OSCE Office in Tajikistan holds workshop on co-operation between judiciary and media

Relations between the judiciary and the media, international standards on freedom of speech, the legal basis and particularity of defamation cases, as well as media access to courts were the focus of an OSCE-supported workshop for some 35 judges, lawyers and journalists which concluded on 15 October 2016 in Dushanbe.

During the two-day event, organized by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan and the country’s Supreme Court, the participants learned about the legal framework governing the freedom of expression and freedom of the media in Tajikistan. National and international experts explained the potential conflict between these freedoms and other rights protected by national law and international conventions.

“This workshop will contribute to a better understanding of the important tasks of the judiciary and the media, how they can balance important constitutional interests, and together serve the further development of Tajikistan as a democratic state,” said Fabio Piana, the Deputy Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan.

Participants discussed and analysed legal framework for the independence of the judiciary and media work, as well as for media self-regulation and reporting.

The chairperson of the Tajik Media Council presented their monitoring of how journalists comply with ethical norms and informed participants about the resolution of cases heard before the Council. The Council was established with the support of the OSCE Office in 2010. 

Tohir Qodirzoda, the chair of the Supreme Court collegium, emphasized that both media and judiciary must make use of freedoms guaranteed by the Tajik Constitution and laws, and carry out their task in a spirit of professionalism, independence and responsibility. 

This joint workshop is conducted on a yearly basis since 2012 in co-operation with the judiciary of Tajikistan.