EFJ and partners press for changes to protect journalist safety in Slovakia

On December 6, 2018, nine partner organizations and observers of the Council of Europe’s Platform for the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists conducted a press freedom solidarity mission to Slovakia to press for full justice in the case of assassinated journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée, Martina Kušnírová, who were murdered on February 21, 2018. The delegation – from the Association of European Journalists (AEJ), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), Free Press Unlimited, Index on Censorship, International News Safety Institute (INSI), International Press Institute (IPI), PEN International, Rory Peck Trust, along…

European Civic Forum: “No Day Without Us”

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the World Human Rights’ day. Monday 10 December 2018 from 10:00 to 11:00 Press Club Brussels Europe, rue Froissart 95 70 years ago, it has been acknowledged that human rights are universal and indivisible, that freedom of expression, of assembly, right to demonstrate, to migrate, to live in peace, and access to education, healthcare, housing, work, right to leave your country, … were rights for all. Civil society is crucial to protect our European democracies and values against the raising illiberalism. On the one hand, it makes access to rights a reality for…

Dutch journalists sign agreement to improve safety of journalists

The Journalists’ Association of the Netherlands (NVJ) has signed an important agreement to improve the safety of journalists. The Agreement of the Steering Group on Aggression and violence against journalists, was negotiated by the NVJ with he Dutch Minister of justice, the GP-office and the National Police. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) congratulated its affiliate NVJ for achieving this important agreement. The EFJ says, “The agreement is the first of its kind as it signifies the cooperation between the public authorities, journalists and the media with the aim to protect the safety of journalists. ” “Journalists are facing increasing attacks…

EFJ and press freedom groups to carry out solidarity visit to Slovakia

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and eight leading international press freedom organizations representing the Council of Europe’s Platform to promote the protection of journalism and the safety of journalists, gathered for a semi-annual meeting in Vienna, will conduct a brief solidarity visit to Bratislava, Slovakia on the afternoon of Thursday, December 6, 2018. The groups will highlight the need for further progress in the investigation into the murder of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak. Representatives of the nine organizations will hold a meeting with Slovak government officials and conduct a solidarity visit to the offices of Aktuality.sk, where Jan Kuciak…

EFJ and international NGOs condemn continued lack of justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia

Nine international freedom of expression, press freedom, and professional journalists’ organisations, including the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), condemn the lack of justice for the assassination of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia a full year after three arrests were made in connection with the case. Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed by a car bomb that detonated near her home in Bidnija, Malta on 16 October 2017. On 4 December 2017, 10 people were arrested in connection with Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder, of whom three men were charged with murder, the criminal use of explosives, criminal conspiracy, and involvement in organised…

The art of living with the media

Is Europe more or less media literate? What does it mean to be a human being in the current digital era? Are citizens more distracted consumers and manipulated citizens? How to pay attention to online distractions and be in control of your own media use? Despite the opportunities that new technologies offer in terms of facilitating meaningful connection and proactive civil engagement, educational initiatives have been slow to catch up and policies even more so. In light of recent political and cultural events, media literacy is now coming to the fore. EAVI is well placed to discuss which skills are necessary to use the media as…

Turkish court upheld prison sentences for 5 journalists

The European and International Federations of Journalists (EFJ-IFJ) strongly condemn the confirmation of prison sentences for five journalists by the Third Penal Chamber of the İstanbul Regional Court of Justice in Turkey. In the lawsuit filed against five journalists for participating in the Editors-in-Chief on Watch campaign that was launched in solidarity with Özgür Gündem, a Kurdish daily newspaper, which was subsequently banned per the Statutory Decree no. 675, the İstanbul 13th Heavy Penal Court gave its verdict for Ayşe Düzkan, Ragıp Duran, columnists of the newspaper Mehmet Ali Çelebi and Hüseyin Bektaş and its former Co-Editor-in-Chief Hüseyin Aykol on January…