Haris Rovčanin, the journalist of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) web portal Detektor, in the category of „contribution to the community“; Bojana Jovanović, the journalist of the Belgrade portal KRIK, in the category „for the courage“; and Zagreb--based portal Novosti in the category „for the media“, are the winners of this year’s journalists award „Srđan Aleksić“, that was devoted to the fight against Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (SLAPP). A five-member jury composed of prominent journalists from four countries in the region: BiH, Serbia, Croatia and Montenegro decided on the winners, those journalists and media who practice highly professional and socially responsible journalism, who demonstrated courage and made concrete changes in their communities. The work of the jury members was supported by the joint European Union and Council of Europe action “Protecting freedom of expression and of the media in Bosnia and Herzegovina (PRO-FREX)”.
As part of the human rights focused integrated program, a panel discussion was organised on SLAPPs. The Council of Europe expert, judge Svjetlana Milišić Veličkovski, presented emerging instruments of international legal protection against the SLAPPs, that are in the final stages of preparation: the Recommendation of the Council of Europe and the Directive of the European Union. When adopted and integrated into the local legals systems, these instruments will introduce additional levels of protection from SLAPP, such as early dismissal of claims if they are recognised as SLAP claims and placing the burden of proof on the plaintiffs. However, for effective protection, integrating these provisions into domestic legislation and applying them consistently will be crucial, including training members of the judiciary in this regard.
The awards ceremony and panel discussions were organised in Banja Luka, on the International Human Rights Day, December 10, 2023.
The "Srđan Aleksić" journalist award was established by the human rights organisations - the Helsinki Citizens' Parliament of Banja Luka, the Peace Network from Sarajevo, the Independent Association of Journalists of Vojvodina, the Media Institute of Montenegro, and the Association for the Promotion of Media Culture, Art and Tolerance, Lupiga from Croatia. This year's award was supported within the framework of the joint programme of the European Union and the Council of Europe "Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye", and its action Protecting freedom of expression and of the media in Bosnia and Herzegovina (PRO-FREX)”.
