Two U.S. Department of State (DOS) officials recently visited Estonia for the third Global Conference for Media Freedom. 

Uzra Zeya, under secretary for civilian security, democracy and human rights, and Lisa Peterson, acting assistant secretary for democracy, human rights and labor, attended the conference from Feb. 9-11. 

"Under Secretary Zeya’s participation in the main conference panel on the Protection of Journalists reinforces to our international partners that we remain resolute in our position that journalists must be able to do their work free from threats, harassment, violence and all forms of intimidation," the DOS said in a Feb. 8 press release. 

The event, hosted by the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Estonian Institute of Human Rights, is a multilateral forum where stakeholders aim to strengthen worldwide efforts that defend media freedom as well as the safety of journalists around the globe.

Peterson provided opening remarks during the media freedom defense pledging session. The two bureaucrats reportedly attended the conference to "engage senior government counterparts and civil society on human rights issues" and "emphasize the U.S.' firm commitment to press freedom." 

In the press release, the DOS said that "the U.S. and other governments will turn words into action and discuss progress" at the second Summit for Democracy, another media freedom conference initiated by President Joe Biden.