Press freedom promoter from Bosnia and Herzegovina named OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media

VIENNA, 11 March 2010 - The 56 OSCE participating States appointed today Dunja Mijatovic from Bosnia and Herzegovina as the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media.

Mijatovic was appointed for a three-year term that can be renewed once. She starts work in the Vienna-based office of the OSCE Representative on March 11, succeeding Miklos Haraszti.

"The appointment of Dunja Mijatovic as the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media with unanimous consent of all participating States of the Organization is a testament to our common commitment to further progress in promoting the freedom of the media," said the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Kazakh State Secretary and Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev. "We wish Dunja Mijatovic success in this important job and call on all OSCE participating States to render her all needed support in her activities."

Mijatovic is an expert in media law and regulation. In 1998, as one of the founders of the Communications Regulatory Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, she helped to create a legal, regulatory and policy framework for the media in a complex post-war society. She was also involved in setting up a self-regulatory Press Council and the first Free Media Helpline in South East Europe.

Since 2007 she has been Chairperson of the European Platform of Regulatory Authorities - EPRA. She was the first non-EU Member State representative and the first woman to hold this post. Previously, she chaired the Council of Europe's Group of Specialists on freedom of expression and information in times of crisis. During her Chairmanship, CoE Committee of Ministers adopted the Declaration by the Committee of Ministers on the protection and promotion of investigative journalism and Guidelines on protecting freedom of expression and information in times of crisis. As an expert on media and communications legislation, she has worked in Armenia, Jordan, Serbia, Montenegro, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, Austria, Morocco and Iraq.

The Office of the Representative on Freedom of the Media was established in 1997 to observe relevant media developments in OSCE participating States and to advocate and promote full compliance with OSCE principles and commitments in respect of freedom of expression and free media.