High-level Seminar co-organised by the Council of Europe and the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) on Freedom of expression – role and powers of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and other national mechanisms


Draft Programme (5/12/2016)

Strasbourg - Agora building, Room G03

15 December 2016

08:45-9:30

Registration and welcome coffee

9:30-10:00

Welcoming address and opening by Mr Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe and Ms Lora Vidović, Ombudswoman of Croatia, ENNHRI Chair.

10:00-11:20

Session 1 – Freedom of expression in the work and standards of the Council of Europe

The opening session examines the role of the Council of Europe in the protection of the right to freedom of expression and media freedom. The starting point of the examination will be the Council of Europe’s work in the area of protection of journalism and safety of journalists. However, the session will focus on wider challenges facing media freedom in Europe, and the steps taken or envisaged by the Council of Europe to address those challenges.

Panellists

Ms Françoise Tulkens, Former Vice-President of the European Court of Human Rights

Ms Jasminka Džumhur, Ombudsperson, Institution of Human Rights Ombudsmen of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mr Patrick Penninckx, Head of Information Society Department, Council of Europe

Mr Matjaž Gruden, Director, Policy Planning Directorate, Council of Europe (tbc)

Moderator: Mr Mogens Blicher Bjerregård, President of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)


11:20-11:40

Coffee break

11:40-13:00

Session 2 –NHRIs’ activities in the area of freedom of expression

The second session delves into the role of NHRIs and other national mechanisms in the area of freedom of expression, namely how this right ties into the powers and mandate of these institutions. In this connection, the session will attempt to identify ways in which NHRIs build relations with civil society and state institutions in the implementation of human rights standards – especially those applicable to freedom of expression – and possible needs of the NHRIs for support and/or assistance in safeguarding these standards.

Panellists

Ms Ulrike Grieshofer, Executive Director of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI)

Ms Adriana van Dooijeweert, Chair of the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights

Mr Saša Janković, Protector of Citizens, Republic of Serbia 

Ms Maija Sakslin, Deputy Parliamentary Ombudsman of Finland

Mr Thijs Berman, Principal Adviser of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media

Moderator: Ms Debbie Kohner, Secretary General of ENNHRI


13:00-14:30

Lunch break - Buffet

14:30-16:00

Session 3 - NHRIs and the Council of Europe – mutual engagement for the benefit of all

The last session identifies common interests of NHRIs and the Council of Europe in the area of freedom of expression and explores ideas for cooperation between the organisations, in particular through the exchange of information and experience. It also addresses the ways in which NHRIs and other national mechanisms could be supported by the Council of Europe in the execution of their tasks related to the protection of freedom of expression, and ways in which the NHRIs may raise awareness of the standards developed by the Council of Europe in this area.

Panellists

Ms Agnieszka Grzelak, Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights - Poland, Professor of EU and international law at Kozminski University in Warsaw

Ms Elisabet Fura, Former Judge of the European Court of Human Rights and former Ombudsperson of Sweden

Mr Mogens Blicher Bjerregård, President of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)

Mr Mykhailo Chaplyga, Office of the Ukrainian Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights

Moderator: Jan Kleijssen, Director of the Information Society and Action against Crime Directorate, Council of Europe


16:00-16:30

Conclusions and closure by the Secretariat, Ms Silvia Grundmann, Head of Media and Internet Division, Council of Europe, the General Rapporteur, Mr Joan Barata Mir, International expert in freedom of expression, media freedom and media regulation and ENNHRI, Ms Debbie Kohner, Secretary General of ENNHRI.