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.

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Back Azerbaijani judge candidates trained on Council of Europe standards on freedom of expression

Azerbaijani judge candidates trained on Council of Europe standards on freedom of expression

Two half-day training sessions on some aspects of freedom of expression for judge candidates undergoing the preparatory training phase of the judicial selection process at the Academy of Justice of Azerbaijan took place on 11 October 2017  in Baku. The training sessions provided a useful opportunity to address some developing and difficult issues emerging from the case law of the European Court of Human Rights that should be of particular concern for the judiciary. The issues addressed were freedom of expression standards in traditional media and on the internet and ECHR’s case law, the balance between the right to privacy and the right to freedom of expression and the right to access to information. The main aim of the training sessions was to raise awareness on Council of Europe standards on freedom of expression and media freedom among judge candidates and to give the floor to open discussions. 125 judge candidates were trained on Council of Europe  standards on freedom of expression and media freedom. A Guide to the Interpretation and Meaning of Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights translated into Azerbaijani was disseminated among participants.

The training sessions were organised within the framework of the Council of Europe / European Union Joint Project  “Freedom of expression and media freedom in Azerbaijan”, implemented under the CoE / EU Programme “Partnership for Good Governance (PGG) .

Baku 23 October 2017
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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.

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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. 

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Art. 10 European Convention on Human Rights

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