11 Jun Report on the visit of Frank La Rue: the media sphere has deteriorated in Macedonia
Yesterday afternoon Mr. Frank La Rue, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, presented to the UN Human Rights Council the report on his visit to the country in June 2013.
Mr La Rue highlighted his concerns with the deterioration of the space for independent media in the country despite some advances in the legal framework. He was in particular concerned with the allegations of disproportional restrictions and judicial harassment on independent or critical segments of the media and alarmed with the reports on emergence of hate speech, episodes of attacks against LGBT community and allegations that public authorities openly reinforced discriminatory stereotypes.
Mr La Rue recommended the State to carefully review all allegations regarding the arbitrary enforcement of disproportional penalties against the media and urged it to maintain proactive leadership in the fight against all forms of discrimination, carefully investigate all episodes of violence and intimidation against minority communities and that the political authorities formally reject all forms of incitement of hatred.
The Special Rapporteur’s statement, the report (UN document A/HRC/26/30/Add.2) and the response of the Government (UN document A/HRC/26/30/Add.5) are available in English and other UN languages from the UN Human Rights Council website and its extranet.