OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media concludes visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina

From 11 to 13 April 2022, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro conducted her first official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).

During her three-day visit, the Representative met with high-level State officials, including the Chairperson of the BiH Council of Ministers Zoran Tegeltija and the Secretary of the BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sihana Čaušević-Čekić; as well as the Speaker of the BiH House of Representatives Nebojša Radmanović and the Delegate of the BiH House of Peoples Lidija Bradara.

Ribeiro also met with several officials from the two entities of BiH, including the Deputy Prime Minister of the Federation of BiH (FBiH) Vesko Drljača, Secretary of the FBiH Ministry of Transport and Communications Esad Osmanbegović, as well as the two Deputy Speakers of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska (RS) Denis Šulić and Milan Petković, RS Minister of Transport and Communications Nedeljko Ćorić, and the RS Minister of Interior Dragan Lukač.

The Representative further met with the management of the Communications Regulatory Agency, the management of the two public service broadcasters BHRT and RTRS and several journalists and civil society representatives from across the country. She also had meetings with the Chief Cantonal Prosecutor of the Sarajevo Canton Prosecutor’s Office Sabina Sarajlija and the BiH Ombudsperson Jasminka Džumhur.

In addition, Ribeiro met with the High Representative of BiH Christian Schmidt, and the US, UK, Polish and Swedish ambassadors to BiH and representatives of the European Union, the Council of Europe and the United Nations.

Ribeiro addressed, among other issues, the financial sustainability, independence and functioning of the public service broadcasting system in the country and the media regulatory authority; safety conditions of journalists, with a particular focus on online safety of female journalists, and the use of lawsuits to silence media; access to public information; delayed digital switchover and transparency of media ownership. Among the main concerns raised by media workers in Sarajevo and Banja Luka were difficult working conditions including low salaries, verbal attacks and harassment by public figures and rising number of lawsuits to silence critical reporting.

The Representative and her counterparts also discussed positive initiatives – particularly those undertaken at the local level regarding the protection of journalists – as well as legislative developments, including pending revision and adoption of laws aimed at addressing pertinent media freedom related issues in the country. In this regard, Ribeiro stressed that any legislative processes need to be conducted in an inclusive manner, involving all relevant stakeholders, including media, civil society and academia, in order to ensure effective decision-making in the public interest.

To secure a safe, free, functional and democratic media landscape in BiH, the Representative underlined that full implementation of the respective laws is of paramount importance – which requires strong political will and mutual commitment by all relevant authorities at all levels of government in the country.

In concluding her visit, Ribeiro expressed her readiness to provide all necessary assistance and support to the authorities in BiH in strengthening the media environment in the country in line with her mandate, relevant international standards and OSCE commitments on media freedom and freedom of expression.

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 www.facebook.com/osce.rfom