Unhindered access to, and free flow of, information remain essential during public health emergencies, concludes South Caucasus Media Conference
VIENNA, 19 November 2020 – The promotion of freedom of information during health crises and the state of media freedom in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia were the focus of the two-day 17th OSCE South Caucasus Media Conference, which concluded today.
The annual event, which was held online and organized by the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), brought together journalists, media experts, civil society and government representatives to discuss prospects and challenges in the media landscape in the South Caucasus region.
In particular, participants exchanged views concerning the implications for access to, and the free flow of, information resulting from emergency measures undertaken by governments in the region to protect human health and counter “fake news”. Participants emphasized that the media has a crucial role to play in providing information on public health issues, especially in times of a pandemic, and to counter false information. They said that the authorities should avoid taking disproportionate steps that would impede the work of journalists.
“We have been living in times when the whole world is affected by a health crisis, with the COVID-19 pandemic having caused serious disruptions to our everyday lives,” said Jürgen Heissel, Director of the Office of the OSCE RFoM. “Although the effects of the pandemic and their implications for our societies are far-reaching and may last into the coming years, it is important to ensure that the measures to protect human safety conform strictly to international human rights standards, including those on freedom of expression and freedom of the media, and comply with the principles of legality and proportionality.”
Among other things, participants also discussed the issues of safety and security of media workers; the influence of the internet on the continued changes in media landscape; and other developments affecting media pluralism and diversity, as well as the ability of media outlets to fulfil their activities freely.
More information on the conference can be found here: https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/470367