OSCE Mission to Serbia urges media to respect rights of minors

BELGRADE, 18 June 2009 - The Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Ambassador Hans Ola Urstad, urged media today to respect the professional and ethical standards of journalism, especially the privacy of individuals and minors.

On 16 June, the daily Kurir alleged that the 15-year-old son of a named well-known Serbian journalist was a "drug-dealer" and reported that he had been questioned by police for drug possession. The article violates the Law on Public Information, which stipulates that the identity of minors should not be revealed or be recognizable in reports.

This report is the latest example of a worrying practice by some media to disregard professional standards that oblige journalists to respect the presumption of innocence until an official court decision has been taken and to respect the rights and dignity of individuals, particularly minors.

"The basic ethical principles, such as the rights of minors, must be respected by the media. The fact that the parent is a public figure can not be used by the editors as justification for publishing allegations about a child's private life," Urstad said.

"I support the prompt and vigorous reaction of both authorities and media associations calling for a stop to this practice. I am sure that this case as all such cases will be properly investigated and those who are responsible will be sanctioned, according to the law."

The OSCE Mission supports efforts by the Culture Ministry, journalists' associations and media activists to create a media environment in which professional standards, ethical norms and legal provisions are respected.