The Platform for the safety of journalists is a public space to help compile, process and share information on serious concerns about media freedom and safety of journalists in Council of Europe member states. It aims to improve the protection of journalists, better address threats and violence against media professionals and foster early warning mechanisms and response capacity within the Council of Europe. The platform enables the Council of Europe to be alerted on time and in a more systematic way so that it can take timely and coordinated action when necessary. It helps the Organisation identify trends and propose adequate policy responses in the field of media freedom.
 

On 4 December 2014, the Council of Europe and the platform’s partner organisations (Reporters Without Borders, the International Federation of journalists, the European Federation of journalists, the Association of European journalists and Article 19) signed a memorandum of understanding.

Today, 14 international NGOs and associations of journalists are partners to the platform. They are allowed to post alerts, subject to their own verification processes and standards. Each contributing partner is responsible for information which it posts. When circumstances allow, the Council of Europe and a member state which is directly referred to in information posted on the platform may post reports on how they have responded.

The platform also highlights the work carried out by the Council of Europe in the field of media freedom, such as texts prepared by the Parliamentary Assembly, standards adopted by the Committee of Ministers and the relevant case law of the European Court of Human Rights.