New York, November 9, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dunja Mijatović as Senior Advisor, Europe and Central Asia. In this position, Mijatović will play a leading role in the organization’s work across the region, with a particular focus on Russia and Eastern Europe.
“Dunja’s expertise, knowledge and commitment have rightly earned her a reputation for being a powerful and dedicated defender of press freedom,” CPJ Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia Fiona O’Brien said. “Journalism and journalists across the region are coming under pressure like never before – from the decimation of independent media in Russia to the insidious backsliding on press freedom in established democracies. I am thrilled to welcome Dunja to the team to help us meet these challenges head-on.”
“Protecting journalists means defending everyone’s right to know, to question, and to hold power accountable,” Mijatović said. “I have long valued CPJ’s rigorous reporting and courageous advocacy for journalists at risk. It is a true honor to join its dedicated team at a time when threats to independent journalism are increasingly severe.”
Mijatović is a human rights expert and advocate with extensive experience in media freedom, journalists’ safety, and freedom of expression. She served as the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights from 2018 to 2024 and as the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media from 2010 to 2017. Originally from Sarajevo, she is also a Thakore Visiting Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perry World House and a member of the Board of Directors of the Centre for Democracy & Technology Europe.
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About the Committee to Protect Journalists
The Committee to Protect Journalists is an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes press freedom worldwide. We defend the right of journalists to report the news safely and without fear of reprisal.
Media contact: press@cpj.org