Broadcasters who violate children’s rights are normally punished harshly, statement

In normal societies, the broadcasters are punished harshly when they violate the minors’ rights, executive director of the Electronic Press Association (APEL) Ion Bunduchi said in a meeting of journalists themed “Journalists writing about children: guided by ethical or legal norms?”, Info-Prim Neo reports. Ion Bunduchi said he was for imposing tough restrictions in matters concerning minors who appear on TV or about whom articles are written. He believes that the broadcasters should have their own regulations in this field, but the situation must be controlled by the whole society. Chairman of the Broadcasting Coordination Council (BCC) Marian Pocaznoi compared the situation in Moldova and that in Romania, especially as regards the punishment of broadcasters. “In Romania, the punishments are very harsh and considerable fines are imposed. The heaviest fine in Moldova is about 5,000 lei, but those that are fined often challenge it and our courts rule in their favor,” he stated. BCC member Mariana Onceanu-Hadarca said the Romanian broadcasters are afraid of the fines they face when breaking the law. “The sums imposed there are very large,” she underlined. However, many participants in the meeting said that Romania is not the best example that Moldova can follow as the journalists there more often violate the deontological norms that the Moldovan journalists. Marian Pocaznoi and Mariana Onceanu-Hadarca said the BCC follows the experience of the similar institutions of other EU member states as well, not only of Romania. The Broadcasting Coordination Council prepared two draft decisions. One of them imposes harsh punishments on the broadcasters, while the other one regulates the situations when minors appear in TV programs. The draft decisions were sent to the relevant institutions for examination and are to be adopted within two weeks.