OSCE Serbia Mission Head condemns publishing of mutilated body photos, calls for application of ethics code

BELGRADE, 23 August 2007 - The Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Ambassador Hans Ola Urstad, called on Serbian media today to show respect for the deceased and their families when reporting on victims of tragic events.

"Some media recently published morbid photos of mutilated bodies, gravely violating human dignity," said Ambassador Urstad. "These kinds of photographs not only lack respect for the deceased, but cause further pain to their grieving families and send a disturbing message to readers, particularly children."

"I call upon the media in question to apologise to the public and distance themselves from such practices," he said, adding that Serbian journalists' associations that have done so deserve respect.

The Ambassador called on media professionals to diligently use self-regulatory mechanisms and to act according to the Code of Ethics for Serbian journalists, which was adopted in December 2006.