Belarusian Association of Journalists

The Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) was awarded the 2003 Golden Pen of Freedom for its of its courageous resistance to the repression of the media by President Aleksandr Lukashenko. Set up in 1995, the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) is a non-governmental organisation which works towards freedom of speech and professional standards of journalism, under the slogan "If we unite, they cannot deprive us from our profession". BAJ's activities include legal support for journalists through its Law Centre for Media Protection (LCMP), training programmes in journalism and ongoing monitoring of the human rights situation in the media. BAJ also publishes a professional magazine called "Abajour", which is the only journalistic publication that provides a free forum for media professionals in the country. In 2003, BAJ gathered more than 7000 signatures in its continuing campaign to decriminalise defamation and to ask the constitutional court to rule on the legality of three parts of the criminal code; article 367 (defaming the president); article 368 (insulting him); and article 369 (insulting a government official), which all provide for imprisonment. When receiving the Golden Pen of Freedom, the president of BAJ, Ms. Zhanna Litvina, declared : "The line between journalism and propaganda in Belarus is very thin. [...] Journalism is slowly being squeezed out by propaganda and manipulation." BAJ draws members from over 160 independent and state-owned publications, publishing companies, radio and television companies. Belarus offers a very hostile environment in which to practice journalism. Multiple court cases, hard labor sentences, official harassment and obstruction to the brodcasting and distribution of information are among the techniques used by the authorities to stifle the country's independent media.