Freedom of expression focus of OSCE-organized workshop in Turkmenistan

An online workshop on fostering media laws and practices that protect freedom of opinion and expression was organized by the OSCE Center in Ashgabat on 16 and 17 May 2022. The event aimed to share expertise in support for the implementation of the provisions of the National Human Rights Action Plan for 2021-2025 (NHRAP) related to the freedom of the media and freedom of expression.

The event brought together representatives of institutions involved in the implementation of media-related provisions of the NHRAP, including the Mejlis (lower chamber) of the Milli Gengesh (parliament), the Ombudsperson's Office, the Supreme Court, the Bar Association, and the Institute for State, Law and Democracy as well as journalists from national media and lecturers from institutions of higher education.

Two international experts from Moldova and Georgia presented international standards for freedom of opinion and expression and shared experiences of their countries and other OSCE participating States in protecting freedom of the media and freedom of expression.

The seminar also addressed the scope of protection and conditions for restriction of freedom of expression online, as well as Internet content regulation and liability for online content.

Opening the seminar, Rune Castberg, Officer-in-Charge of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat mentioned the 1997 Permanent Council Decision establishing the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, which emphasized that "freedom of expression is a core internationally recognized human right and a fundamental element of a democratic society," and the 1999 Istanbul Summit Declaration of the heads of the OSCE participating States, which noted "the need to ensure freedom of expression, which is an essential element of political dialogue in any democratic society."

"It is our hope that the seminar will facilitate the exchange of experiences in implementing international standards and OSCE commitments in the area of the media freedom and will contribute to the implementation of the provisions of NHRAP related to the freedom of the media and freedom of expression," added Castberg.