UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Opinion and Expression Irene Khan told N1 in Belgrade on Thursday that the public discourse in Serbia is toxic with the tabloid media spreading hate speech.
Khan called the Serbian authorities to make sure the country’s electronic media regulator (REM) is independent, efficient and accountable as defined in the Serbian constitution and law and international standards. She expressed concern about the REM and what is has done to date.
She said her biggest concern is the gap between the law and reality. According to her, the toxic discourse is present in the public despite laws banning discrimination and hate speech and protection for journalists. Khan warned of a large number of threats and attacks on journalists and hate speech against minority groups in parliament and outside of it. She said the tabloids are responsible for slander campaigns and the spreading of lies about some people. She said politicians and some media were responsible.
The UN rapporteur said the REM is not doing its job and added that media pluralism has to be in place which is not the case at present.
Khan said that she sent her preliminary report to the Serbian government but would continue drafting a comprehensive and detailed report.