Press statements of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
OSCE Media Freedom Representative condemns serious threats against journalists in Northern Ireland
Publishing date: 9 May 2020
VIENNA, 9 May 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, condemned today the threats against journalists of two newspapers in Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom...
OSCE Media Freedom Representative calls on UK authorities not to extradite WikiLeaks editor Julian Assange to the US, ahead of Monday’s hearing
Publishing date: 23 February 2020
VIENNA, 23 February 2020 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concern today at the potential extradition of WikiLeaks editor Julian Assange, ahead of his hearing on 24 February.
OSCE Media Freedom Representative strongly condemns killing of journalist in United Kingdom, calls for thorough investigation
Publishing date: 19 April 2019
VIENNA, 19 April 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today strongly condemned the killing of journalist Lyra McKee in Northern Ireland, in the United Kingdom...
OSCE Media Freedom Representative welcomes landmark judgment in UK on protecting confidentiality of journalistic sources
Publishing date: 8 February 2019
VIENNA, 8 February 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today welcomed a court decision in Northern Ireland recognizing journalists’ rights to protect the confidentiality of their sources...
OSCE Representative expresses concerns regarding draft UK Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Bill, urges Government to safeguard media freedom
Publishing date: 28 September 2018
VIENNA, 28 September 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, in a letter to the authorities of the United Kingdom today, conveyed his concerns regarding the draft Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Bill currently under consideration by the country’s Parliament. While the draft law sets out additional powers to help tackle terrorism, Désir said he was concerned about the potential impact of the proposed legislation on media freedom...
OSCE Representative welcomes landmark decision by European Court of Human Rights on Investigatory Powers Act in the United Kingdom
Publishing date: 14 September 2018
VIENNA, 14 September 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, welcomed yesterday’s highly significant decision by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), which found that the United Kingdom’s Investigatory Powers Act threatened the confidentiality of journalists’ sources. The Representative previously warned of the potential threat to journalists posed by this law.
OSCE media freedom representative seriously concerned by arrest of journalists in UK
Publishing date: 1 September 2018
VIENNA- The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir expressed serious concern today about arrests of two journalists and search of their property in Northern Ireland...
OSCE media freedom representative expresses concern that UK legal provision could have damaging impact on the country’s press
Publishing date: 10 January 2017
VIENNA, 10 January 2017 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today expressed her concern about the commencement of a legal provision in the United Kingdom which would only shield press defendants from costs in legal proceedings if they are members of an officially recognized press regulator. Discussions by the UK government on implementing Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013 are in their last day of consultations...
OSCE Representative warns of negative consequences for investigative journalism when Investigative Powers Bill becomes law in the United Kingdom
Publishing date: 18 November 2016
VIENNA, 18 November 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović warned today that the United Kingdom’s Investigative Powers Bill could severely threaten the confidentiality of journalists’ sources and investigative reporting when it becomes law...
OSCE Representative urges authorities to intensify efforts to solve murder of journalist Martin O’Hagan in Northern Ireland
Publishing date: 29 September 2016
VIENNA, 29 September 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today urged the authorities in the United Kingdom to intensify their efforts to find the killers of investigative journalist Martin O’Hagan, who was shot and killed in September 2001...