(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release: ARTICLE 19 COMMENTS ON DRAFT AUDIOVISUAL CODE OF MOLDOVA In a Memorandum published today, ARTICLE 19 offers its views on the draft Audiovisual Code of Moldova, which was made available for public comment by the country’s parliament on 28 March 2006. The draft Audiovisual […]
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release:
ARTICLE 19 COMMENTS ON DRAFT AUDIOVISUAL CODE OF MOLDOVA
In a Memorandum published today, ARTICLE 19 offers its views on the draft Audiovisual Code of Moldova, which was made available for public comment by the country’s parliament on 28 March 2006. The draft Audiovisual Code is an ambitious project which seeks to regulate the entire broadcast sector, including both the awarding of licences to privately owned channels and the management of the country’s public service broadcaster.
The Memorandum commends the Moldovan authorities for making the proposal with the evident intention of bringing Moldovan law in line with relevant international standards. At the same time, concern is expressed at a number of aspects of the draft, including:
* The fact that the proposed broadcast regulatory body would also act as the supervisory body for the public service broadcaster. Combining these two widely disparate tasks is liable to lead to an unmanageable workload and also detract from the effectiveness of the supervision.
* The lack of a possibility for public participation and nominations in the selection process of members of the broadcast regulator.
* The absence of any provision in the Code for ‘community broadcasting’ – broadcasting by small, non-profit stations that serve a distinct community (for example, an ethnic or linguistic minority).
* The ease with which private broadcasters may be stripped of their broadcast licence.
* The lack of guarantees of the public service broadcaster’s accountability to the public.
The Memorandum expresses optimism that the Code could contribute importantly to realisation of the right to freedom of expression in Moldova, but only if these major concerns and a large number of smaller flaws in the Code are thoroughly resolved. Accordingly, it calls on the authorities to slow down what has so far been a hasty adoption procedure and give genuine consideration to the views expressed by civil society.
NOTES:
The Memorandum can be downloaded at http://www.article19.org/pdfs/analysis/moldova-audiovisual-code.pdf
ARTICLE 19 is an independent non-profit organisation that works around the world to protect and promote the right to freedom of expression. It takes its name from Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees freedom of expression.
