Media freedom imperative for ensuring security, OSCE media freedom representative Mijatović says at Annual Harriman Lecture at Columbia University

NEW YORK, 24 February 2016 – Delivering the Annual Harriman Lecture at Columbia University, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović emphasized the importance of OSCE’s comprehensive and multi-dimensional concept of security. Mijatović said freedom of expression and free media constitute two imperative tools in fostering a meaningful debate on security issues and effectively addressing new security challenges.

“We need to dismantle the idea that security and liberty should exist in some sort of balance with each other, that a gain in one comes at the expense of the other,” Mijatović said. “Security and human rights should not be looked upon as opposite or contradicting values, they are interlinked.”

In her lecture, Mijatović referred to two major events that fundamentally altered how security and free expression and media freedom is perceived: the crisis in and around Ukraine and the attack on the office of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in 2015.

“This has contributed to a situation where the future of free expression and media freedom could be dictated in large part by security concerns,” Mijatović said. “The core issue here is how to properly protect freedom of the media and freedom of expression while fighting threats to our societies.”

The Representative also addressed the current and future major challenges and threats to free media in the OSCE region.

“The safety of journalists is still the number one issue plaguing freedom of expression and free media in the OSCE region,” Mijatović said. “In addition to the mounting number of physical attacks on journalists, the digital threats with online abuse of members of the media are also increasing rapidly.”

In her closing remarks at the lecture, Mijatović reminded of the challenges freedom of expression currently faces.

“In this climate of non-tolerance, fear and anxiety we need to stand up for the values we believe in and that form the bedrock of our modern democracies,” Mijatović. “Governments must work for a diverse, inclusive and vibrant civil society, both at the national and the international level.”

The Annual W. Averell Harriman Lectures were inaugurated in 1989 and annually since then a preeminent scholar, political figure, or cultural luminary has been invited to deliver a major address to the entire Columbia University community and many other guests. Previous lecturers include Imre Kertesz, Mikhail Gorbachev, Helmut Schmidt, and Katherine Verdery.

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.