Dear fellow journalists,
Distinguished guests,
Although in extraordinary circumstances, the Association of Journalists of Kosovo with the support of the OSCE Mission, the United Nations Team and the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, this year marks May 3 – World Press Freedom Day, in order to jointly reflect on the state of press freedom and professional ethics.
This date, even this time, finds our fellow journalists in battle with the COVID-19 pandemic, reconfirming the noble and very important role of our profession. Even today, AJK reminds the institutions of the obligation to respect free speech and create a safe and democratic environment, with guaranteed and inviolable freedom to practice this profession.
From year to year, attacks of various forms against journalists are increasing. Censorship, self-censorship and financial dependence of the media continue to influence the making of objective journalism.
On the other hand, the pending caseload of court cases of attacks on journalists and the symbolic punishments – not to say ridiculous – continue to be the main obstacles in practicing the profession. Even the sentences imposed in these cases are considered encouraging for perpetrators.
In the address of the Association of Journalists of Kosovo, this year the number of reporting cases of obstruction at work, insults, blackmail and other forms of pressure on our fellow journalists has increased.
Therefore, we continue to reiterate our calls to the relevant institutions to join forces in combating phenomena aimed at obstructing the work of journalists and demotivating the fulfillment of the mission, and that is providing the right information on all developments of public interest.
AJK in cooperation with its supporting actors marks the World Press Freedom Day under the motto “BLACKOUT MAY”, which means how a day without media in Kosovo would look like.
Today’s activities aim to advocate for media freedom and to create a free and unhindered environment for practicing the profession, so that journalists have unrestricted access to information and official documents, which is also guaranteed by law, as well as to recall all our colleagues killed and missing during and after the war in Kosovo, with a request to the judiciary that the truth should be clarified.
Throughout the day you will have the opportunity to see the pronunciations of local and international stakeholders, who have always not only called for media freedom and the safety of journalists, but who without any hesitation have supported the AJK in every initiative to provide journalists and the media with the freedom guaranteed by law.
After this conference, from 12:00 hrs, we invite you to join us in the round-table discussion (virtual & with physical presence) on media freedom and security of journalists which will be attended by ambassadors, relevant media representatives and civil society.
