The Government has adopted a decision to establish a National Committee for the Protection and Safety of Journalists, tasked with monitoring the safety of media workers, improving cooperation between institutions and the media community and drafting a national action plan for the protection and safety of journalists by December 15 this year, Macedonian Government spokesperson Marija Miteva told a press conference.
Miteva said the committee would serve as an institutional mechanism aimed at improving journalists’ safety, preventing threats and attacks and creating conditions for journalists to carry out their profession freely and without obstruction.
According to the spokesperson, the action plan will be based on four key areas: prevention, protection, effective prosecution of perpetrators and promotion and education.
“Journalists’ safety must not become a topic only when an incident occurs. On the contrary, safety is our responsibility and it is the responsibility of institutions to act in a timely manner, identify risks and ensure adequate protection,” Miteva said.
The National Committee will include representatives of the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Digital Transformation, the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services, the Academy for Judges and Public Prosecutors, the Macedonian Radio and Television and the Association of Journalists of Macedonia.