Harlem Désir, we must protect journalists

OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media called on States to implement the Ministerial Council Decision on Safety of Journalists

VIENNA, 4 July 2019 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today called on participating States to implement the Ministerial Council Decision on Safety of Journalists, as he presented his biannual report to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna.

“In the last seven months, I made over 240 interventions in 41 OSCE participating States. It is appalling that two journalists, Vadim Komarov and Lyra Mckee, were killed, and that there were a further 92 attacks and threats, including one bombing, three shootings, and seven arson attacks against journalists” said Désir. “Journalists are targets but it is freedom of opinion and the right of citizens to be informed that are attacked. Fundamentally, what is under assault is the role of the media in democracy.”

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