Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting (SHDM) II: Freedom of Expression and Freedom of the Media with a Special Focus on Conflict Situations, Including Protection of Journalists and Reporting during Armed Conflict

OSCE participating States have long acknowledged the urgent need to improve the safety of journalists working in the OSCE region, and affirmed their commitment to do so on a number of occasions. They agreed to adopt all feasible measures to protect journalists engaged in dangerous professional missions, particularly in cases of armed conflict, and to co-operate to that effect (Moscow Meeting of the Conference on the Human Dimension of the CSCECSCE
Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe, 1991). They also condemned all attacks on and harassment of journalists and affirmed their readiness to hold those directly responsible for such attacks and harassment accountable (Budapest Document, Summit of Heads of State or Government, 1994). In accordance with these decisions, the German OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office, Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will organize the second Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting (SHDM) of 2016 on the following topic: “Freedom of Expression and Freedom of the Media with a Special Focus on Conflict Situations, Including Protection of Journalists and Reporting During Armed Conflict”. The meeting will take place from 27 to 28 October 2016 in Vienna.

 The meeting will address the topic through the following three sessions:

• Safety of journalists in armed conflict;
• Media co- and self-regulation as an instrument to improve ethical standards and counter propaganda;
• The roles of the OSCE, governments and the civil society to protect media freedom in times of crisis.

More details on the topics, together with questions for discussion, will be made available shortly.

Participants

Representatives of OSCE participating States, OSCE institutions and OSCE executive structures, representatives of inter-governmental organizations, representatives of civil society and researchers from 57 participating States that have an interest in the topic are invited to participate in the SHDM. The Partners for Co-operation are invited to attend and contribute with respect to their co-operation and links with the OSCE in the field.

Participation in the Seminar is free of charge, although all travel and accommodation costs should be borne by participants. Participants are kindly requested to make their own travel and hotel arrangements. You can find a list of a selection of hotels in Vienna in the attachment and on the SHDM website.

Civil society organizations can find more information in the document titled “Information for Civil Society”.

Registration

Participants are also kindly asked to register for the reception hosted by the German OSCE Chairmanship and the Swedish Delegation that will take place on evening of 27 October, in the Schwedenhaus. Registration for the reception should be sent latest by 24 October to hdmeetings@odihr.pl, including indication whether you would like to take the shuttle bus. A shuttle will be leaving at 18:15 from Hofburg.

Modalities & Logistics

The modalities of the meeting are set out in accordance with the decision of the Permanent Council (PC.DEC/476, 23 May 2002).

The meeting will take place in the Hofburg Congress Centre. It will start on Thursday, 27 October, at 15.00 with an opening session followed by three working sessions, and the closing session will conclude on Friday, 28 October at 17.30. For details please see the General Information and Agenda documents.

The side events might take place on Thursday, 27 October between 13:00 and 15:00 and on Friday, 28 October between 12:00 and 14:00 – for details please check the Side Events Schedule on the SHDM website, prior to the meeting.

Interpretation will be provided into the six official OSCE languages: English, French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish.

More information on organization of the sessions, seating, guidelines for debate, display and distribution of documents, logistics, etc. is available in the document General Information.

Side events

Side events may be held over the course of two days during the SHDM. To book a side event, please register first in the ODIHR Registration System (http://meetings.odihr.pl.) and then proceed to side event booking.

The system will be open from Wednesday, 12 October at 12.00 (CET) until Monday, 17 October 23:59 (CET). Detailed information on side event booking is available in the Side Events Information document.

In case of any questions, you may contact:

Overall co-ordination of meeting: Kamila Czerwinska at Kamila.Czerwinska@odihr.pl or +48 22 5200 657

Programmatic matters:  Nora Isaac at nora.isaac@osce.org or +431514366805.

Coordination of side events: Ireneusz Stepinski at Ireneusz.Stepinski@odihr.pl  or +48 22 5200 658

Registration of participants: Anna Sierant at hdmeetings@odihr.pl or +48 22 5200 627