Protection of safety and integrity of journalists in the OSCE region

Violence against journalists continues to remain the most dangerous form of interference with the journalists’ profession.

Following the tragic events in early January 2015 - an appalling attack on the editorial office of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, which ignited strong and clear public affirmations to preserve freedom of expression, debates and proposals about restrictions on rights and freedoms are under way in the entire OSCE region.

The purpose of this conference is to examine and review the current situation relating to the safety of journalists, to provide a forum to exchange information, share problems as well as good practices, to discuss necessary reforms of related legislation and judicial instruments and to develop recommendations for the governments on how to improve protection and integrity of journalists.

The event will also address established forms of impeding on media freedom, such as defamation and libel, taboo topics on declaring certain events or personalities off limits for reporting, and outright framing of journalists with fabricated charges, as well as the importance of a legislative environment conducive to pluralistic and free speech.

Participants will include  representatives of governments, the media, legislators, academia and NGOs from the OSCE participating States.