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Recommendation 2062 (2015) Final version
Protection of the safety of journalists and of media freedom in Europe
1. The Parliamentary Assembly refers
to its Resolution 2035
(2015) on the protection of the safety of journalists
and of media freedom in Europe and invites the Committee of Ministers
to pursue further determined action on this issue, in particular
by intensifying its standard-setting and co-operation activities
as expressed in the Committee of Ministers Declaration of 30 April
2014 on the protection of journalism and safety of journalists and
other media actors.
2. Recalling its Recommendation
1897 (2010) on respect for media freedom, the Assembly
welcomes the decision by the Committee of Ministers of 19 November
2014 to establish an online Freedom of Expression Platform to promote
the protection of journalism and safety of journalists. This initiative
is highly important for creating synergies between the various Council
of Europe bodies dealing with media freedom, and for providing a
means of closer co-operation with non-governmental organisations
(NGOs) in this field. It will also give member States the opportunity
to react to information about alleged attacks on media freedom.
3. The Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers:
3.1. promote the United Nations Plan
of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity beyond
2014 and step up Council of Europe action in this area, in accordance
with United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/68/163;
3.2. develop training programmes for police and law-enforcement
authorities in member States regarding the protection of journalists
and media freedom, and offer targeted assistance in this area;
3.3. pay particular attention to the full and timely implementation
by member States of the judgments of the European Court of Human
Rights which deal with serious violations of media freedom and increase
targeted co-operation and assistance activities in this field by
developing a parliamentary dimension, in particular with regard
to member States with recurring and systemic problems;
3.4. review the implementation by member States of the Committee
of Ministers declarations and recommendations in the media field
and consider whether the Council of Europe’s legal standards should
be updated;
3.5. continue to invite Assembly rapporteurs on media freedom
to thematic debates and to its rapporteur groups dealing with media
freedom;
3.6. co-operate more closely with NGOs and the media in order
to enhance the capacity of the Council of Europe to evaluate and
react to serious violations of media freedom.