Today, in more and more cases, journalists are facing direct attacks on their physical safety and integrity. According to the Platform to Promote the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists Annual Report 2022, there were 82 alerts in that category in 2021, showing a 51% increase compared to 2020. In addition, the Report cites 110 such alerts concerning harassment and intimidation of journalists that were posted on the Platform in 2021. In her Annual Activity Report, Dunja Mijatović, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, emphasises that safety of journalists continues to be a weak spot across Europe.
3 May marks the World Press Freedom Day, an occasion to highlight the importance of journalism for our democracies. It is a day for reflection among journalists and other media actors, both about their challenges to guarantee press freedom and to ensure professional and ethical journalism. This day is an opportunity to show support for media representatives who are actively fighting to uphold press freedom, and to raise awareness of the public and the authorities about the topic. The particular theme this year is Journalism under Digital Siege. Unfortunately, the evidence shows that violence against media representatives has expanded to the virtual world, with social networks serving as instruments of intimidation. The Protection of Journalists Platform Report concludes that many of these online attacks are planned and directed by political movements or other groups who weaponise slander, threats, and disinformation.
Such phenomena are present in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well. The Human Rights Commissioner referred to the case of political analyst Tanja Topić and her being labelled as a ‘foreign agent’ by high-level politician, stressing that was dangerous and could have a serious chilling effect on the valuable work of the members of civil society. Since March 2022, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s public service broadcaster BHRT is facing uncertainty and possible closure, with the jobs of over 800 journalists at stake. In times of difficulty in accessing trusted news, the consequences of such potential closure could be detrimental to the public’s access to information and to the freedom of the press in BiH. The country is also facing other significant challenges in the area of protection of journalists, who are frequently exposed to attacks and threats, especially online.
“Freedom of expression and media freedom face many challenges in Europe today. While there are improvements in certain areas in some countries, there is a general trend towards erosion of these freedoms. In these times of crisis – with the Covid-19 pandemic still present and the violence in Ukraine still raging - we must redouble our efforts to defend the core principles of freedom of expression and media independence that are essential to our democracies,” said Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe. The Council of Europe Office in Sarajevo remains committed to providing support, through its cooperation and assistance work, to protection of the right to freedom of expression and freedom of the media in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Useful links:
- Read the Commissioner for Human Rights' annual activity report 2021
- Read the Platform to Promote the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists Annual Report 2022
- Projects that the Council of Europe is implementing in Bosnia and Herzegovina, concerning freedom of expression and freedom of the media:
