News in English     | 20.04.2018. 16:31 |

Borovac-Désir: Safety of journalists a precondition for the freedom of media

FENA Press release

SARAJEVO, April 20 (FENA) - Minister of Human Rights and Refugees of BiH Semiha Borovac met today with Harlem Désir, who is in the first official visit to our country since taking over the position of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media.

The meeting was also attended by Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bruce Berton, and Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the OSCE, the UN and other international organizations in Vienna, Sanjin Halimović.

Désir stressed that the safety of journalists is a prerequisite for the freedom of media and a priority in his work, emphasizing that political and public condemnation of attacks on journalists and the consistent conduct of investigations in each individual case of threatening journalist safety is of utmost importance.

Minister Borovac agreed, reiterating the earlier view that the attacks on journalists should be defined as a special criminal offense as an attack on a person conducting an official duty.

As one of the main problems in journalistic work in BiH, the Minister noted the difficult social and economic conditions, which is a problem not only of BiH but of the whole region.

Journalists often do not have work contracts and they face delays in salary payments and social contributions, together with unpaid overtime, lack of union organizations ... which often results in self-censorship of journalists.

Borovac and Désir concluded that it is necessary to undertake activities that will improve the work conditions for the media professionals, i.e. preserve the dignity of the journalistic profession, by combating censorship and self-censorship in the media in a concrete way, as well as pressure on independent journalism all for the purpose of compliance with professional standards.

The two also pointed out that special attention should be devoted to the fight against hate speech, not only in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also throughout the region, but with making distinction between hate speech and freedom of speech.

In this regard, Minister Borovac concluded it is necessary to introduce sanctions against hate speech in the criminal legislation.

(FENA) S. R.

Vezane vijesti

OSCE Mission to BiH: There is no further time to waste in implementing necessary reforms

Ambassador Savić: Encouraging messages for Bosnia and Herzegovina from the OSCE headquarters

Contracts signed for the implementation of 90 projects for displaced persons and returnees

Promo

BBI Banka nagrađuje za ukazano povjerenje novim Programom lojalnosti

Obuka za CNC operatere u Tehnološkom parku INTERA

M:tel: Savršena kombinacija – Huawei telefon i pametni sat s popustom