Media and NGOs must not make compromises and jeopardize their independence, but institutions also have to give their straight response

Sarajevo, November 23, 2011 — On November 22^nd and 23^rd , Transparency International Bosnia and Herzegovina (TI BiH) and the International Civil Rights Defenders held a two-day regional conference “Role of civil society, citizens and media in the Western Balkans: challenges as opportunities.” The conference brought together representatives of civil society and the media from BiH, Croatia, Serbia, Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro and Macedonia, who have distinguished themselves in the fight against corruption and human rights violation.

The main objective of the conference was primarily to compare the state of civil society and their efficiency in supervising the work of authorities and protecting the civil rights in the region, and to reconsider roles of civil society organizations in situations where their power decreases. However, in their opening remarks at the conference, Goran Miletic, regional director of CRD for the Western Balkans and Emir Djikic, Chair of the Board of Directors of TI BiH, gave their general assessment that despite the efforts of civil society and pressures on governmental institutions their effect weakens. When it comes to BiH, there is a conclusion that civil society was more active and stronger 15 years ago than today.

Therefore, the focus of the panel discussion was on the accountability of NGOs and obstacles they put before them in the struggle for civil rights rather than on the criticism of authorities that exert pressure on civil society. Concerns facing the civil society do not come from attacks, pressures and lack of cooperation with governmental institutions but also in compromises made by the organizations, lack of objectivity and independence of the organizations, which often serve as the right hand of authorities. Their action or inaction affects the reputation of the entire NGO sector and public confidence that NGO will truly represent their interests. Munir Podumljak, director of Partnership for Social Development, the organization which is actively fighting against corruption in Croatia,  has given a cross-section of non-governmental organizations which, in order to meet the project objectives, often establish partnerships with authorities that have already been set out as the reason for corruption, while at the same time there is no coalition building with citizens whose interests these organizations should represent.

The first day of the conference was dedicated to the analysis of the state of freedom and media independence, and its role in representing civil rights by the civil society according to the fact that there is no successful fight against corruption without a free media. The legal framework, which restricts the work of journalists and their media ownership, has largely jeopardized the independence and media objectivity. Media ownership changes, which resulted in shutting down a significant number of media that had represented a major criticism of the government, seem to be as the main problem in the region.  On the other hand, media owners are often associated with political parties, what proves that the full editorial policy of some media is changing after a change of ownership. Traditional media such as television and the press are becoming greatly worried with the ownership and political interests, while the biggest opportunity for freedom of the media, as well as reporting on issues related to all citizens, has become recognized in new media, web sites which are taking an increasing role of sources of information, and encouraging online activism through social networks.

It was highlighted that maintaining integrity and absolute independence are the most important way to gain legitimacy, regardless of the pressures of government and donors, which requires a great deal of courage for confrontation with those who are involved in corruption or violate human rights. Only such example can actuate the citizens to fight themselves for their rights and to realize that something might be able to change

The second day of the conference was dedicated to the protection of individuals who dare to report corruption and human rights violation. Vesna Balenovic, president of the association “Zvizdac” (Whistleblower) from Croatia, shared her experiences and pressures she had suffered after reporting corrupt activities in INA where she worked and got the sack for that. Regardless of difficulties and attacks, she has managed to uncover the corruption scandal and to obtain the judgment of the court, giving an example to others how a single person can still counteract the system. A web portal “Pistaljka” (Whistle), whose aim is to receive allegations of corruption within different institutions, was also presented at the conference, but the information they have gained from Serbia are devastating – only 2.5% of employees are willing to report corruption within the institution. The main reason for that seems to be fear of consequences, because majority of those who dare to report corruption are mostly fired, neglected or marginalized in the workplace, and endure threats by their employers, instead of being rewarded for such an act.  However, it has been noticed that there is a positive trend when it comes to the awareness of the media about whistleblower-related issues and that media is in fact the greatest guarantor of safety for whistleblowers, which may generate public pressure on authorities to punish those involved in corruption scandals

Such examples, regardless of the evident lack of whistleblower protection and protection of civil society organizations in the fight against corruption, can certainly instill courage to further efforts indicating corruption. However, we cannot expect only media and civil society organizations to endure most of the fight against corruption if there is no functioning of all segments of democratic system and the possibility for undisturbed work in the fight against corruption. On the other hand, the state’s responsibility is to provide protection for whistleblowers within the legal framework and through its consistent implementation, which does not include only protection of those who report corruption but also effective prosecution of criminal offences to which they point.

If there are no adequate responses from institutions, judiciary in the first place, to the cases media and organizations are speaking about, those who point to corruption are usually the ones who pay its price –  starting from journalists who lose their lawsuits in court and pay large libel damages due to connection between judiciary and government, through civil society organizations who have to make double efforts to prove their credibility as a result of authority attacks, up to individuals who are destined to fight alone against the whole state system.