(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release: 21 July 1999 – for immediate release MOLDOVA DRAFT LAW IMPROVED Proposals for legislation on freedom of information in Moldova which were causing considerable concern to freedom of expression campaigners have been substantially revised by the Parliament. The changes reflect recommendations on bringing law […]
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release:
21 July 1999 – for immediate release
MOLDOVA DRAFT LAW IMPROVED
Proposals for legislation on freedom of information in Moldova which were
causing considerable concern to freedom of expression campaigners have been
substantially revised by the Parliament. The changes reflect recommendations
on bringing law into line with international standards which ARTICLE 19
provided for Parliamentarians to consider.
The government had produced a draft law entitled “The Law on Freedom of
Information”, the second half (Title II) of which was more to do with media
regulation than access to official information. ARTICLE 19 found it wholly
inappropriate that the two were linked in this way and argued vigorously for
Title II to be dropped.
Andrew Puddephatt, Executive Director of ARTICLE 19 said:
“We are delighted that intensive lobbying with our Moldovan partners, the
Independent Journalism Centre, resulted not only in the removal of media
regulation from the draft law, but in substantial improvements to the
freedom of information provisions.
“We hope the Parliament will strengthen the law even further, so that it can
be used as a model of best practice on guaranteeing the public’s right to
know,” he added.
ARTICLE 19 will shortly launch an overview of the changing media framework
in Moldova, entitled Moldova: Media in Transition.
