Freedom of Expression : News
Annual Thematic Conference: Building the paradigm against impunity of crimes against journalists
The Council of Europe in cooperation with the Luxembourg Minister of Justice and Minister delegate to the Prime Minister for Media and Connectivity are organising an international conference in the framework of the Council of Europe ‘Journalists Matter’ Campaign for the Safety of Journalists. The...
(anglais seulement)
Future Lawyers and Journalists Learning to Counter SLAPPs in Montenegro
Over 60 law and journalism students at the University of Montenegro learnt how to counter legal intimidation and threats to media freedom during the country’s first-ever university lecture on Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs). This innovative educational initiative offered...
(anglais seulement)
Towards Systematic Monitoring of Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Bosnia and Herzegovina
As highlighted in the annual report of the Council of Europe Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists, the past year was marked by growing risks linked to the spread of disinformation—including AI-generated content and state propaganda—aimed at manipulating...
(anglais seulement)
Prosecutors strengthen capacities to uphold media freedom and protect journalists
Safeguarding media freedom and ensuring the safety of journalists are essential components of a democratic society and the rule of law. Prosecutors play a key role in preventing and responding to threats, violence, and legal harassment targeting media professionals. To strengthen prosecutorial...
(anglais seulement)
Shaping a Gender-Sensitive Future in Journalism
Recognising the media’s powerful role in either reinforcing or challenging gender stereotypes, the Council of Europe, in cooperation with the Journalists’ Association of Serbia (UNS), held a workshop in Belgrade to equip young journalists and journalism students with the tools to report through a...
Albanian authorities reaffirm their commitment to advance freedom of expression and the media with the EU and Council of Europe support
Albanian public authorities and key actors in the field reaffirmed their dedication to enhancing freedom of expression and media freedom, in line with European standards. During the 3rd Steering Committee meeting of the European Union and Council of Europe joint action on “Protecting freedom of...
(anglais seulement)
Strengthening Freedom of Expression: Public institutions and media actors define common priorities
Public institutions and media actors reaffirmed their commitment to advancing freedom of expression and aligning media and legal practices with European standards. The second meeting of the Steering Committee of the Action “Protecting Freedom of Expression and of the Media” took place in...
(anglais seulement)
Council of Europe Strengthens Efforts Against Disinformation
The decline in trust in the media, the impact of disinformation on the global information landscape and geopolitical agenda, the use of social media as a news source, and the role of sustainable journalism in tackling these challenges are all issues that require the engagement of media actors and...
(anglais seulement)
Crisis Communication for Judges: Enhancing Public Trust in Montenegro's Judiciary
Transparent and effective communication is key to maintaining public trust in the judiciary. To support this goal, a specialised workshop for judicial spokespersons in Montenegro focused on enhancing crisis communication skills. The workshop “Crisis communication for judges” provided a hands-on...
(anglais seulement)
Protecting Freedom of Expression Against Defamation and SLAPPs in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Defamation and SLAPPs remain pressing legal tools used to silence criticism and stifle public debate. To address these challenges, a two-day training session dedicated to the promotion and protection of freedom of expression, with a specialised focus on the legal aspects of defamation and...
(anglais seulement)
Serbia Moves Towards Stronger Media Rules to Protect Minors
With the increasing pervasiveness of commercial content across media platforms, safeguarding minors from harmful advertising has become an urgent concern. In this context, models of self-regulation and co-regulation offer a promising path forward—allowing media stakeholders, advertisers, and...
The Committee of Experts on the implications of Generative AI for Freedom of Expression (MSI-AI) held its third meeting
The MSI-AI held its third meeting in hybrid format on 25-26 March 2025, in the premises of the Council of Europe in Paris. Under the authority of the Committee of Ministers, and of the Steering Committee on Media and Information Society (CDMSI), the MSI-AI is instructed to draft a Guidance Note...
(anglais seulement)
Strengthening media regulation in North Macedonia: addressing SLAPPs and key challenges
Ensuring strong legal safeguards and effective media regulation is essential for protecting freedom of expression and countering threats to independent journalism. The Workshop on ‘Advancing Media Regulation in North Macedonia – Alignment with EU Norms’, brought together for 3 days media...
(anglais seulement)
Strengthening legal capacity to defend freedom of expression – Lawyers discuss SLAPPs in Pristina
In an era where freedom of expression faces increasing challenges, strengthening the capacity of legal professionals to safeguard this fundamental right is crucial. In this context, the EU and Council of Europe joint action “Protecting freedom of expression and of the media (PROFREX)”, gathered...
(anglais seulement)
Safeguarding Media Freedom: addressing SLAPPs through judicial Training in Albania
The safety of journalists is fundamental to a democratic society, enabling them to report on public interest matters without fear of intimidation, legal harassment, or violence. However, often journalists, including in Albania, continue to face threats, such as Strategic Lawsuits Against Public...
(anglais seulement)
Supporting Quality Journalism to Provide Reliable Information on Ukraine
The Kyiv Independent is a highly respected and widely followed English-language media outlet, which provides quality information on Ukraine and Eastern Europe. As part of its ongoing work to strengthen media freedom and support quality journalism to counter disinformation, the Council of Europe...
(anglais seulement)
Division for Co-operation on Freedom of Expression launched a tender for international consultancy services
The Council of Europe’s Division for Co-operation on Freedom of Expression has launched a tender for international consultancy services to support implementation of its activities in the areas pertaining to a wide range of issues related to media freedom, freedom of expression, access to public...
(anglais seulement)
Strengthening the Role of the State Police in ensuring protection of journalists
A consultative meeting on the State Police Guidelines for the Safety of Journalists took place at the Europe House in Tirana, bringing together representatives from law enforcement agencies, government institutions, media organisations, and civil society to discuss ways to enhance journalist...
(anglais seulement)
Balancing transparency and privacy: Enhancing public institutions' capacity to uphold freedom of information
A specialised training course for spokespeople and information officers of public institutions, on access to official information and personal data protection, was held on 5 and 6 March 2025 in Sarajevo. Special attention was paid to the specific role of information officers in balancing the...
(anglais seulement)
Bosnia and Herzegovina steps up efforts to safeguard media freedom and journalist protection
A shared commitment to reinforcing the safety of journalists, countering SLAPPs, and advancing media freedom as a core democratic value in Bosnia and Herzegovina was reaffirmed at the third Steering Committee meeting, under the joint European Union and Council of Europe action “Protecting Freedom...
"Everyone has the right to freedom of expression"
Art. 10 European Convention on Human Rights
Publications
Adopted texts
Leaflets
Videos
