Скачать или смотреть INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE “Safety of Journalists – New Challenges and Responses”

Freedom of expression and independent journalism are the cornerstones of every democratic society. Yet, we are witnessing a different reality. Journalists and media experts continue to face physical and verbal attacks and intimidations as a direct result of their professional activities. The scale of violence against journalists is stunning – since 1992, more than a thousand journalists have been killed worldwide. In some countries, conditions for media professionals are in constant deterioration – oppressive political pressure, arbitrary arrests and prosecutions, disinformation wars, terrorism and defamation legislation, journalists’ labelling as threats to national security, suffocating forms of official regulation have become commonplace for journalists working in the OSCE region. These illegitimate actions give rise to fear and insecurity among media professionals and have a chilling effect on freedom of expression in our societies. Therefore, the safety of journalists has to remain on top of the political agenda of the OSCE, as well as other international organizations.
The purpose of this conference is to review the current situation and recent developments relating to the safety of journalists in the OSCE region, with a particular focus on identifying the new challenges and responses. The conference will also serve as a platform to take stock of the implementation of Vilnius Recommendations on Safety of Journalists (2011)1 and to provide input for a new edition of the OSCE Handbook on Safety of Journalists, with the aim to assist the OSCE participating States in ensuring safe working conditions for journalists working in the OSCE region.
The conference is jointly organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, and the Lithuanian Journalists Union.