OSCE Office trains Azerbaijani journalists on environmental reporting

BAKU, 18 December 2013 – The OSCE Office in Baku organized a three-day training course for Azerbaijani journalists on environmental investigative reporting, which began today. The course aims to increase the flow of environmental information in the country, as well as facilitate public participation and action on environmental matters.

“For any country to address environmental issues in a sustainable and comprehensive manner, participation of the society at large is paramount,” said Emmanuel Huntzinger, Head of the Economic and Environmental Unit at the OSCE Office in Baku. “Therefore, we consider journalists to have a key role in providing the general public with informed reports on the main developments and challenges in this field.”

During the training course, 15 Azerbaijani journalists will learn about good practices in writing environmental stories, the relationship between environment and security in the context of Azerbaijan, and current legal aspects of access to information.

The OSCE Office organized this training course as part of the Civic Action for Security and Environment (CASE) programme. Co-ordinated by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, the CASE is part of the Environment and Security (ENVSEC) Initiative Work Programme for the South Caucasus region. The programme strengthens co-operation between civil society and government in support of effective environmental governance to adequately address security threats resulting from environmental challenges.