Back Human Rights: a reality for all

Accessibility of media content for people with disabilities
Human Rights: a reality for all

The online training on “Accessibility of media content for people with disabilities in light of the revised European Union Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD)” for employees of Regulatory authority for electronic media, Serbia (REM), took place on 18 November 2020.

Currently, information and communication continue to be largely inaccessible for many persons with disabilities and therefore attention needs to be paid to appropriate and alternative communication modes, means and formats. This includes the need for accessible political campaigns to promote full participation in public and political life. All relevant actors, including media regulatory authorities should seek to promote debate and action on quality access to information, communications and digital environment for persons with disabilities. In line with the Council of Europe recommendations, debate should also include media and information literacy as well as inclusion and participation in shaping public policies on the information society.

The speakers and participants of this training were experts from the Council of Europe, European Disability Forum, representatives of the Radio Television of Serbia, Regulatory authority for electronic media and Ministry of Culture and information. The aim of the training was to present European standards on media regulation in this field, but also to discuss existing regulation and practices in Serbia, as well as the opportunities for improvement and harmonisation of regulatory frameworks and practices with European standards.

The event was organised in cooperation with the Regulatory authority for electronic media, under the joint programme of the European Union and the Council of Europe "Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022", and its action on "Freedom of expression and freedom of the media in Serbia (JUFREX)".

Belgrade 19 November 2020
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Freedom of expression and freedom of the media in Serbia (JUFREX)


What is the goal?


► To promote freedom of expression and freedom of the media and to improve the application of European standards in this domain;
► To ensure protection of journalists and contribute to creation of enabling, safer and more pluralistic media environment;
► To strengthen skills and knowledge of the actors who are responsible to apply such standards as part of their daily work, namely: judges, prosecutors, lawyers, police officers, employees of Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media, students and other media actors.


Who benefits from the Action?


► Training institutions for legal professionals (Judicial Academy and Bar Association of Serbia);
► Ministry of Interior;
► Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media;
► Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Belgrade;
► Judges, prosecutors, police officers, lawyers;
► Students;
► Through strengthened freedom of expression and freedom of the media and ensured right to seek, impart and receive information, citizens of Serbia will be able to genuinely participate in democratic processes.


How will the Action work?


► The Action builds upon a previous EU/CoE Regional Joint Programme Reinforcing Judicial Expertise on Freedom of Expression and the Media in South-East Europe (JUFREX);
► The capacity building activities for the various professional categories adopt a dynamic methodology for adult learning and peer-to-peer model;
► The action uses an inclusive approach in order to generate dialog between the different actors and relevant stakeholders;
► The strong interconnection between JUFREX Regional Action and JUFREX Action in Serbia ensures strengthened co-operation, exchange of good practices and lessons learnt.
What do we expect to achieve?
► Legal professionals – judges, prosecutors, lawyers and police officers improve application of the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights case-law on freedom of expression;
► Professional capacities of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media are further strengthened;
► Faculty of Political Sciences and other relevant stakeholders contribute to an enabling environment for freedom of expression and freedom of the media.


How much will it cost?


► The total budget of the Action is 585.000 EUR;
► The budget allocated to the overall Horizontal Facility programme amounts to ca. 41 Million EUR (85% funded by the European Union, 15% by the Council of Europe).


How to get more information?


► Directorate General I: Human Rights and Rule of Law:
https://www.coe.int/en/web/freedom-expression/jufrex-2
► Martina Silvestri, Programme Manager, [email protected], +333 90 216 339
► Maja Stojanovic, Senior Project Officer, [email protected]; +381 11 71 555 10
► Irena Draskovic, Project Assistant, [email protected]; +381 11 71 555 15
► Horizontal Facility website: https://pjp-eu.coe.int/en/web/horizontal-facility/home
► Marija Simić, Horizontal Facility Communication Officer, [email protected], +381 63 601 337
► Besnik Baka, Horizontal Facility Communication Officer, [email protected], +355 69 217 8430

HORIZONTAL FACILITY II