Thursday 2 April 2015 The Association of European Journalists welcomes the launch today of the long-awaited Council of Europe website for the protection of journalism and the safety of journalists. It was created with the support of the 47 member states to counter the alarming increase in attacks and harassment of journalists and media freedom in Europe in recent years.
The platform is an early warning and enhanced response mechanism based on verified reports from five partner organisations: the IFJ/EFJ, Reporters Without Borders, Article 19 and the AEJ. The Council of Europe has pledged to strengthen its dialogue with states in order to remedy serious problems, to put in place effective protections and to eradicate impunity (failures to bring to justice those responsible for attacks).
The AEJ has urged all the member states to reform and upgrade their laws and other safeguards to ensure a safe and enabling environment for free, independent media. The success of this initiative will depend on real improvements in governments’ respect for free expression and free media, including the repeal of oppressive laws, effective actions to ensure judicial independence, independent oversight of media regulators, and open dialogue with civil society.
Read the Council of Europe’s press release.