Position of the media in the Western Balkan countries is similar and reflects a situation in which journalists are exposed to different kinds of pressure, from economic and political to the direct one which includes violence, threats, endangering their dignity, and often physical integrity.
This was emphasized yesterday at the opening of conference “Security and Protection of Journalists in the Western Balkan Countries”, which is being organized in Sarajevo by Association of BH Journalists and Association “Civil Right Defenders”.
Participants of the Conference, which was organized on the occasion of the Human Rights Day and 20 years of the Association of BH Journalists, pointed to different aspects of status of the media community in the Western Balkan countries, assessing that the situation regarding media freedoms is the best indicator of the situation and degree of democratization in society.
It was emphasized that independent and impartial media, which do their work in accordance with the highest professional standards is actually the key assumption for creating an environment where human rights will be respected, reforms effective and road to the European integration certain.
President of Association of BH Journalists Milkica Milojević and Goran Miletić from the Civil Rights Defenders focused on these elements and aspects of journalism, who underlined that in order to protect their own integrity, journalists are often on their own and that it is necessary to persevere in improving their overall social status.
At the same time, they called journalists to solidarity and stronger engagement when it comes to building of institutional and legal mechanisms, which are necessary to improve the situation and create a safe environment for work of journalists and the media and securing international support to those processes.
Participants of the conference were welcomed by Deputy Head of Council of Europe’s Office in BiH Tania Van Dijk, reminding that right to freedom of expression is prerequisite for building democracy, strengthening rule of law and human rights protection.
She said that without freedom of the media there cannot be human rights, stating that standards contained in the Resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of CE 1636 (2008) are significant in that regard, which treats the issue of protection of journalists in different segments, including confidentiality of sources, right to protection of privacy and personal protection.
In that context, CE supports efforts of the media in the region to fight for the appropriate status, and one of the steps is establishment of “on-line platform for protection of journalists” in cooperation with four associations of journalists to enable journalists to report all cases of violation of their rights and freedoms.
Spokesperson of the EUSR/EU Delegation to BiH Andy McGuffie also pointed to importance of freedom of the media, linking it directly with the European integration process.
”No state can join the EU without guaranteeing freedom of expression first,” said McGuffie, stating it is necessary to insist on elimination of any attempt of political interference in work of the media and economic pressure through low wages and inadequate social status.
He underlined the importance of professional journalist engagement which corresponds with removal of bureaucratic obstacles and contributes to transparency of work of bodies and institutions and strengthening of responsibility of state officials.
(Source: Fena / photo: Oslobođenje, S. Gubelić)
