Free expression and free media are basic human rights. To ensure compliance with media-freedom commitments agreed upon by participating States, the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media was established in December 1997.

Tasks

The function of the Representative is to observe relevant media developments in OSCE participating States with a view of providing early warning on violations of freedom of expression. The Representative’s second main task is to assist participating States by advocating and promoting full compliance with OSCE principles and commitments regarding freedom of expression and free media.

The Representative

In March 2010, Dunja Mijatović of Bosnia and Herzegovina was appointed OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media. She was reappointed for a second three-year term on 7 March 2013. Office of the Representative

The Representative on Freedom of the Media is based in Vienna and supported in her work by an international staff of fifteen people. Cooperation with other international organizations

The Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media often collaborates with other international organizations on media freedom issues. These organizations include United Nations, Council of Europe and the European Commission, among others. The office also cooperates with a number of NGOs on different media freedom issues on international, national and regional level. Among these NGOs are International Federation of Journalists, International Press Institute, Reporters Without Borders and Article 19.

The Representative also works closely with three special rapporteurs on media freedom from United Nations, the Organization of American States and the African Commission on Human and People’s rights, issuing a joint declaration every year addressing different matters in the field of media freedom.