Freedom of expression in focus of OSCE activities in Turkmenistan
The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat organized a number of activities to provide support in modernizing journalism education and promoting freedom of expression. The events included an online course on freedom of expression for journalism students and online presentation of a model module on freedom of expression for journalism faculties designed by OSCE experts.
The three-day course took place from 19 to 21 October 2020 and brought together journalism students from the Institute of International Relations of Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the International University for Humanities and Development and the Magtymguly Turkmen State University
The course covered the principle of freedom of expression and relevant international standards and national legislation in Central Asian countries. The course presented concepts such as access to information, state, professional and commercial secrets as well as relations between the media and state bodies.
“This year, the OSCE participating States are celebrating the forty-fifth anniversary of the Organization’s guiding document, the Helsinki Final Act, which, among others, consolidated such important principles, as freedom of information and freedom of journalistic profession,” said Natalya Drozd, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.
An international expert briefed participants about regulation and self-regulation of the media, legal status of journalists and protection of honour, dignity and private life. The internet as a subject of legal regulation and dissemination of information was also among the topics addressed.
“Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right and is particularly important for journalists. We organized this course to support the implementation of the National Human Rights Action Plan of Turkmenistan (NHRAP) for 2016-2020. The plan envisages the development of a module on freedom of expression for journalism faculties and we are confident that such a module is essential in the education of future journalists. This will help them enhance their knowledge about rights and duties of journalists and mechanisms of their safeguarding,” added Drozd.
The course also addressed such topical issues as media and elections, journalism and conflict. The students exchanged views on the commercial activities of media and copyright in journalism.
The online presentation of the model module was held on 8 October 2020 and brought together journalism and law instructors from Turkmenistan’s institutions of higher education, representatives of the Mejlis (parliament), the Ministry of Education, the Office of the Ombudsman, the Institute of State, Law and Democracy and other relevant institutions. An international expert presented the module, which included a concept note, outlines of lectures and assignments for practical classes, recommended literature, as well as recommended methods of teaching, questions and assignments for tests or exam and evaluation criteria. The Centre initiated the development of the model module to provide support in the implementation of the relevant provision of NHRAP for 2016 -2020.