Thursday, December 13, 2007
B-318 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
United StatesTitle
Freedom of the Media in the OSCE Region Part 2
Official Transcript:
Members:
Name:
Hon. Alcee Hastings
Title Text:
Chairman
Body:
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Statement:
Name:
Hon. Ben Cardin
Title Text:
Co-Chairman
Body:
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Statement:
Witnesses:
Name:
Mr. Miklós Haraszti
Title:
Representative on Freedom of the Media
Body:
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
Statement:
Freedom of media is one of the cornerstones of democracy, and recognized as such under international human rights law and in numerous OSCE commitments. Moreover, a free and independent media is not only an essential tool for holding governments accountable; the media can serve as an agent of change when it shines a light into the darkest crevices of the world (examining environmental degradation, corporate or government corruption, trafficking in children, and healthcare crises in the world's most vulnerable countries, etc.)
Freedom of the media is closely connected to the broader right to freedom of speech and expression and other issues including public access to information and the conditions necessary for free and fair elections.
The hearing will attempt to illustrate the degree in which freedom of the media is obstructed in the greater OSCE region.
Relevant issues:
Relevant countries: