National Focal Point

Mrs Anastasija Tetarenko-Supe, Member of the Board of the Latvian Association of Journalists 

National Campaign Committee

The Ministry of Culture is currently in the process of establishing a specialised working group aimed at providing support and empowerment to journalists. Multiple institutions and organisations have been formally invited to nominate candidates for this working group. Presently, the Ministry is awaiting responses from the invited entities as efforts are made towards finalising the composition of the group. Anticipated members of the working group include representatives from various sectors such as state institutions, media councils, associations and unions, media excellence and investigative journalism centres, and academic experts. This diverse representation will ensure a comprehensive and inclusive approach to the group's work.

The primary objective of this working group is to actively participate in the Council of Europe's Safety of Journalists’ campaign, which seeks to implement the Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the protection of journalism and the safety of journalists and other media actors.

Additionally, the working group will ensure the implementation of the European Commission Recommendation aimed at safeguarding the protection, safety, and empowerment of journalists and other media professionals in the European Union.

Collaborating with all stakeholders, the working group will develop a plan of measures to address the safety concerns of journalists. This plan will serve two functions: it will specify tasks regarding the safety issues of journalists in future media policy guidelines and function as the national chapter of Latvia in the Council of Europe Journalists Safety Campaign. The assigned working group will be responsible for closely monitoring and ensuring the effective implementation of the proposed recommendations for guaranteeing the safety of journalists.

The working group is scheduled to meet 3-4 times per year, with the possibility of more frequent meetings if needed due to changing circumstances. These meetings will be conducted either in-person, online, or in a hybrid format, depending on prevailing conditions.

It has been identified that Latvia lacks specific measures to safeguard journalists and enhance their working conditions, particularly when they are exposed to different risks. Therefore, several priority areas with regards to journalist safety have been identified. These include improving the regulatory framework to ensure the physical, emotional, and social protection of media employees, providing opportunities for representatives from the justice and interior sector to enhance their knowledge of journalist security, and enhancing mechanisms, action plans, and training for media operation to better prepare for crisis situations.

To address the safety concerns of journalists, the working group will prioritize the needs of all stakeholders involved and convene to identify any challenges and gaps in ensuring the safety of journalists.