Ombudsperson’s statement on event of the World Press Freedom Day
Prishtinë, 3 May 2020 – Today, when World Press Freedom Day is marked, the gratitude for journalists and the work accomplished by them is set on focus, similarly how the exceptional role of media in democratic societies is highly appraised.
Specifically, in the circumstances in which we happened to be this year, with numerous challenges, almost in all segments of life, reliable journalism, built on professional and ethical standards is crucial to the processes in the country.
In ongoing struggles that journalism has in the course of its developing process, respect for freedom of press and media pluralism, are irreplaceable dimension for another guaranteed rights and freedoms. Professionalism and independence in journalism ensure transparency and responsibility on issues of general interest and at the same time rise citizens’ awareness for activism and joint participation in social, economic, cultural and political processes.
The nature of journalists’ work can make them the target of threats or attacks, which makes hard efficient media functioning in dissemination of information. Verbal or physical attacks towards journalists, threats through social networks or in any other form, infringe the constitutional rights to freedom of press and freedom of expression and alert for the fragility of democracy functioning and the rule of law in the country. State bodies have a constitutional obligation to guarantee protection and essential security for journalists in carrying out their role, as they are obliged not to intrude in the work of the media, for transparency and providing access to official information and documents, as vital components of accomplishment of freedom of press, respectively freedom of expression and information.
In this connection, the Ombudsperson considers of a great concern the increased number of cases of threats towards journalists, physical attacks, breach of their security as well as obstruction of free exercising of their profession during 2020. Regardless of cases when the police and the prosecution have done their job in identifying the perpetrators of crimes conducted towards journalists and have proceeded them further to legal system, the Ombudsperson draws attention on the impunity of perpetrators in cases when journalists are target of attacks, threats or are prevented to do their work, which affects to unsafe work environment for media and indirectly paves the way for the self-censorship of journalists and the press. In addition, permanent difficulties of journalists to have access to official information and documents have been a great concern for years.
Given media reshaping in the age of Internet and social networks as well as the possibility of everyone becoming a source of information, the Ombudsperson expresses his concerns regarding threats and public lynching for journalists’ statements and expressing of their thoughts, and considers that such deeds present threat to enjoyment of freedom of expression, within its guaranteed limits. Public discourse developed particularly recent months has made harder development of a democratic culture of construction of thought and ideas, through which the basement of protection and respect of other guaranteed rights and freedoms is strengthened.
With this in mind, the Ombudsperson calls upon for a free flow of thoughts, words and information, as well as for reflection and open-mindedness in the face of opinions expressed diversely, considering them core values of democracy, as a system which Kosovo has embraced as a state.