Newspress

Ensuring both equal opportunities and equal safeguards for women and men is key to an independent and diverse media landscape, which is vital for open societies based on the principles at the heart of OSCE commitments to human rights and democracy, participants said at a two-day OSCE meeting that ended today.

"This meeting covered two areas that are central parts of the OSCE's comprehensive concept of security freedom of the media and gender equality. In Milan 2018, we all reiterated that independent media is essential to a free and open society, and that accountable systems of government are of particular importance in safeguarding human rights and fundamental freedoms. This was also the first time when we explicitly expressed our concern about the distinct risks faced by women journalists in relation to their work. Our commitments are strong, and it is our duty to implement what we have jointly agreed on," said OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ann Linde.

There were more than 370 registrations from across the OSCE region for the meeting, which has been held online since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. A broad mix of participants from OSCE states and civil society took part, as well as representatives from international organizations and national human rights institutions. Participants emphasized the importance of a diverse and independent media that is able to report on issues of public interest, as well as the free flow of information accessible to all citizens.

"Now, perhaps more than ever, we need to invest in a free and vibrant journalistic scene," said the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro. "This means, amongst others, that we need media and information literacy, fact checking initiatives, transparent governments that refrain from bashing the media, strong quality journalism and independent media regulators. But, perhaps most importantly, we need to support media pluralism, with a multitude of voices, including those of women journalists."

As well as debating gender equality and the right to freedom of expression and information, experts discussed the importance of women's voices in strengthening conflict resolution and peacebuilding, as well as the need to make the online space safe for women journalists. While new technologies have provided unparalleled opportunities for freedom of expression, attacks on journalists are becoming increasingly frequent. Nowhere is this form of abuse more visible than online. A guide developed by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media is helping to effectively combat and prevent these attacks, which not only harm those targeted but also freedom of expression more broadly.

"All OSCE countries have recognized the importance of the free flow of information for our societies," said ODIHR Director Matteo Mecacci. "Democracies can flourish only when citizens and institutions can engage in well-informed discussions and make considered decisions. In order to achieve this, it is important to have access to a broad range of opinions and sources, and the work of women in the media is a vital part of this mix. No journalist should have to fear for their safety whether off- or online for performing this essential task in any democracy."

Supplementary Human Dimension Meetings are a platform for the OSCE's participating States and OSCE institutions, as well as international organizations and civil society, to exchange views and good practices in order to find common solutions for the challenges facing societies across the OSCE region. Two more such meetings on pressing topics related to democracy and human rights are planned for 2021