The 11th meeting of the Cross-Coordinating Working Group on Monitoring and Reporting on Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Information in Bosnia and Herzegovina brought together key institutional and expert voices this week in Mostar. This was an opportunity to take stock of progress and work on the potential tools and strategies needed to safeguard these fundamental rights through policy and law in line with Council of Europe standards.

Participants received updates from the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the ongoing activities within the Council of Europe’s Journalists Matter campaign. The members underscored their role in amplifying the campaign’s message: that protecting journalists means protecting democracy itself.

Council of Europe experts presented the latest findings from the ongoing research on the safety of journalists in the country. The results laid bare the continuing risks facing media professionals with the goal to offer a set of practical recommendations for stronger institutional safeguards and more accessible support systems.

A central part of the discussion focused on legal aid and direct support for journalists who face assaults, threats, or institutional pressure. Participants examined how to turn principles into practice, ensuring that media workers who become targets are not left to navigate these challenges alone.

Key conclusions from the meeting will be incorporated into a future roadmap document aimed at improving the position of journalists and fostering a safer and more supportive environment for media work in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The work of the Cross-Coordinating Working Group has been supported by the Council of Europe’s Division for Cooperation on Freedom of Expression through the project “Enhancing Institutional Capacities on Freedom of Expression and Information (EFEx) in Bosnia and Herzegovina,“ which is funded under the Council of Europe's Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2022-2025 through the voluntary contribution of Sweden via the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).