Baku hosts conference on decriminalization of defamation through legislative reform
Baku, May 11 (AZERTAC). Azerbaijan Press Council and the OSCE Baku office have today co-organized a conference on decriminalization of defamation through legislative reform.
Bilge Cankorel, Head of OSCE Office in Baku, Ali Hasanov, Chief of the Presidential Administration`s department for socio-political affairs, as well as, Dunja Mijatovic, OSCE representative on Freedom of the Media and Aflatun Amashov, chairman of the Azerbaijan Press Council made reports on relevant issue.
The speakers discussed the themes on the importance of legislative reforms to safeguard freedom of expression, media and the protection of freedom of expression and other issues.
Bilge Cankorel noted freedom of expression and freedom of the media are two of the OSCE’s founding principles. “For this reason, the decriminalization of defamation in Azerbaijan has always been one of the key priorities of the OSCE Office in Baku, and today we are pleased to provide support to the legislative initiative of the Azerbaijan Press Council” he added.
Dunja Mijatovic said she welcomes the initiative of the Azerbaijani authorities to decriminalize defamation and join the OSCE participating States that have already taken this important step.
During the conference, national and international experts outlined international standards on defamation, scope of the domestic legislation and effective measures to protect journalists.
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