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News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE Media Freedom Representative Désir, Head of OSCE Mission to Montenegro Daviet present legal reviews on draft media and public broadcaster laws
Publishing date: 21 November 2018
Content type: Press release
What we do: Media freedom and development, Media laws
VIENNA / PODGORICA, 21 November 2018 – Two legal reviews of Montenegro’s draft Law on media and draft Law on amendments to the Law on the national public broadcaster RTCG, were presented by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, and the Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, Maryse Daviet. The legal reviews were commissioned upon the request of Montenegro’s Ministry of Culture.
OSCE media freedom representative calls for protection of journalists' right to confidential sources in Romania
Publishing date: 13 November 2018
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
What we do: Media freedom and development, Media laws
VIENNA, 13 November 2018- The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today sent a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania expressing concern about an investigative journalism organization being requested to reveal its confidential sources, and asking for this request to be withdrawn...
Times of Malta must be able to protect confidential sources, says OSCE media freedom Representative
Publishing date: 11 November 2018
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
What we do: Media freedom and development, Media laws
Vienna, 11 November 2018. Today, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir, called on all authorities to drop the request to the editor of the Times of Malta to disclose a source of information used in a report on a planned takeover of a building project, after the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) made such request to the daily newspaper.
Media freedom Representative welcomes Irish referendum result on blasphemy law, urges decriminalization across OSCE region
Publishing date: 28 October 2018
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
VIENNA, 28 October 2018 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today welcomed the results of yesterday’s referendum in Ireland calling for a removal of blasphemy provisions from the national Constitution.
High fine threatening closure of online Russian news outlet is detrimental to freedom of media, says OSCE media freedom representative
Publishing date: 27 October 2018
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
What we do: Media freedom and development, Media laws, Media pluralism
VIENNA, 27 October 2018- Today, following a court decision to impose an extremely high fine on The New Times online news outlet, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, called on authorities of the Russian Federation to protect freedom of the media and preserve pluralism of opinion in the country as an essential element of an open and democratic society.
OSCE Representative calls on Russia to drop legislative amendments that could undermine freedom of expression and access to information
Publishing date: 21 September 2018
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
VIENNA, 21 September 2018 – In a letter to the authorities of the Russian Federation the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concern regarding the proposed amendments to the country’s Code of Administrative Offences and the Criminal Code, which were adopted yesterday in the final reading by the lower house of parliament, the State Duma. The amendments, among other things, strengthen the penalties for the dissemination of ‘false’ information related to defamation and information that affects privacy protection...
OSCE Representative concerned over measures against independent media outlets in Belarus, calls on authorities to release detained journalists
Publishing date: 8 August 2018
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
What we do: Media freedom and development, Media laws, Safety of journalists
VIENNA, 8 August 2018 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today expressed serious concern over the detention of journalists with the Belarusian Tut.by and BelaPAN news agencies, as well as raids of newsrooms and journalists’ homes by law enforcement agents, and the seizure of their equipment...