The Council of Europe is hosting a conference, The Protection of Journalists - a multistakeholder dialogue, to highlight the importance of media safety, given the key democratic function of journalists during crises, elections, demonstrations, and in conflict zones.
As indicated in the 2024 report Media Freedom in Europe, from the Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists, press freedom remains under threat in Europe, from unlawful deployment of spyware and abusive lawsuits against journalists, to physical attacks, intimidation, detention and restrictive legislation, among other perils.
Based on the Council of Europe's Recommendation CM/Rec(2016)4 on the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists, and its four pillars (Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, and Promotion) the conference, which takes place on 29 and 30 October, is the first of four major events for the Council of Europe "Journalists Matter" Campaign, starting with a focus on the Protection pillar.
In a series of sessions, participants including public authorities, law enforcement, civil society, journalists and international organisations including the Council of Europe, will delve into legislative frameworks addressing violence against journalists and assess the efficacy of existing laws. They will also explore ways of improving protection, including by law enforcement, partnerships, and cooperation memoranda. They will stress the importance of procedural guarantees in cases of deprivation of liberty, emphasising the right to legal representation, medical assistance etc.
