Strasbourg, 02/02/2015 (Agence Europe) - “Democracy and the protection of human rights depend on media freedom”, declared the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in a resolution adopted by 77 votes to 19, with three abstentions, on Wednesday 28 January.
This text, strong in its language, was based on the report defended by Croatian Socialist Gvozden Flego, which calls for the national parliaments of the 47 Council of Europe member states to be proactive. The text highlighted the situation particularly in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Russia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine. Making reference to the obligations inherent in ratification of the European Convention on Human Rights by all CoE member states, the members of the PACE stressed the need for special measures to keep journalists safe when they are working in conflict zones or covering violent demonstrations. Proper judicial investigations should be carried out in the event of attacks on and deaths of journalists, the text states. Firmly condemning the attack against Charlie Hebdo, the resolution notes that “political criticism and satire must be protected as an essential part of media freedom. Freedom of expression is applicable not only to information or ideas that are favourably received or regarded as inoffensive or as a matter of indifference, but also to those that offend, shock or disturb the State or any sector of the population”, subject only to the conditions and restrictions contained within the European Convention on Human Rights. The text sets out a number of specific proposals, including annual debates to be held in national parliaments on the freedom of the media within their respective national borders and a “media identity card” to clarify who owns or finances individual media. (VL)