(IPI/IFEX) – The following is a 26 Novemebr 2000 IPI press release: IPI Releases Study on Press Freedom Violations in Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Member States On the occasion of the 8th Meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council, on 27 and 28 November 2000, in Vienna, the International Press Institute (IPI) […]
(IPI/IFEX) – The following is a 26 Novemebr 2000 IPI press release:
IPI Releases Study on Press Freedom Violations in Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Member States
On the occasion of the 8th Meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council, on 27 and 28 November 2000, in Vienna, the International Press Institute (IPI) today presented a study on press freedom violations in the OSCE member states.
Of the 55 member states, with a total population of over 1,1 billion people, only 12 countries had NO press freedom violations recorded in 1999-2000, namely Andorra, Denmark, The Holy See, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia and Switzerland.
Over the last two years, at least 27 journalists were murdered in OSCE member states, 64 were imprisoned and 160 assaulted. This shows that in the 25 years since the signing of the Helsinki Final Act, many of the decisions and resolutions taken by the OSCE with regard to human rights – in particular freedom of expression and freedom of the press – are not yet fully accepted and respected in the majority of member states.
The text of the 1975 Helsinki Final Act explicitly stated: “In the field of human rights and fundamental freedoms, the participating states will act in conformity with the purpose and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”
The OSCE has declared its readiness to strengthen its co-operation with NGOs on all levels and to promote the free flow of information, as well as encourage written presentations by NGOs to OSCE institutions.
Therefore, IPI would like to add to the important work of the Special OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media and remind the OSCE that some of its member states still have a pressing need for reform and that they should be urged to comply with their international commitments.
The IPI Study will be made available at the Press Centre, Hofburg Congress Centre, where the Meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council is being held. It will be also available on the IPI Web site: www.freemedia.at/osceviol.htm
