Activity Details (ID# 7416)

Activity Synopsis

The objective of the seminar was to present to the lawyers the general principles developed by the European Court of Human Rights concerning Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and its application as regards defamation, insult, incitement to hatred, access to information, protection of sources and state secrecy. Case studies concerning defamation and privacy were discussed with the participants.

 

Various documents were distributed to the participants: a copy of the European Convention on Human Rights, the case law concerning Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, the series of Recommendations and other texts of the Committee of Ministers in the media field, as well as the Montenegrin Media Law, Broadcasting Law and Public Broadcasting Services Law, all of which allowed them to compare existing national legislation with European standards.

The fact that many local and national radio and TV stations were present at the beginning of the seminar shows the interest of the Montenegrin media as well as the Montenegrin population in subjects concerning freedom of expression and information.

The participants were very motivated and very interested in the experts’ presentations. Most had already attended seminars on the European Convention on Human Rights and had some knowledge of the practice of the European Court of Human Rights, but it was the first time that they had attended a seminar exclusively dedicated to Article 10 of the ECHR.

During the discussions it was interesting to note that the participants criticised the media; they indicated that most of the Montenegrin media were not very professional and did not respect professional codes of ethics. One of the reasons for this situation is that many directors of radio and TV stations, and editors of newspapers, are not journalists.

 

In general, the seminar could be considered as successful. The general conclusion was that Montenegrin legislation concerning the media is in line with European standards, but is not yet applied.

The participants stressed the importance of this kind of training for lawyers as well as for other interested groups (judges, prosecutors, journalists and other media professionals).

They expressed their wish to:

- continue being trained
- participate in seminars on Article 5 and 6 of the ECHR
- participate in a seminar on the relations between the Articles 5, 6, 8 and 10 of the ECHR

Another seminar on the balance between freedom of expression and information and other fundamental rights for judges, prosecutors, lawyers, journalists and police will be organised on 6-7 May 2004.
 

Lawyers

 

Mr. Albrecht HALLER, Barrister, Austria
Mr. Frédéric GRAS, Barrister, France

 

Ms Daliborka ULJAREVIC, Political and Media Adviser, Council of Europe Office in Podgorica
Lejla DERVISAGIC, Media Division, Directorate General of Human Rights