Permanent Working Group for Journalist Safety: Only one conviction for attacks on journalists in 2026.

At the same time, the police did not respond to 58 requests from public prosecutors for the collection of necessary information and other data, which complicates the implementation of effective investigations, it was warned at the meeting. Branko Stamenković, a public prosecutor from the Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office and a member of the SRG, noted that the number of cases related to attacks, threats, and other forms of endangerment of journalists' safety is increasing year by year, and the existing trend indicates the possibility of another record year in 2026.

The meeting specifically discussed the parliamentary elections scheduled for October 25 as a potentially serious risk to the safety of journalists. It was concluded that, following the example of the SRG's engagement during the local elections held earlier this year, it is essential to ensure the presence of SRG representatives in certain cities and municipalities before the elections and on election day, and to activate additional mechanisms for rapid response and expedited information exchange between journalists, the police, and prosecutors.

In addition, among the measures considered are the introduction of additional mechanisms to establish all-day communication between journalists whose safety may be endangered and their representatives, and public prosecutor contact points on election day, as well as additional training for prosecutors on journalists' safety during the electoral process.

Representatives of journalists' and media associations pointed out that, in addition to the increasing number of cases and the reduced efficiency of the police in conducting investigations, it is very important that every attack or threat be reported, even when the affected journalists doubt that the case will be resolved quickly or at all. Documenting each case is essential for monitoring trends, improving the protection system, and serves as important evidence of the state of media freedom in Serbia.

The SRG, which was established in January 2017, consists of representatives from the Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, as well as six journalists' and media associations - the Association of Journalists of Serbia (UNS), the Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia (NUNS), the Independent Journalists' Association of Vojvodina (NDNV), the Media Association (AM), the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM), the Association of Online Media (AOM), and the OSCE Mission in Serbia in an observer status.

The project "Improving the System of Prevention and Response Mechanisms in Cases of Threats to the Safety and Lives of Female and Male Journalists in Serbia" is implemented by ANEM in partnership with Insider TV and the Center for the Development of Local Media, with the support of the European Union.