Journalists Matter, the Council of Europe Campaign for the Safety of Journalists is an initiative aiming to promote media 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. The Campaign is a 5-year project meant to cover all Council of Europe member States. It is open for voluntary contributions.

more about the Campaign >>

2023

SETTING THE PATH & LAUNCH

Launch of the Campaign in Riga (5-6 October, Riga, Latvia)

1st meeting of the National Focal Points (6 October, Riga, Latvia)

Workshop on the existing initiatives on the safety of journalists (1-2 June, Strasbourg, France)

2024

PROTECTION

Annual Thematic Conference: Protection of Journalists- a multistakeholder dialogue (29-30 October, Strasbourg, France)

Seminar: The Role of the Police in the Protection of the Safety of Journalists (26-27 September, Strasbourg, France)

Second meeting of the National Focal Points (20-21 June, Strasbourg, France)

Launch of consultations for the National Chapter of the Campaign (9 April, Ukraine)

Meeting with the Platform Partners (5-6 March, Thessaloniki, Greece)

Gala for excellence in journalism (29 February, Bucharest, Romania)

Read more about 2024 in the trifold 

2025

PROSECUTION

Training of Trainers (ToT) on SLAPPs (9–10 October, Prague)

Third meeting of the National Focal Points (30 April, Luxembourg)

Annual thematic conference: Effective Prosecution of crimes against journalists - Building the paradigm against impunity - (29 April, Luxembourg)

Read more about 2025 in the trifold 

(default) 2026

PREVENTION

Fourth meeting of the National Focal points (22 April, Chișinău, Republic of Moldova)

Defending truth - Comprehensive approaches to journalistic safety and quality journalism (23 April, Chișinău, Republic of Moldova)

Youth Facing Disinformation - Why Journalists Matter (9-10 November, 2026, Youth Centre, Strasbourg)

2027

PROMOTION AND AWARENESS RAISING 

Final review and closing event

 Explore national efforts to protect journalists!

Use the interactive dashboard and map to discover initiatives by country, year, and theme. Countries with active initiatives are highlighted in orange.