The organization “Article 19” concerned about the draft of the Audiovisual Code

The international independent organization “Article 19” expresses its concern regarding a series of aspects of the Audiovisual Code draft which was exposed to public commentaries on March 28, 2006. According to a memorandum of the organization, “Article 19” is not pleased with the fact that the proposed broadcast regulatory body would also act as the supervisory body for the public service broadcaster. According to some international experts, combining these two widely disparate tasks is liable to lead to an unmanageable workload and also detract from the effectiveness of the supervision. In the same context is mentioned the lack of a possibility for public participation and nominations in the selection process of members of the broadcast regulator. Also, negatively is considered to be 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 concern is also generated by the ease with which private broadcasters may be stripped of their broadcast licence and by the lack of guarantees of the public service broadcaster’s accountability to the public. The organization commends the Moldovan authorities for making the proposal with the evident intention of bringing Moldovan law in line with relevant international standards. The experts of the “Article 19” considers 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. ARTICLE 19 is a human rights organisation with a specific mandate and focus on the defence and promotion of freedom of expression and freedom of information worldwide. It takes its name from the Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees freedom of expression.