OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media concludes visit to Portugal

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, visited Portugal from 5 to 8 July 2022. Ribeiro held consultations with the Speaker of Parliament Mr. Augusto Ernesto Santos Silva. She also met with several governmental officials, including the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Portugal Mr, João Gomes Cravinho, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Mr. Francisco André, the Minister of Justice Ms. Catarina Sarmento e Castro, as well as the Minister of Culture Mr. Pedro Adão e Silva and the Secretary of State for European Affairs Mr. Tiago Antunes.

Furthermore, Ms Ribeiro had meetings with the Ombudsperson for Human Rights, Ms. Maria Lúcia Amaral and the Members of the Parliament Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms and Guarantees. The Representative also had an exchange with the Chairperson of the Regulatory Authority for the Media (ERC) Mr. Sebastiao José Coutinho Póvoas and the Director of the Public Broadcaster Mr. António José Teixeira. Ms Ribeiro met with several media representatives, as well as with the President of the Journalists Union (Sindicato dos Jornalistas), Mr. Luis Filipe Simões.

On top of the agenda was the decline of media freedom in the OSCE region, as well as developments and challenges related to the current war in Ukraine. Establishing a clear link between media freedom, public debate and democracy, the Representative discussed Portugal’s achievements and challenges, urging the authorities for the decriminalization of defamation.