountability, and human rights.
The summit is being promoted as a platform for dialogue among journalists, governments, peacebuilders, academics, and international partners on practical measures that can improve the safety and resilience of media practitioners.
The event’s programme is also expected to include policy discussions, research presentations, and opportunities for participants to share experiences from conflict and crisis environments.
The organisers said the gathering will seek to combine advocacy with practical discussions about safety, legal protection, emergency response, and support for journalists affected by violence and trauma.
Interested participants can register for the Summit at https://presssummit.infonile.africa/registration/.
