CONFERENCE

THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION OF THE JOURNALISTS IN BULGARIA FACING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

SOFIA – Bulgaria

5 March 2005

(Prosecution of Journalists in Bulgaria under Art. 339A of the Bulgarian Penal Code in the Light of the European Convention on Human Rights)

INTRODUCTION

I. THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AS A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT.

A. NOTION OF THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION.

1. The Freedom of Expression in the ECHR.

Mr. FAVREAU, Lawyer, FAVREAU & CIVILISE, Bordeaux (F) (http://www.favreaucivilise.com), President of the European Bar Human Rights Institute (http://www.idhae.org)

2. Influence of the Right to the Freedom of Expression of the ECHR on the Bulgarian Constitution of 1991.

Mr. G. KERELOV, Lawyer, Sofia (BG), A. KERELOV & G. KERELOV Legal Offices BULGARIA (http://www.kerelov.com)

B. AUTHORIZED RESTRICTIONS TO THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN A DEMOCRATIC STATE ACCORDING TO THE ECHR.

1. Authorized Restrictions to the Freedom of Expression except the Right of Other Persons to Their Own Private and Family Life.
Mr. KRENC, Lawyer, Brussels (B), Secretary of Institut des droits de l'homme du barreau de Bruxelles (http://www.barreaudebruxelles.be)

2.  The right of other persons to their own private and family life.

Dr. PREUSS-LAUSSINOTTE, Lecturer in Public Law at the University of Paris X Nanterre (F), Director DESS-NTSI (http://www.ksup.u-paris10.fr)

II. LEGAL GUARANTEES OF THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN THE LEGAL ORDER OF THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS.

A. INSTANCE BEFORE THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS.

1. Establishment and Competences of the European Court of Human Rights as an Institutional Guarantee for the Human Rights Proclaimed in the ECHR.

Prof. TAVERNIER, Université Paris XI Sud (F), Director of Centre de Recherches et d'Etudes sur les Droits de l'Homme et le Droit Humanitaire (CREDHO) (http://www.credho.org)

2. Actions before the European Court of Human Rights. Procedure. Financial Aid for the Plaintiffs.

Dr. HERMELINSKI, Lawyer, Warsaw (Pl), Vice-President of the Polish National Bar (http://www.adwokatura.pl), Vice-President of the European Bar Human Rights Institute (http://www.idhae.org)

B. LEGAL EFFECTS OF THE DECISIONS OF THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS.

1. Legal Effects of the Decisions of the European Court of Human Rights for the Member States on International Level.

Dr. LAMBERT-ABDELGAWAD, Lecturer at the Summer Sessions of the Institut International des Droits de l’Homme de Strasbourg (F) (http://www.iidh.org),

2. Legal Effects of the Decisions of the European Court of Human Rights for the Plaintiffs on National Level.

Dr. MATT, Lawyer, Frankfurt (D), (http://www.dr-matt.de), Vice-Chairman of the European Criminal Bar Association ECBA, (http://www.ecba.org)

INSTEAD OF CONCLUSION: DEBATE with representatives of the Bulgarian judges and prosecutors and with the public in general, on the compatibility of the prosecutions against the journalists for the use of a hidden camera and the ECHR.

CLOSING COCKTAIL

INFORMATION - SUBSCRIPTION

Georgi KERELOV
Lawyer – Avocat – Rechtsanwalt
DEA droit des contrats (Paris XI)
DEA droit des relations économiques internationales et communautaires (Paris X)


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