OSCE Centre completes training seminars for journalists on new media legislation
AKTOBE, Kazakhstan, 14 November 2014 – An OSCE-supported training seminar to raise awareness of journalists and media lawyers from the country’s regions on the impact of the new Criminal Code and Code of Administrative Offences on their professional activities and their security began today in Aktobe.
The event concludes a series of three seminars on this topic co-organized by the OSCE Centre in Astana with the International Foundation for Freedom of Speech Adil Soz in Almaty, Astana and Aktobe.
Some 90 journalists, media lawyers and legal experts analyzed the provisions of the newly adopted criminal and administrative justice legislation directly related to media rights. Leading experts from Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation familiarized participants with the international and national experience in handling legal cases related to slander and dissemination of misleading information, problematic aspects of covering social, religious and national issues as well as legal protection of honour, dignity and business reputation.
One of the aims of the seminar was to equip the participants with the knowledge of how to protect themselves against possible accusations. A Senior Adviser from the OSCE Office of the Representative on Freedom of the Media presented on international standards of media freedom and safety of journalists during the event in Almaty.
“Freedom of speech is a fundamental right, but it cannot be considered absolute and cannot be used to justify violence, defamation, violent extremism and hate speech. Journalists must provide impartial, balanced and complete information that serves the public interest”, said Ambassador Natalia Zarudna, Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana. “On the other hand, any restrictions on freedom of expression must be justified by the state with legitimate reasons and supported by public opinion and ultimately addressed by the courts”.
Tamara Kaleyeva, President of the International Foundation for Freedom of Speech Adil Soz said: “Journalists in Kazakhstan often find themselves in a difficult situation resulting from the lack of knowledge of legal provisions of media-related legislation. Unclear legal definitions make it difficult to outline the limits of what you can say and you cannot say. This training event aims to improve the skills and knowledge and enhance the professionalism of journalists as well as help them to adjust the most challenging legal provisions to their daily work.”
The seminars build on the efforts of the Centre’s activities in promoting access to information and press freedom.