Journalists play a vital role in safeguarding a democratic and pluralistic society and are recognised by the European Court of Human Rights as “public watchdogs”. Nevertheless, journalists are increasingly the victims of a wide range of attacks impairing their everyday work, ranging from physical and psychological violence to online threats, harassment and intimidation. 
This climate of pressure against journalists represents a long-standing issue which concerns an increasing number of member states of the Council of Europe and therefore calls for a high level of political attention and urgent action.
The Campaign aims to raise awareness, stimulate effective tackling of pressing issues, and ultimately increase the safety of journalists and other media actors in all situations.

The call for a Council of Europe Campaign for the Safety of Journalists is part of the conclusions of the Conference of Ministers responsible for Media and Information Society held in June 2021. To maximise the impact of the Campaign, the Council of Europe encourages the member States to transpose it to the national context, by organising national chapters of the Campaign. The Council of Europe will accompany and facilitate the organisation of ‘national chapters’ by the member States according to the national needs identified in cooperation with the national committees. 

Objectives

The Campaign aims to raise awareness, stimulate effective tackling of pressing issues and ultimately increase the safety of journalists and other media actors in all situations by:

• promoting the development  of corresponding campaigns at national level;
• encouraging states to take measures towards the adoption of national Action Plan for the safety of journalists;
• providing help to the development of appropriate legal and institutional frameworks at national level;
• changing the situation effectively and significantly in practice.