Judges and prosecutors from across Bosnia and Herzegovina have strengthened their knowledge on the European standards for the protection of whistleblowers and journalists during a two-day training aimed at safeguarding freedom of expression and the public interest.
Through the analysis of specific cases of the European Court of Human Rights and domestic courts, participants reflected on the shortcomings of domestic legislation, which is inconsistent at the state level and does not provide adequate protection either to potential corruption whistleblowers or to journalists.
The seminar emphasised the importance of applying the so-called tripartite test in cases of restrictions to freedom of expression, in order to determine in each individual case whether such a restriction is justified and proportional, as per the standards set by the European Court of Human Rights. Participants also reflected on how disproportionate sanctions against journalists and whistleblowers can create a “chilling effect,” discouraging reporting in the public interest and weakening democratic accountability.
The training was organised within the action “Protecting freedom of expression and of the media in Bosnia and Herzegovina (PROFREX)”, implemented by the Division for Cooperation on Freedom of Expression of Council of Europe as part of the joint European Union and the Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”.
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