A bleak picture when looking at media freedom in region, said OSCE Media Freedom Representative Ribeiro at Permanent Council meeting in Vienna

VIENNA, 13 May 2021 – When looking at media freedom in the OSCE region, I see a bleak picture, said OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro. She presented her first biannual report to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna today.

Ribeiro expressed her worries about the gross violations of free speech and journalists’ rights for the past period and commemorated the two recently killed journalists in the OSCE region. “These murders are a terrible blow to all media, to society, and all of us, as they show that we still live in a region where journalists literally risk their lives when doing their work,” said Ribeiro. “But mostly, these attacks are a terrible blow to the family, relatives and friends of these journalists, who now have to live on without their beloved ones. My deepest sympathies go out to them.”

Ribeiro referred to the blatant infringements on media freedom in a number of countries, most notably in Belarus, where a large number of journalists were detained and physically attacked and where new regulations were introduced that violate freedom of expression. She also mentioned the many less visible issues that negatively affect media freedom and journalists’ rights. “These violations creep in slowly, and taken together form a new systemic approach that silences critical voices and dismantles media pluralism.”

The report mentions some of the developments that Ribeiro witnessed, including the growing distrust towards journalists and anti-media sentiment, increasing abuse of journalists offline and online (especially women media workers), the use of legal means and arbitrary detention to hinder and harass journalists and a gradual restricting of the free flow of information. Ribeiro also mentioned the challenges that the growing importance of the online sphere poses, including disinformation and the increasing use of artificial intelligence. “When seen in their overall context, such developments can and will lead to a gradual, but certain decay of a freedom we all hold, and should hold, dear.”

Ribeiro used the opportunity to acknowledge the work of her predecessors and particularly paid tribute to Freimut Duve, who served as the first OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media from 1998 to 2003 and who sadly passed away last year. Ribeiro said: “Today more than ever, we should remember his words: ‘There is no freedom without media freedom!’”

The Representative’s full report is available here: https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/b/9/486283.pdf

Media are invited to contact the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media for questions and interview requests.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.