January 21, 2022
We strongly condemn and express our concern about the breach of ethics and professional standards of journalism in reporting on the sexual orientation and marriage of a citizen in Canada.
With the publication of this news in a sensational way, using tendentious headlines and with the unnecessary enhancement of the family connection of the person in question with a politician in Kosovo, his privacy and that of his family members have been seriously violated, as well as the fundamental principles of the ethical code of journalism.
These sensational and unprofessional reports have fueled a large number of insults, threats and hate speech, strengthening an unsafe situation for LGBTI people in Kosovo. We recall the responsibility of the media for allowing the publication of these comments on their official pages. which may encourage criminal actions against a person or a certain group of society.
We call on the self-control mechanisms of the media to react and take relevant legal and ethical actions, to stop the derogatory comments and to punish the incitement of hatred, which is a criminal offense according to the Criminal Code, Article 141, paragraph 1.
Center of Social Groups Development – CSGD
Center for Equality and Liberty – CEL Kosovo
Kosovo Women’s Network – RGK
Civil Rights Defenders – CRD
Kosovo Center for Gender Studies – KKSGJ
Youth initiative for human rights – YIHR KS
