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Recommendation 2168 (2020)
Threats to media freedom and journalists’ security in Europe
1. The Parliamentary Assembly, referring
to its Resolution 2317
(2020) on threats to media freedom and journalists’ security
in Europe, recalls that the right to freedom of expression and the
right to free, independent and pluralistic media are fundamental
prerequisites of a true democracy. The safety of journalists and
other media actors is a key component of this freedom. Member States
have a positive obligation to establish a sound legal framework
for journalists and other media actors to work in safe conditions.
2. However, threats, harassment, legal and administrative restrictions
and undue political and economic pressure are widespread. In some
countries, journalists who investigate affairs involving corruption
or abuse of power, or who merely voice criticism of political leaders
and governments in power, are physically attacked, arbitrarily imprisoned,
tortured and even murdered.
3. Threats on media freedom and the safety of journalists have
become so numerous, repeated and serious that they are jeopardising
not only citizens’ right to be properly informed but also the stability
and smooth functioning of our democratic societies. The Council
of Europe must make use of all its leverage to prompt member States
to remedy these threats quickly and effectively by urging and supporting
the reforms required to this effect.
4. In this context, the Council of Europe Platform to promote
the protection of journalism and safety of journalists (the Platform)
is an essential collaborative tool which helps to raise awareness
of the situation in the member States and to identify positive and
negative trends. Moreover, the Platform encourages joint efforts and
more synergic action of the different stakeholders, and it provides
benchmarks for the design and effective implementation of national
strategies intended to uphold media freedom and journalists’ security.
5. In order to reinforce the role of the Platform and tap all
of its potential, the Assembly recommends that the Committee of
Ministers:
5.1. encourage member
States to promptly and substantively respond to alerts by taking
appropriate remedial actions;
5.2. hold regular exchanges within the Committee of Ministers
on the alerts published on the Platform and on the follow-up actions
taken by the member States;
5.3. organise an annual dialogue with the partners of the Platform,
based on their annual report, in order to identify systemic challenges
concerning media freedom and the safety of journalists in the member
States, as well as possible solutions to meet those challenges;
5.4. consider the Platform and its alerts on violations of
media freedom and the safety of journalists as a basis to set priorities
and assess the progress of the implementation strategy of Recommendation CM/Rec(2016)4
on the protection of journalism and safety of journalists and other
media actors;
5.5. make available the resources and the support needed to
give the Platform greater visibility, recognition and impact.