OSCE Representative meets with UK Foreign Office Minister in London to discuss journalists’ safety, media legislation
LONDON, 29 October 2014 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today met with the Foreign Office Minister for Human Rights and International Organisations, Baroness Anelay and other senior UK officials to discuss media freedom issues in the OSCE region.
“We exchanged views on media freedom issues in the United Kingdom, journalists’ safety and media legislation in the whole OSCE region,” Mijatović said. “There is a pressing need to address and improve these issues in several OSCE participating States.”
Welcoming the strong and positive engagement by the UK on issues tackled by her office, Mijatović also raised matters of concern.
“Recent revelations that the police have been obtaining journalists' telephone records to identify confidential sources without judicial oversights are troublesome. This contravenes one of the fundamental elements of free media, confidentiality of sources”, Mijatović said.
The Representative noted the swift response from civil society and politicians and effective condemnation of these actions, alongside with tabling regulatory and legislative amendments to prevent future similar actions.
In her meetings Mijatović stressed that human rights, especially freedom of expression and freedom of the media, must be at the top of the agenda when governments deal with sensitive issues such as the fight against terrorism and extremism. During her visit to the Foreign Office, the Representative also gave a presentation to the Foreign Office staff on “The implications of the Ukraine Crisis for Freedom of Expression”.
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.