Events in Ukraine a great threat to media freedom across the OSCE region, media freedom representative tells participating States

VIENNA, 19 June 2014 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today told participating States that events in Ukraine pose a great threat to media freedom and free expression across the OSCE region.

“I ask for all the parties involved to show some modicum of restraint and respect for the fundamental values of free media and make democracy and civilized society work,” Mijatović said while presenting her semi-annual report to the Permanent Council.

“At the end of the day, there’s no more effective way to restrict free media, free expression and the free flow of information than resorting to physical and emotional violence and threats of violence against members of the media. And since the beginning of the Maidan demonstrations there figuratively has been a tide of violence perpetrated against members of the media,” she said.

During her presentation Mijatović said that four journalists had been killed since the conflict in Ukraine began and that countless others had been assaulted physically and emotionally. She said she had intervened about 120 times throughout the OSCE region to defend the rights to free expression and free media since the Representative’s last regular report in November, often connected to the backsliding of journalists’ rights in some participating States.

“The work of my Office will not slow down. It is my mandate to bring information to you on media violations in all countries. The issues at stake in Ukraine are central to the issues of free media and free expression across the entire OSCE region and they have my full attention,” Mijatović told the Permanent Council.

Mijatović pointed to some bright spots in the media landscape in the OSCE region since her last report, including the co-operation between her office and participating States on good-faith efforts to adopt legal regimes beneficial to free media, and training events organized by her office for journalists, government officials and law enforcement officers on central media freedom issues.

“Too many nations around the world know that, like democracy, free media and free speech do not come naturally and cannot be taken for granted. They must be constantly justified, reaffirmed and strengthened. That is the reason why the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media was created and what the Organization must consider in order to make sure it functions properly and professionally in carrying out the mission,” Mijatović said.

The report to the Permanent Council is available at www.osce.org/fom/119957

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on facebook.com/osce.rfom.