If the proposed legislation is passed, the current law—which was developed with open, participatory and democratic dialogue—will be repealed. Serious and problematic modifications would be introduced with severe implications for the freedom of expression rights of journalists and media outlets in the country.
We, the Regional Alliance for Freedom of Expression and Information, IFEX-ALC and Voces del Sur, are deeply concerned about the contents of a bill approved by the Uruguayan Senate on 14 May. As regional networks defenders of freedom of expression and information, we call for the legislative proposal, which will be up for consideration by the Chamber of Representatives on 4 June, to be voted down.
If the proposed legislation is passed, the current law—which was developed with open, participatory and democratic dialogue—will be repealed. Serious and problematic modifications would be introduced with severe implications for the freedom of expression rights of journalists and media outlets in the country. The legislation could establish penalties for those who fail to disseminate “information, analysis, opinions, comments and evaluations in a complete, impartial, serious, rigorous, plural and balanced manner with respect to and among political actors.”
As has been noted by local civil society organisation, Cainfo, this legislation would represent “a significant human rights setback, with the approval of regulations that run contrary to Inter-American standards on freedom of expression. Among other outcomes, approval of the bill would result in increasing media concentration and whitewashing of the current situation of media companies, along with a rise in foreign media ownership and the elimination of public participation and citizen control over radio frequency allocation processes.
Additionally, it is worth noting that the IACHR’s Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, UNESCO and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Inter American Press Association (IAPA), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ – FEPALC) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), along with other international and Uruguayan organisations, have called the bill’s contents into question.
We also want to highlight that the situation surrounding the bill is further aggravated by the fact that these changes are being proposed within an electoral period, with less than five months remaining before the general election. Within this context, the proposed legislation, if passed, will have a negative effect on democratic debate, the work of journalists and the ability of citizens to access high quality information.
For these reasons, we, the Regional Alliance for Freedom of Expression and Information, IFEX-ALC and Voces del Sur, are speaking out against the bill as it comes up for discussion by the Uruguayan Chamber of Representatives. We call on the representatives to vote against the proposal, the contents of which signify a significant human rights setback and would put Uruguay in a position that fails to guarantee press freedom and freedom of expression, resulting in negative consequences for democracy.