Activity Details (ID# 10964)

Activity Synopsis

The Group is examining whether the existing international standards concerning freedom of expression and information in times of crisis are adequate and sufficient to guarantee this freedom. If the Group concludes that there is a need to update the existing standards at the European level or to draft new ones, it will formulate concrete proposals. If it finds that there is no such need, it will explore new or improved monitoring and enforcement mechanisms for the existing standards. 

The Group unanimously elected Ms Dunja MIJATOVIC (Bosnia and Herzegovina) as Chairperson and Ms Theodora PETROVA-IVANOVA (Bulgaria) as Vice-Chairperson for a one-year term of office. An exchange of views concerning the scope of the Group's terms of reference and, more specifically, how to define the concept “times of crisis” was held. The Group decided to use an operational definition according to which “crisis” should mean a situation in which freedom of expression and information is threatened (for example, by limiting it for security reasons).

The Group encountered some difficulty in determining what initiatives should be taken, if at all, in favour of investigative journalism. The issue was considered important but, on the other hand, only partially related to the overall topic. Following a discussion, it was decided that further clarification would be sought from the CDMM concerning the tasks of the Group in this respect and the expected results.

The Group also started a discussion on the relevant Council of Europe mechanisms for monitoring the compliance by member States with their commitments. The Secretariat was asked to prepare an information document on these mechanisms for the next meeting so that the MM-S-IC could consider which method would be best suited to monitor the implementation of Council of Europe standards in the field of freedom of expression and information in times of crisis.

The Group also agreed to consider the possibility of creating a complaints mechanism on alleged violations of the right to freedom of expression and information in times of crisis. One option would be to place this mechanism within the framework of the proposed regular forum to review the rights and responsibilities of the media and the working conditions of journalists in times of crisis, which is included in the Group's terms of reference. In this connection, the Group agreed to follow closely the work of the Parliamentary Assembly on related issues such as media and terrorism, so as to ensure co-ordination in this field.


 

The Group decided to proceed along the following lines :

• commission a consultant to carry out a review of existing standards at the international level concerning freedom of expression and information in times of crisis, with the aim of identifying any gaps or shortcomings that could be remedied through the drafting of new legal instruments within the Council of Europe;

• circulate the review among members of the Group requesting their comments and additional input, especially with regard to the possible need to update or complement the existing standards;

• submit the report incorporating members’ input for public consultation by posting it on the Media Division’s website, and draw the attention of relevant organisations to this consultation process;

• discuss the above report, together with the feedback from the public consultation, at the next meeting of the MM-S-IC and decide on further concrete actions to be taken.
 

The Group is composed of the following member States: Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, the Netherlands, the Russian Federation, Serbia and Montenegro, Sweden, Turkey. Other member States may designate, at their own expense, specialists to participate in the meetings of the Group.

The Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, the European Audiovisual Observatory and the European Commission may also send representatives (without the right to vote).

The following observers with the Council of Europe may also send a representative without the right to vote: Canada, the Holy See, Japan, Mexico, the United States of America, the OSCE, the European Broadcasting Union, the European Federation of Journalists, the European Newspaper Publishers Association, the European Internet Service Providers’ Association, the Association of Commercial Television in Europe, the International News Safety Institute, the Rory Peck Trust and Reporters sans frontiers.
 

Mr Jan MALINOWSKI, Head of Media Division, Directorate General of Human Rights
Mr Ivan NIKOLTCHEV, Secretary to the MM-S-IC, Media Division, Directorate General of Human Rights
Mrs Lindsay YOUNGS, Media Division, Directorate General of Human Rights