Activity Details (ID# 4941)

Activity Synopsis

The objective of the seminar was to present to the participants the general principles developed by the European Court of Human Rights concerning Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights and its application as regards defamation, insult, incitement to hatred, access to information, protection of sources, state secrets and whistle-blowing. Case studies on these issues were also discussed.

 

The seminar took place in Borovetz (some 60 km from Sofia). The Magistrate Training Center did an excellent job in organising the activity.

The seminar was very well attended throughout its duration. After a brief period of adaptation, the participants joined in an active discussion which culminated in the work on case studies presented by the international experts – Dr Monica Macovei and Ms Lucy Moorman.

Three Bulgarian speakers were also invited – Mr Dinko Kanchev, lawyer at the Bulgarian Lawyers for Human Rights Foundation, Mr Alexei Lazarov, journalist at Capital weekly, and Mr Yonko Grozev, lawyer at the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee. Their presentations also contributed greatly to the discussions.

For judges of the older generation, it seemed difficult to come to terms with some principles developed by the European Court of Human Rights concerning Article 10 since they sometimes clashed with their previous practice and education. Younger professionals were much more at ease with these principles. Finally, both groups seemed to have benefited from the seminar.

The overall evaluation by participants was excellent. The seminar was considered to be extremely useful, especially in terms of the possibility to exchange views and comments with the international experts. The structure of the seminar – presentations by Council of Europe and local experts in each session, followed by case studies – also contributed to its success.
 

Further training for representatives of the judiciary as well as for journalists and other groups would be beneficial.

 

Judges, lawyers, prosecutors, investigators and press attaches of courts (a recently created position in Bulgaria)

 

Dr Monica Macovei, lawyer, President of the Romanian Helsinki Committee
Ms Lucy Moorman, barrister, Doughty Street Chambers, London
 

Mr Ivan Nikoltchev, Media Division