The OSCE Mission in Kosovo has welcomed the approval by the Kosovo Judicial Council of the Strategic Plan for Improving Access to Justice 2026–2028, describing it as an important step toward strengthening the protection of journalists and media professionals.
“The OSCE Mission in Kosovo welcomes the adoption by the Kosovo Judicial Council of the Strategic Plan for Improving Access to Justice 2026–2028, a significant step toward stronger protection for journalists and media professionals,” the OSCE statement reads.
According to the Mission, the strategy requires judges to prioritize cases involving journalists, including crimes against media professionals, defamation procedures, and so-called SLAPP lawsuits.
“The strategy calls for judges to give priority to cases involving journalists, including crimes against media professionals, defamation proceedings, and lawsuits that appear to be filed with the intent to harass or exert pressure on journalists,” the OSCE emphasized.
The OSCE notes that faster handling of these cases helps ensure attacks against journalists are addressed without delay and that unfounded or abusive claims are quickly identified.
“The expedited processing of these cases can help ensure that attacks on journalists are addressed promptly, while unfounded or abusive claims are identified and resolved quickly,” the statement added.
Finally, the Mission stressed that effective implementation of the strategy is critical and requires strong inter-institutional coordination.
“Implementation is now of utmost importance: monitoring and reporting on the strategy should be accompanied by effective coordination between the police, the prosecution, and the judiciary,” the OSCE statement concluded, highlighting coordination mechanisms in place since 2017 for handling cases of attacks against journalists and media professionals.
