27 April 1995

Doc. 7299

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS transmitting a statement on violations of journalistic freedoms
adopted by the 4th European Ministerial Conference on Mass Media Policy

      We, the Ministers and Heads of Delegation, participating in this 4th European Ministerial Conference on Mass Media Policy, being held in Prague on 7-8 December 1994:

      Reaffirm our commitment to freedom of expression and information and to the free flow of information and ideas within and across frontiers without interference as a fundamental basis for the functioning of pluralistic democracy and for democratic security within Europe;

      Recognise that the free and unhindered exercise of journalistic freedoms is crucial for the free formation of opinions and ideas;

      Pay tribute to journalists and their untiring efforts to provide the public with information and critical analyses of events and occurrences within society and the world at large;

      Recognise that, in accomplishing their task, journalists may place their lives and physical integrity at very great risk;

      Note that this is particularly so in situations of war, conflict and social and political tension and that assassination, disappearance and detention of journalists and restrictions of their right to free and independent reporting frequently characterise such situations;

      Are appalled by the fact that the number of disappearances and deaths of journalists has been greater within Europe in the last thirty-six months than anywhere else in the world, notably in connection with the conflict in territories of former Yugoslavia;

      Are deeply concerned by the increasing number of assassinations and hostage-taking of journalists because of their exercise of investigative journalism or because of their independent thinking, as well as the numerous forms of physical and psychological harassment to which they may be subject,

      VIGOROUSLY CONDEMN these violations of journalistic freedoms, as infringements of human rights and fundamental freedoms;

      CALL ON all those who are responsible for perpetrating such violations to cease them immediately and urge all Governments to take all necessary steps to that effect, in particular to assist in the overall attempts to find information and, if possible, to locate missing journalists;

      GIVE OUR SUPPORT to journalists in their task of independent provision of news and information;

      RECOMMEND that the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe urgently pursue work aimed at improving the protection of journalists, particularly when on perilous missions or operating in situations of tension and conflict.