OSCE Conference on Safety of Journalists

In Vienna, under the auspices of the OSCE a two-day conference on "Freedom of expression and freedom of the media, including the protection of journalistic activities in times of armed conflict" is held.

The conference name stems from the complexity of the issue, since, in spite of the numerous resolutions of the UN and various European structures, including the OSCE, the problem of the safety of journalists working in conflicts is increasingly deteriorating.

According to the Human Rights Department of the Foreign Ministry of Austria Gerhard Doujak, of all the journalists who were killed recently, 81% were killed deliberately for their work.

"In the last 20 years there has been increasing pressure by the governments on journalists, which is especially seen in times of crisis, and the promising N222 UN resolution on the protection of journalists is not satisfied,” said the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatovic.

She told reporters the main security problem avoidance, and even refusal of states to fulfill their commitments in this area. "Implementation of the commitments is important, as it gives the media the confidence that they are protected and supported by the government and the international community", said Mijatovic.

"Freedom of the media is under the pressure of propaganda," said the German Ambassador to the OSCE Eberhard Pohl, noting a number of countries increasing attempts to take control of the media.

Director of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency Michael O'Flaherty said that journalists are subjected to pressure from the security services, and the media are subjected to financial and economic pressure.

According to the German ambassador, the best protection of journalists from advocacy work imposed by the governments is political and economic independence of the media, which should be in the focus of the international policy on the issue of freedom of speech.

Patrick Penninx, head of the Department of the Council of Europe Information, stated that in 50% of the countries - members of the Council of Europe there is no guarantee for the safety of journalists, and in countries where it was bad, it has got worse. "It is time that all international organizations work together to solve this problem," he said, turning to the audience.

As noted by Turan IA, unfortunately, the course of the conference clearly demonstrated the attempts of a number of delegations to use the event for propaganda and their current goals, leaving the theme of journalist safety behind. -0-