Building on the impetus given by the 2016 Conference “Internet Freedom: a constant factor of democratic security in Europe”, also jointly organized by the Council of Europe and the OSCE presidency, the Conference will again provide floor for debate on crucial issues related to human rights on the internet.
In recent times, journalists and other media professionals have faced great challenges when covering repeated terror attacks. New dynamics of terrorism and the move to an increasingly digital and social media environment, with its wide reach and unprecedented speed with which information spreads across online channels, in particular pose a serious challenge to reporting on the issue.
Building on the impetus given by the 2016 Conference “Internet Freedom: a constant factor of democratic security in Europe”, also jointly organized by the Council of Europe and the OSCE presidency, the Conference will again provide floor for debate on crucial issues related to human rights on the internet.
The Council of Europe is happy to give its support to the conference “Promoting dialogue between the ECtHR and the media freedom community”, organised by European Centre for Press and Media Freedom.
On 15 December 2016 in Strasbourg the Council of Europe and the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) jointly organised a high level seminar to discuss the potential for co-operation to promote and protect freedom of expression and the safety of journalists in member states.
In the last years Internet freedom has emerged as an important priority in foreign policy agendas of several European and non-European states. Civil society has over a long period of time put forward demands to ensure an equal protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms online and offline. Yet, reports on Internet access cuts, censorship or other restrictions to freedom of expression, massive violations of privacy relating to surveillance programmes of intelligence services continue to take a significant part of public debate.
Over 400 participants, who attended the conference on 13-14 October in Strasbourg, assessed the major challenges facing freedom of expression today. The rich and intense debates raised real but constructive controversies regarding crucial issues concerning effective means for the preservation and protection of a free and safe environment for free expression.
The Seminar addresses the need to improve legal protections for journalists whose safety and security are threatened because of their work. In recent years the number of killings and other violent attacks against journalists has markedly increased. Frameworks of legal protection vary greatly between different regions of the world.
The Round Table promoted dialogue between international institutions and media freedom organisations to identify ways of better addressing severe human rights violations against journalists.
The Council of Europe is constantly facing new challenges. Information and communication technologies are developing rapidly and the impact on our societies is considerable. New challenges to human rights and democracy continue to emerge by the day in the information society.
Facing technology developments and the media–related change they trigger in the society, the Council of Europe decided to address fundamental questions that will set the working direction for the coming years to meet these new challenges.
13th meeting – 5 - 8 December 2017, Strasbourg
Publications
Adopted texts
Leaflets
Videos
