Assessment Threat to Journalists, OSCE Assessment Threat to Journalists, OSCE Projektet handlar om att analysera förekomsten av trakasserier och hot mot journalister i BiH. Det finns anekdotiska bevis som samlats in av OSSE och tillhandahållits av journalister i Bosnien och Hercegovina som tyder på att attacker mot journalister inte rapporteras, ofta av rädsla för repressalier eller uppfattningen ??att det är meningslöst att rapportera. Journalister som är kvinnor uppges vara särskilt utsatta. Det råder dock förvirring kring vad som utgör trakasserier och övergrepp på nätet, liksom i vilken utsträckning detta förekommer. Kunskap och förståelse behöver öka; att förstå den exakta karaktären av hot mot mediefrihet i det specifika sammanhang där de förekommer är en förutsättning för att utveckla effektiva strategier för att mildra dessa hot. OSSE kommer därför att genomföra en analys och behovsbedömning följt av samråd med viktiga intressenter för att analysera data och specificera problemets exakta karaktär. Analyasen kommer också att hjälpa till att utveckla effektiva åtgärder, inte bara för framtida engagemang på området, utan bättre riktning av det internationella stödet till mediesektorn under de kommande åren. Anecdotal evidence collected by OSCE and provided by journalists in BiH suggests that many attacks against them are not reported, often for fear of reprisal or the belief that it is pointless to do so. This is especially the case where female journalists are involved. Indeed, there is considerable confusion about what constitutes online harassment and abuse in the specific context of BiH.  Understanding the precise nature of threats to media freedom in the specific context where they occur is an essential precondition for developing effective strategies to mitigate those threats.

Addressing the lack of robust and comprehensive data on the nature and extent of various needs and issues the media is faced with in BiH is central to developing an understanding of the scope of the problem and, therefore, to developing an effective response.   OSCE will, through this project application, therefore address the issue by conducting a comprehensive needs assessment, followed by consultations with key stakeholders to analyze the data and specify the precise nature of the problem.

It will also help in developing effective measures not just for the future engagement in this area but better direction of the international support to the media sector in the coming years. 

This project will contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 16 “to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels” and SDG 5 “to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls”. The main objective of the project is to provide better support for further development of independent media in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) by assessing sector-wide main needs, risks and challenges. The project consists of one result and three activities around conducting a public opinion research with journalists (male and female), editors, as well as other relevant key stakeholders such as judiciary, police, etc. Data from the assessment will be used by the OSCE Mission as well as the donor to plan support to media in BiH more effectively and efficiently.