UNESCO World Press Freedom Day, Helsinki, 2-4 May 2016

Freedom of expression is one of the foundations of a democratic and pluralistic society. Its corollary is access for everyone to accurate, reliable and timely information, a key precondition for informed public participation. The role of the media and journalists in seeking out, verifying and distributing information is crucial.

States have the responsibility to provide adequate safeguards, both through law and practice, for the effective enjoyment and protection of freedom of expression, including by creating an enabling environment for free and responsible media to flourish and play their essential role in democracy.

The Council of Europe is well placed to help prevent and address the threats to the exercise of the rights and freedoms guaranteed by Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, both offline and in the online environment.

latest news

Back UNESCO World Press Freedom Day, Helsinki, 2-4 May 2016

Ms Lejla Dervisagic, Head of Cooperation Unit, Media and Internet Division, Information Society Department of the Council of Europe, participated in the side-event of the World Press Freedom Day “Media councils taking up the challenges of online journalism” organised by the Press Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina on 2 May 2016 in Helsinki, Finland. Representatives of press councils from all over Europe discussed the following questions:

To what extent have press councils adopted new ethical guidelines related to the online world and open journalism? What are the next steps?
To whom should ethical standards apply? Should ethical standards be the same for all journalists or should there be specific standards for bloggers and citizen journalists?
How can news bloggers be encouraged to adhere to the decisions of press councils? Should bloggers be represented in press councils, for example through a union or an association?

This side-event was part of the international World Press Freedom Day co-hosted by Finland and UNESCO on 3-4 May 2016 in Helsinki which brought together over 1100 media professionals and journalists from over a hundred countries. On this occasion UNESCO put a spotlight on the importance of freedom of expression and the need to create a culture of openness and transparency with an overall focus on “This is Your Right! Access to Information and Fundamental Freedoms”.

http://en.unesco.org/world-press-freedom-day-2016

Helsinki 10/05/2016

Diminuer la taille du texte
Augmenter la taille du texte
Imprimer la page

View all news

In time of conflict

The right to freedom of expression and information constitutes one of the essential foundations of democratic society. In conflict situations and wars, the role of the media is critical in providing the public with accurate and timely information. Trustworthy news and images can contribute to the protection of civilians and conflict prevention, bring to the attention of the international community the horrors and reality of conflict and expose violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.

Visit the "Freedom of expression in times of conflict" webpage

Journalists Matter Campaign

Journalists Matter, the Council of Europe Campaign for the Safety of Journalists is an initiative aiming to promote press freedom and protect journalists from violence, threats, and harassment while performing their duties. As part of this Campaign, the Council of Europe is inviting everyone to support their cause, take action for their enhanced protection, while raising awareness about the importance of safeguarding journalists and their right to report the news freely and without fear.

Visit the "Campaign for the Safety of Journalists" webpage