Activity Details (ID# 4938)

Activity Synopsis

The topics addressed included the definition and practice of both the right to freedom of expression, as well as defamation and the right to reply. The aforementioned rights and obligations are considered fundamental in the development of any democratic society and especially important in the field of broadcasting. The objectives of the conference included raising the level of awareness concerning these principles and standards, with a view to helping the process of professionalisation of the broadcasting sector and judicial branches.


The whole idea of freedom of expression is still a burning issue in the region, given the fact that it has been hugely misused over the past decade. Within a general framework of freedom of expression, particular emphasis should be placed on the right of reply – as there are present cases where journalists accuse and render verdicts at one go, prior to any court proceedings and with absolutely no opportunity for the accused to state their opinions – of course, defamation comes as a natural result. The objectives of the conference were to further address these important issues and identify activities needed in this field, as well as bring together judicial branch and media representatives for a constructive debate.
 

The debate was around the issue of decriminalisation of defamation, where most participants noted that it was good to have such liberal legislation in place but that the overall low-level of media responsibility was still a problem.

In addition, it was emphasised that a lot of positive developments in this field have been made and that there were institutions in place dealing with these questions but that further awareness-raising on the latter was needed.

As for the media coverage, the CRA sent on 10 April 2003 information to all media prior to the conference, as well as a press release on the day of the conference. There were five TV stations and several radio stations that covered the event.

For the conference, the CRA had prepared the following documentation for all participants, which was delivered to them on a compact disk:

- CRA Broadcasting Code of Practice
- Press Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Related articles from:
▪ Law on the basis of the Public Broadcasting System and on Public Broadcasting Service of Bosnia and Herzegovina
▪ Law on the Radio-Television of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
▪ Law on the Radio-Television of the Republika Srpska
- Law on Protection Against Defamation of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Law on Protection Against Defamation of the Republika Srpska
- Council of Europe Resolution (74) 26 on the Right of reply – Position of the Individual in relation to the Press
- European Convention on the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
 

A set of conclusions were adopted at the conference, which can be obtained from the web-site of the Council of Europe (http://www.coe.int/T/E/human_rights/media/) or from CRA (http://www.cra.ba/).

 

Representatives of the judicial branch, broadcasters, regulators, representatives of the print media and policy-makers

 

Mr Andrew Nicol, Lawyer, London (United Kingdom)
Ms Vesna Alaburic, Attorney at Law, Zagreb (Croatia)

 

Mr Ramon Prieto-Suarez, Media Division, Directorate General of Human Rights