International conference “Counteracting threats to life and safety of journalists. Effective investigations into crimes against freedom of expression” took place on 19 October 2017 in Kyiv (Ukraine) in the framework of the Council of Europe project “Strengthening freedom of the media and establishing a Public broadcasting system in Ukraine”.

“The abuses and crimes against journalists and other media actors have a grave chilling effect on freedom of expression, including on the ability to access information, on the public watchdog role of journalists and other media actors and on open and vigorous public debate, all of which are essential in a democratic society”, - noted Mårten Ehnberg, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine, at the opening of the conference.

More than 110 participants – the Council of Europe experts, representatives of the European Court of Human Rights, law enforcement agents, judges, representatives of the international organisations, national experts, journalists, media lawyers and civil society activists - actively discussed the Council of Europe standards on safety of journalists,  case-law of the European Court of Human Rights in context of crimes against freedom of expression with a special focus on Gongadze v. Ukraine judgment, and challenges that national law-enforcement agencies and courts are currently facing with regard to effective investigation of the cases related to safety of journalists in Ukraine.

Also, the Council of Europe expertise of the Ukrainian criminal legislation protecting safety of journalists, which was carried out at the request of the Parliamentary Committee on freedom of speech and information policy, was presented and discussed with the national stakeholders.

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