The UK Government has released a statement from the Informal Group of Friends on the Safety of Journalists. Outi Hyvärinen, Finland's Permanent Representative to the OSCE, presented the joint statement on behalf of multiple countries, including Austria, Canada, and the UK.
The statement commends the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media's latest report, highlighting the team's dedication and knowledge in promoting media freedom. It emphasizes that a free media is essential to democracy and societal stability.
Despite this, journalists face numerous challenges, including harassment and violence, across the OSCE region. Women journalists are particularly vulnerable to gender-based violence, both online and offline. The statement also references the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, which was marked on 2 November.
The group stresses the need for states to ensure accountability for crimes against journalists, through timely and impartial investigations, and to bring perpetrators to justice, providing victims with access to remedies.