Side Event on MEDIA PLURALISM AND HUMAN RIGHTS with MIKLÓS HARASZTI, Adjunct Professor at Columbia University in New York THOMAS HAMMARBERG, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, is organising a series of public events during 2011 to highlight the importance of freedom of expression and of the media for the protection of all other human rights. At this side event, Miklós Haraszti will speak about media pluralism and human rights. You are cordially invited to this Side Event Friday, 8 July 2011 12.15-13.45 Segmentgalerie I, Hofburg, Vienna A light lunch will be offered. Media pluralism is an essential part of democracy and freedom of the media. However, pluralism is not always a reality in media in Europe today. What are the main difficulties in protecting and promoting media pluralism? What can governments, legislators and others do? The presentation will be followed by a commentary from the Commissioner and a discussion, with questions from the audience. Press contact Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights: Anki Wood, +33 6 611 47 835. [email protected] Thomas Hammarberg is the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights. He formerly was Secretary General of the Olof Palme International Centre, ‘Save the Children’ Sweden and of Amnesty International, on behalf of which he received the Nobel Peace Prize. Working for the advancement of human rights he held positions such as Ambassador on Humanitarian Affairs for the Swedish Government and as the UN Regional Adviser for Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and as Kofi Annan's appointed representative for human rights in Cambodia. Miklós Haraszti is a Hungarian writer, journalist, human rights advocate and university professor. He served as the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media from 2004 to 2010. Currently he is Adjunct Professor at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University in New York. In 1976 he co-founded the Hungarian Democratic Opposition Movement and in 1980 he became editor of the samizdat periodical Beszél ı. In 1989, Haraszti participated in the "roundtable" negotiations on transition to free elections. A member of the Hungarian Parliament from 1990–1994, he then moved on to lecture on democratization and media politics at numerous universities. * For more information about the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights please visit www.commissioner.coe.int . .