The Ministry of Interior participated with its representatives at today’s event “Protection of Media Workers – in the Field and in the Online Sphere,” organized by the Association of Journalists of Macedonia and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, with the participation of media workers, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, AVMU, the European Federation of Journalists, and institutional representatives.
The event highlighted the key role of media workers in a democratic society, as well as the fact that any attack, pressure, or obstruction of their work represents a threat to the public interest, freedom of information, and fundamental democratic values.
In cooperation with the competent institutions, the Ministry of Interior has established clear and functional protocols for handling cases of attacks or threats against journalists. Local contact points for supporting media workers have been appointed in all regional interior sectors, while a dedicated unit for receiving reports of online threats operates within the Cybercrime Unit.
Additionally, the Ministry informed that the national focal point for the Council of Europe’s campaign “Journalists Matter,” the Assistant Minister for Public Relations, Muhamed Ismailji, has been appointed to strengthen mechanisms for protecting media workers. The initiative to establish a National Committee for the Protection of Journalists—a multisectoral body that will draft a National Action Plan—is currently under way.
The Ministry confirmed that all reports of threats, physical or verbal attacks on journalists are treated with the highest priority, and that timely action remains a key principle in the protection of media workers.
In cooperation with the Association of Journalists of Macedonia, the Ministry has maintained for several years a registry of attacks on journalists, publicly available on the Ministry’s website. A Handbook for the Safety of Journalists has also been developed, and regular trainings and educational activities are carried out to strengthen prevention and mutual cooperation.
In his concluding remarks, the Assistant Minister of Interior responsible for public relations, Muhamed Ismailji, stated:
“Ensuring the safety of media workers is a precondition for free information and for the functioning of a democratic society. We have established mechanisms for protection, but their effectiveness also depends on the timely reporting of every incident. We remain committed to ensuring that the professionals who inform the public can carry out their work without fear.”
He encouraged media workers to use the available channels for reporting threats and attacks, and confirmed that the Ministry will continue to provide full support, active coordination, and dedicated work to ensure their protection.
