Freedom of expression will be guaranteed by new law

10.03.2010 16:32
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The parliamentary commission for culture, research, education, sport and mass media approved a bill on the freedom of expression at a meeting on March 10. If adopted by the Parliament, the new law will institute guarantees that will ensure the right to freedom of expression and information, Info-Prim Neo reports. The authors of the bill, expert of the Independent Journalism Center Eugeniu Rybka and expert of the Association of Jurists for Human Rights Vlad Gribincea, say the draft law is a compilation of European standards on the freedom of expression and the protection of private life. The experts say such a bill is needed to help more effectively solve legal cases concerning the damaging of honor, dignity and professional reputation and the infringement of the right to private life. “These aspects are regulated by a number of codes and the Constitution, but the legislation should be improved,” said lawyer Vlad Gribincea. Jurist Eugeniu Rybka said the national legislation is imperfect and therefore the cases concerning the freedom of expression or slander are usually examined not paying enough attention to important elements. Thus, the awarding of damages and some of the judgments are unfounded and many persons complain to the ECHR. “If the legislation is not adjusted to the European standards, the number of cases lost by Moldova at the ECHR will rise year by year,” Rybka said. Besides principles and classifications, the bill introduces an amicable procedure for solving cases of slander out of court. The bill is to be debated in Parliament.