OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities presents Tallinn Guidelines on National Minorities and the Media in the Digital Age

States need comprehensive and concrete policy advice on how to use media as a powerful tool for conflict prevention and social integration, said OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Lamberto Zannier as he presented The Tallinn Guidelines on National Minorities and the Media in the Digital Age in the Estonian capital on 13 February 2019.

The publication, the latest in the set of OSCE thematic recommendations produced by the OSCE High Commissioner, contains 37 concrete guidelines. They address issues arising from the fact that information and communication technologies continue to evolve at an exponential rate and have the potential to both unite and divide different groups in society.

More than one hundred media experts, policymakers and national minority representatives attended the launch event, which opened with remarks by Estonia’s President Kersti Kaljulaid, the country’s Foreign Minister Sven Mikser and OSCE High Commissioner Zannier. This was followed by an interactive expert discussion on best practices and challenges related to the role of the media and information technologies in diverse societies.

Reflecting on how today’s media could effectively be used by states to prevent conflict occurring in their respective countries, Zannier advocated the following recipe: “a combination of multilingualism reflecting the linguistic diversity in society; participation of various groups in media content production and delivery; and restraint by states in their interference in other countries’ affairs”. 

The launch of the Tallinn Guidelines is part of a concerted drive by Zannier to raise public awareness about the benefits of the OSCE High Commissioner’s thematic recommendations and guidelines for conflict prevention and encourage their practical application by governments. 

Why Tallinn? The Tallinn Guidelines are aptly named on two counts: Estonia’s reputation as an innovator, user and promoter of digital technologies on the one hand, and its continuous efforts to integrate Estonia’s diverse society, stated Zannier.

In keeping with the media theme, prior to the event a digital platform was set up at www.tallinn-guidelines.info to enable everyone interested in this subject to follow the live-streamed discussions, engage with the discussants, and access all related materials.

While in Estonia, Zannier will meet with representatives of the Ministry of Education and national minority representatives in Tallinn. He also plans to visit the city of Narva  where he will continue to discuss the situation concerning the integration process in this predominantly minority populated area, focusing on matters such as language, education, access to media and participation in public life for national minorities. Zannier will meet with local authorities, minority representatives, as well as with students and education professionals at the Narva College and one of the local schools with minority language education.