On 3 May, the Council of Europe will mark World press freedom day, an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of media freedom, one of the essential pillars of democracy. It is an occasion to underline the crucial role that journalists and media play in informing the public, stimulating public debate and holding the powerful to account, as well as the critical importance of journalists being able to do their work safely, free from violence and intimidation.
Protection, prosecution, prevention and awareness-raising
Ten years ago in April 2016 the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers, considering that it was alarming and unacceptable that journalists and media workers were increasingly being harassed, subjected to surveillance, intimidated, arbitrarily deprived of their liberty, physically attacked, tortured and even killed, adopted a comprehensive policy recommendation to its member states on the protection of journalism and safety of journalists and other media actors.
The recommendation highlighted that the abuses and crimes against journalists, committed by both state and non-state actors, have a grave chilling effect on freedom of expression, as safeguarded by Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The recommendation stands on four pillars: the protection of journalists and journalism, the prosecution of crimes against journalists, the prevention of such acts, and, finally, awareness-raising, information, and education about the role of journalists in society and their safety. It was complemented with the guide "How to protect journalists and other media actors?" to help states implement it in practice.
Journalists matter campaign focuses on prevention in 2026
