Zaštitnik ljudskih prava i sloboda Siniša Bjeković upozorava da su mediji dužni da čuvaju pretpostavku nevinosti. Da li je povrijeđeno pravo na privatnost, po njegovom mišljenju, zavisi od više faktora.
„Balansira se između javnog interesa javnosti da sazna i privatnosti. Ako je informacija ili slika pribavljena iz službenih izvora, tj. ako je fotografisanje imalo drugu namjenu, po pravilu je povreda. Od značaja je i ličnost koja se fotografiše: da li je javna ili ne, da li informacija koja prati fotografiju ima uporište u dokumentima (ne u sumnji) i više drugih faktora“, kazao je ombudsman za Portal RTCG.
U praksi Evropskog suda je, kako navodi Bjeković, više obraćanja gdje su autori informacije bili sankcionisani pa su tražili zaštitu slobode izražavanja.
„Od značaja su i fotografije koje su dospjele u javnost, tj. šta je predstavljeno njima. U svakom slučaju nema unaprijed zadatog standarda ukoliko to pitanje nije riješeno nacionalnim zakonodavstvom, tako da se svaki slučaj individualno tretira“, kaže Ombudsman.
Predsjednica DPNCG-a Mila Radulović upozorava da se u posljednje vrijeme u većini medija objavljivanjem ovakvih fotografija osumnjičeni unaprijed osuđuju i prije pravosnažne sudske presude, što nije uloga medija.
"When former officials are arrested on suspicion of misuse of state property and state coffers, as well as members of organized crime groups - especially those connected to parts of the government - there is no doubt that the public has the right to know. But there must be a limit. Photos from the arrest, with handcuffs on, are published countless times in the media, even when the information is positive for the suspect. This already creates a conclusion and preconception among consumers of media content that these people are guilty," says Radulović.
She believes that we should not create such a practice because it is not the rule of law, nor respect for human rights. Therefore, the DPNCG, in the procedure for amending the Code of Ethics for Journalists, proposed that a provision be included that would address this issue.
"Thanks to Professor Aneta Spaić, who is also part of the Working Group, as I am on behalf of the DPCNG, we have formulated a proposal that we hope will have the support of the media. This is how the formulation reads: Journalists and the media are obliged to respect the presumption of innocence by publishing with particular care and caution photographs and videos of suspects taken during arrest and detention, which create a perception of guilt and thus contribute to stigmatization and humiliating treatment before a final court verdict," says Radulović.
She notes that a Working Group has been formed at the Council of Europe, which will soon organize a panel to which editors and those interested in changes to the Code of Ethics will be invited.
Attorney Veselin Radulović expertly explains that a violation of the presumption of innocence occurs when a person who has just been detained or suspected is presented in public as guilty before a final court decision.
"Publishing photographs and footage of arrests, especially in a sensationalist context or with suggestive comments, can lead to stigmatization and damage to honor and reputation, which is also contrary to the right to a fair trial. In addition, frequent inappropriate public statements by politicians that affirm arrests in advance or imply guilt constitute an undue influence on the course of proceedings and undermine confidence in the independence of the judiciary. Such a practice is also problematic from the perspective of the separation of powers," he says.
It notes that persons whose identities and recordings have been published have the right to legal protection, including filing claims for compensation for non-pecuniary damage for violation of reputation, honor and privacy, as well as possibly for violation of personal data, in accordance with the standards of the European Court of Human Rights and domestic legislation.
"The boundary between the public's right to be informed and the rights of the individual is reflected in the test of proportionality between the public interest and the human rights of individuals. The media have the right to report on events of public importance, but they are obliged to do so without prejudging guilt, while respecting the dignity and identity of the person, especially in the early stages of the proceedings," the lawyer said.
