Gender Center of the RS Government - daily "Nezavisne novine"
20.04.2006

freedom of Thoughts, responsibility for words

Banja Luka, 20th of April 2006

ADJUDICATION

Of the Press Council of BiH in case of Gender Centre of the RS Government vs. daily Nezavisne novine

The Press Council of BiH has, on its regular session held on 20th of April 2006 in Banja Luka, discussed complaint of Gender Centre of the RS Government with regard to the article “Government Got an ‘Expertess’” published in daily “Nezavisne novine” on 11th of December 2005. The complaint refers to negative comment of the expression “expertess” that the Gender Centre of the RS Government used in the press release regarding nomination of the new female Minister of Education and Culture in RS Government. The Press Council has issued following decision:

Complaint is partly upheld.

Explanation:

Gender Centre of the RS Government has sent reaction to daily “Nezavisne novine” after publishing of text “Government Got an ‘Expretess’”. Editorial office of “Nezavisne novine” did not publish their reaction explaining that “the article was published in column ‘Unofficial’ that has satiric character, since existing vocabulary of Serb language still does not recognise word expertess”. Thus, “Nezavisne novine” believe that they have not breached Articles 3 and 4 of the Press Code that relate to Incitement and Discrimination based on gender.

The Press Council of BiH believes that editorial office did breach Article 7 of the Press Code – Opportunity to Reply, since they have not even published shortened reaction of the Gender Centre of the RS Government.

The Press Council of BiH believes there were elements of intolerance and breach of the Article 4 – Discrimination, in terms of insulting references to gender distinction.

Based on complaint on the article in question, the Press Council of BiH has extensively discussed on gender equality and usage of gender sensitive language in BiH media. The Press Council of BiH concludes that all media in BiH should be introduced with necessity to respect Law on Gender Equality in BiH that, among other, regulates field of gender sensitive language.

The Press Council of BiH