Journalists Matter, Council of Europe Campaign for the Safety of Journalists
The Council of Europe encourages member states to transpose the Campaign to the national context. Without each member’s committed and effective effort at national level, through the development of the so-called ‘national chapter’, the Campaign cannot reach its goals.
In this section, we will present developments in Ukraine:
National Focal Point
Ms Ganna KRASNOSTUP, Director of the Department of Information Policy and Information Security of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine
National Campaign Committee
The Coordination Committee for the implementation of the Council of Europe's "Journalists Matter" campaign in Ukraine was established on April 8, 2024 under the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine (Order No 264).
It is composed of the representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, the National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine, the State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine, the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, representatives of other central and local executive authorities, the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, the Institute of Mass Information, the Commission on Journalistic Ethics, independent media experts, specialists and consultants. Is includes all key stakeholders such as representatives from government bodies, civil society, media organisations who address challenges faced by journalists and media actors in Ukraine.
The Committee is a continuously operating advisory body formed to conduct expert consultations, provide swift review of implementation issues in Ukraine regarding the Council of Europe's five-year campaign on journalist safety "Journalists Matter," ensure a unified approach to addressing journalist safety issues, and facilitate their professional activities during the legal regime of martial law.
The main tasks of the Committee include:
Assessing existing challenges and needs (considering the internal environment in which journalists and other media actors operate).
Providing recommendations for implementing the Council of Europe's campaign on the safety of journalists "Journalists Matter" in Ukraine at the national level, starting with assessing needs and identifying useful measures that can be implemented within the campaign.
Summarising practices, providing recommendations and proposals for creating favourable conditions for professional activities of journalists and other media actors in Ukraine.
Discuss incidents of war crimes against journalists and media, underlining the imperative for protection of free speech and international support.
Identifying ways, mechanisms, and methods of addressing problematic issues related to journalists' safety, conducting their professional activities during the legal regime of martial law.
Addressing other issues related to protecting freedom of expression in Ukraine.
The Committee operates through meetings held as needed. The meetings are chaired by the Committee Chair, or in their absence, by the Deputy Chair of the Committee. The agenda, date, time, and location of the Committee meeting are determined by the Committee Chair.
A Committee meeting is considered valid if more than half of its members are present. Committee meetings may be conducted remotely using information and communication technologies and digital tools.
Proposals and recommendations of the Committee are adopted by open voting with a simple majority of votes from the members present at the meeting. In case of a tie, the decisive vote is cast by the chairperson presiding over the meeting.
The Committee will approve the Action Plan, which can be amended as needed.
The organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has released the Press Freedom Index for the year 2024, which includes 180 countries worldwide. Ukraine has reached the 61st position, climbing 18 places in just one year. This is the best indicator in this rating since the independence of Ukraine.
However, despite these achievements, Ukrainian journalists continue to face huge challenges, primarily stemming from two major sources: the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine and the persistent persecution of investigative journalists. The dire situation is underscored by the latest report from the Institute of Mass Information, which reveals the harrowing toll of the conflict on media personnel. Since the onset of the Russian invasion, 81 journalists have been killed in Ukraine, numerous media outlets have been forced to cease operations permanently, and countless journalists and media actors have been subjected to various forms of intimidation, including physical attacks, digital assaults, and direct threats. Moreover, the imposition of martial law, though imperative for national security, has further encumbered press freedom by imposing additional constraints on journalists' professional activities.
The implementation of the Council of Europe Campaign for the Safety of Journalists "Journalists Matter" in Ukraine is envisaged by item 57 of the Work Plan of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine for 2024, approved by the order of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine dated January 16, 2024, No 13.
Specific measures of the Council of Europe Campaign for the Safety of Journalists "Journalists Matter" started being implemented in Ukraine before April 9, 2024.
Ukraine, National chapter
