Guaranteeing media freedom and the safety of journalists: an obligation of member States
Recommendation 2268
(2024)
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly
debate on 25 January 2024 (6th sitting) (see Doc. 15891, report of the Committee on Culture, Science, Education
and Media, rapporteur: Mr Mogens Jensen). Text
adopted by the Assembly on 25 January 2024 (6th sitting).
1. The Parliamentary Assembly, referring
to its
Resolution 2532
(2024) “Guaranteeing media freedom and the safety of
journalists: an obligation of member States”, recalls that under
Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ETS No. 5)
member States must not only refrain from interfering with the right to
freedom of expression, but they also have a positive obligation
to establish a sound legal framework for media pluralism and for
journalists and other media actors to work safely.
2. The establishment of the Council of Europe Platform to promote
the protection of journalism and safety of journalists, in 2015,
has been a fundamental step as it enables the monitoring of serious
threats to the safety of journalists and media freedom. Unfortunately,
the level of alerts posted has risen constantly over the years, both
in terms of the number of alerts and the countries concerned.
3. Recommendation CM/Rec(2016)4 of the Committee of Ministers
to member States on the protection of journalism and safety of journalists
and other media actors is a unique instrument providing guidelines
to member States in the areas of prevention, protection, prosecution,
promotion of information, education and awareness raising.
4. However, journalists and other media professionals remain
subjected to threats, intimidation and violence, face imprisonment
and even risk their lives. In addition, the judgments of the European
Court of Human Rights are not properly executed, resulting in a
lack of action to remedy violations in specific cases and to solve
systemic problems.
5. The Assembly welcomes the Declaration of the 4th Summit of
Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe, which took
place in Reykjavik on 16 and 17 May 2023. This declaration reaffirms
“the Council of Europe’s prominent role in international standard-setting
on freedom of expression and related issues such as media freedom”
and member States’ commitment to “continue [their] collective efforts
for the safety of journalists and other media actors”.
6. On 5 October 2023, the Council of Europe launched its Campaign
for the Safety of Journalists, with the slogan “Journalists Matter”,
to raise awareness of the importance of free and safe journalism
for democracy, effectively address pressing issues in this domain
and ultimately increase the safety of journalists and other media
actors. The Assembly strongly supports this campaign and recommends
that the Committee of Ministers:
6.1 encourage
the establishment of efficient national co-ordination structures
and national focal points, and the adoption of national strategies
and concrete action plans by all Council of Europe member States;
6.2 follow carefully, promote and support the implementation
of the campaign in all member States and the development of appropriate
legal and other measures aimed at establishing a safe environment for
journalists and other media actors;
6.3 encourage dialogue with the partners of the Platform to
promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists,
to ensure responsiveness and the adoption of adequate measures to
resolve the alerts therein, in particular when threats arise from
new legislation.
