08 September 2017, Friday, 17:36 97

OSCE Media Freedom Representative Desir Discusses Media Freedom In Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, Russia With International Journalistic Organizations

Редактор: Daria Zubkova

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Desir has discussed restriction of media freedom in Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, and Russia, as well as a number of other problems involving protection of freedom of expression in Europe, with international journalistic organizations.

The OSCE announced this in a statement, Ukrainian News Agency reports.

The meeting was held in Brussels on September 5.

According to the statement, Desir expressed his commitment to work with journalist organizations and media freedom groups to defend an increasingly challenging media freedom landscape in the 57 OSCE participating states.

Desir outlined the key priorities and mandates including the safety of journalists, combating impunity, countering propaganda disinformation and fake news, counter-terrorism measures, freedom of expression, media pluralism, and regulation.

The case of arrested journalist Hamza Yalcin in Spain, the declining media freedom in Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, Russia, the continuing states of emergency in France and Turkey, the ongoing media crackdown in Azerbaijan, the new surveillance laws in France, Britain, and Germany, digital security, and the role of public and private media actors were among the issues discussed between civil society representatives and Desir.

The participating organizations included Access Now, Article 19, Association of European Journalists, Committee to Protect Journalists, European Federation of Journalists, European Digital Rights, IFEX, International Federation of Journalists, Index on Censorship, International News Safety Institute, International Press Institute, PEN International, Reporters Without Borders, as well as David Kaye, the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, Desir was appointed as the OSCE representative on freedom of the media in June.