Newsroom
21 new incidents reported since OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina launched Freemedia Help-Line
SARAJEVO 22 June 2000
SARAJEVO, 22 June 2000 - Twenty-one new incidents have been reported since the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina launched its FreeMedia Help Line for Journalists on May 3, 2000. Out of these 21 cases, mostly involving explicit threats against journalists, twelve were reported in the BiH Federation whereas nine cases were reported in the Republika Srpska.
"The twenty-one new cases represent a disturbing trend that threatens to chill free media in Bosnia," said Dr. Regan McCarthy, OSCE's Senior Advisor for Media Affairs. "Particularly in the pre-election period, we will continue to systematically monitor and follow-up with cases of interference and intimidation of journalists by authorities who abuse their offices."
Between November 1999 and April 2000, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina had registered 65 cases involving journalists' rights or freedom of the media. Out of these, 21 cases were registered in the RS and 44 in the Federation.
OSCE's FreeMedia Help Line was established in November 1999, with the aim to help protection of journalists' rights and promotion of the freedom of media. Since its establishment, 86 journalists contacted the Help Line seeking help or just reporting the incidents in which their rights were allegedly violated.
The following table presents the current number of reported incidents sorted by categories:
Reported Incidents - PDF
The OSCE Mission to BiH encourages all journalists who have been threatened, intimidated, harassed or in any way have experienced interference in the performance of their work to contact the Mission directly at its Help-Line numbers:071-292-305 or via fax at 071-667-988
Alternatively, journalists may contact the Mission's Help-Line by sending an email to: freemedia@oscebih.org.
Recognizing the difficult circumstances that the media representatives sometimes find themselves in, all information provided will remain confidential if requested. The Mission encourages journalists to report incidents to the nearest OSCE Regional Center press officer as well.
The OSCE established its present Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 December 1995. In accordance with the General Framework Agreement for Peace, the OSCE Mission activities are to promote Democratization and the building of a vibrant civil society, foster the development of Professional journalism and monitor the rights of journalists, monitor and advance the Human Rights situation, supervise the conduct of Elections, and encourage Regional Stabilization through arms control and confidence and security-building measures. The OSCE Mission continues to work closely with other international organizations and local institutions to implement the Dayton Peace Accords.
MEDIA CONTACT: For information, contact the Press and Public Information, OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, tel.: (+387-33) 292 172; fax: (+387-33) 292 289; website: www.oscebih.org; e-mail: press.ba@osce.org
"The twenty-one new cases represent a disturbing trend that threatens to chill free media in Bosnia," said Dr. Regan McCarthy, OSCE's Senior Advisor for Media Affairs. "Particularly in the pre-election period, we will continue to systematically monitor and follow-up with cases of interference and intimidation of journalists by authorities who abuse their offices."
Between November 1999 and April 2000, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina had registered 65 cases involving journalists' rights or freedom of the media. Out of these, 21 cases were registered in the RS and 44 in the Federation.
OSCE's FreeMedia Help Line was established in November 1999, with the aim to help protection of journalists' rights and promotion of the freedom of media. Since its establishment, 86 journalists contacted the Help Line seeking help or just reporting the incidents in which their rights were allegedly violated.
The following table presents the current number of reported incidents sorted by categories:
Reported Incidents - PDF
The OSCE Mission to BiH encourages all journalists who have been threatened, intimidated, harassed or in any way have experienced interference in the performance of their work to contact the Mission directly at its Help-Line numbers:
- 071-292-228
Alternatively, journalists may contact the Mission's Help-Line by sending an email to: freemedia@oscebih.org.
Recognizing the difficult circumstances that the media representatives sometimes find themselves in, all information provided will remain confidential if requested. The Mission encourages journalists to report incidents to the nearest OSCE Regional Center press officer as well.
The OSCE established its present Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 December 1995. In accordance with the General Framework Agreement for Peace, the OSCE Mission activities are to promote Democratization and the building of a vibrant civil society, foster the development of Professional journalism and monitor the rights of journalists, monitor and advance the Human Rights situation, supervise the conduct of Elections, and encourage Regional Stabilization through arms control and confidence and security-building measures. The OSCE Mission continues to work closely with other international organizations and local institutions to implement the Dayton Peace Accords.
MEDIA CONTACT: For information, contact the Press and Public Information, OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, tel.: (+387-33) 292 172; fax: (+387-33) 292 289; website: www.oscebih.org; e-mail: press.ba@osce.org