Activity Details (ID# 14205)

Activity Synopsis

The aims of the seminar were to:

1) improve lawyers’ knowledge on European standards concerning media and elections;
2) show ways of maintaining a fair balance between the rights of the media and of candidates;
3) improve lawyers’ knowledge about guaranteeing the equality of rights of candidates to access to the media;
4) improve lawyers’ knowledge on restrictions on distribution of information during elections; the protection of private life of candidates;
5) improve lawyers professional skills in the legal defence of independent media;
6) enhance communication between media lawyers in Ukraine.
 

The participants of the seminar showed interest in the seminar and debated practically every issue, particularly in the implementation of European standards in practice in other European countries and the possibilities of implementing these standards in Ukraine. The participants analysed the main problems in Ukraine concerning elections, and the rights, duties and responsibilities of the media during elections in Europe and Ukraine.

Information about the seminar was published in:

- «Yurydychna gazeta » #3 (63), 17 February 2006
- «Kyiv-Weekly» #5, 8 February 2006

22 participants completed the questionnaire. The participants pointed to the significant importance of such seminars for practising media lawyers. All pointed out that the seminar was worth being recommended to their colleagues.

The seminar reached the audience it was designed for. It helped to gather the best specialists in media law in Ukraine, while at the same time involving people new to this sphere.

The participants pointed out that the seminar corresponded to their professional needs and made some remarks about the seminar. They also pointed out that it was useful to hear about European practice directly from the European experts.

In particular, they suggested that the representatives of the Ukrainian judicial system and Ukrainian judges should be invited to the seminar. Also they thought it would be necessary to examine in further detail the rights and duties of journalists during elections periods.
 

The seminar was useful for those who participated. It helped to increase awareness and communication between Ukrainian lawyers.

The participants made proposals for future seminars on such topics as the media and the judiciary, freedom of expression and privacy rights.
 

Media Lawyers from regions and from Kyiv, senior law students and some journalists 

Mr Henri DUDZINSKI, District Director of “La Voix du Nord” (France)
Mr Andrea TAMIETTI, Lawyer at the Registry of the European Court of Human Rights
Mr Taras SHEVCHENKO, Director of the Media Law Institute
Mr Vyacheslav YAKUBENKO, Barrister
Ms Natatia LIGACHOVA, Editor-in-chief of the Internet project “Telekritika”
Ms Olga BOLSHAKOVA, Head of the Board of the Central European Centre on Media Problems
Mr Volodymyr KOYTUNETS, Election Project, Development Associates
 

Ms Lejla DERVISAGIC, Media Division, Directorate General of Human Rights