Podgorica, (MINA) – OSCE member states must intensify their efforts to protect the rights and safety of journalists, said Head of the OSCE Mission in Montenegro, Jan Haukaas.

The OSCE mission, in cooperation with the Media Trade Union of Montenegro (SMCG), organized the workshop “Establishing a national mechanism for the protection of journalists in Montenegro” over the past two days.

According to the Mission’s press release, the event brought together representatives from the prosecution, police, media, civil society, ministries and international partners.

“In support of this effort, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro assists Montenegro in crafting a roadmap towards the creation of such mechanism modelled on PersVeilig, a Dutch press safety mechanism launched in 2019”, the press release said.

Haukaas, opening the workshop, emphasized that creating a press safety mechanism requires close coordination and cooperation among media outlets, owners, journalists, editors, police and the prosecution.

He added that the rise of online violence and information disorders, which disproportionately target female journalists, as well as various forms of gender-based violence, are particularly concerning.

SMCG egal expert Mirko Boskovic said that in the last few years, a significant improvement of the normative framework for the protection of journalists has been achieved, primarily through amendments to the criminal legislation. He pointed out that, nevertheless, there is room for further progress, especially in the area of ​​non-criminal regulations and the establishment of more effective mechanisms, such as a SOS emergency line and specialized units for dealing with such cases.