Commissioner H.R. apppreciates Ossigeno’s monitoring

Dunja Mijatovic calls for more cooperation and synergy between international monitoring centers and national observatories

OXYGEN 20 October 2022 – At the opening of the European Anti-SLAPP Conference which took place in Strasbourg on Thursday 20 October 2022, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, Dunja Mijatovic, listed numerous measures and initiatives against the scourge of threats and reckless complaints against journalists and activists and recommended in particular to enhance the work of the monitoring centers at national level existing in some countries, such as Ossigeno per l’Informazione in Italy.

The reckless complaints, the threats to shut the mouth of journalists and activists are increasing unchallenged almost everywhere even in Europe, “the situation – she said – is worrying, but not desperate” if we begin to react adequately, joining forces and realizing greater cooperation between the institutions and associations in the field, creating more synergy and more cooperation between the monitoring and assistance activities carried out at national and international level, enhancing the activity of the monitoring centers that have proven themselves well in some countries: in particular Oxygen for Information in Italy and PDLI in Spain

“My experience of collaboration with international (such as the partners of the Council of Europe Platform) and national associations (such as Ossigeno per l’Informazione in Italy and the Platform for the Defense of Freedom of Information in Spain, to name a few) it strengthens my appreciation for their work and the belief that there is potential for further cooperation across Europe, “said Dunja Mijatovic.

“We should strengthen the synergies between national and international monitoring experiences to provide independent, comprehensive, reliable and timely monitoring of violations. We should provide assistance to victims and promote awareness of the problems they face. Who controls the flow of information. and who can affect freedom of expression has great power. We must ensure that these fundamental aspects of human activities and democracy remain free and in the service of the public interest. ”

SLAPP (English acronym for “strategic judicial cases to reduce public participation”, ed.), she stressed, are the most dangerous threat to freedom of expression and dissent after physical violence. ASP

Read the full text of Dunja Mijatovic’s speech