El Salvador Embarks on Media Legislation Reform
23-01-2003 ()
Elections in El Salvador (1994)
© F. Loock, UNESCO
In a move to further democratize the media environment in El Salvador, the country's authorities requested UNESCO to help implementing several reforms of media policy and legislation. In reply to this request, UNESCO's Paris Headquarters recently fielded a mission to the country's capital.
The origins of the mission go back to the signing of the historic peace accords in over a decade ago putting an end to a bloody and long civil war, with one of the highest number of deaths and destruction of any recent conflict in the world. Since then, El Salvador has worked hard at reconciliation and has established a democratic political system which has been instrumental in leading to one of the highest economic growth rates in the region and has further helped to democratize all aspects of the media.
The current administration has undertaken to further liberalize the media promoting freedom of expression and freedom of the press through adapting the country's media legislation to internationally recognized principles. In addition, the issue of access to public information, and legislation related to it has been an item of heated debate recently.
Within this context, the authorities called on UNESCO to provide expertise and assistance in dealing with these legislative issues, to assist them to further democratize existing media legislation, and to study the possibility of adopting access to information legislation.
The authorities are fully aware of the fact that, according to internationally recognized principles of freedom of expression, the government’s role is to create a democratic media environment respectful of freedom of the press, but never to involve itself on issues of content or professional conduct of journalism.
They, therefore, are presently examining the possibility of setting up a group led by the Press Secretary and Head of Information, including legislative representatives as well as professional journalists and academic personalities aiming at creating a democratic media environment in El Salvador. UNESCO was requested to extend its assistance by providing technical assistance to this “Group” in the future.
The current administration has undertaken to further liberalize the media promoting freedom of expression and freedom of the press through adapting the country's media legislation to internationally recognized principles. In addition, the issue of access to public information, and legislation related to it has been an item of heated debate recently.
Within this context, the authorities called on UNESCO to provide expertise and assistance in dealing with these legislative issues, to assist them to further democratize existing media legislation, and to study the possibility of adopting access to information legislation.
The authorities are fully aware of the fact that, according to internationally recognized principles of freedom of expression, the government’s role is to create a democratic media environment respectful of freedom of the press, but never to involve itself on issues of content or professional conduct of journalism.
They, therefore, are presently examining the possibility of setting up a group led by the Press Secretary and Head of Information, including legislative representatives as well as professional journalists and academic personalities aiming at creating a democratic media environment in El Salvador. UNESCO was requested to extend its assistance by providing technical assistance to this “Group” in the future.
Related themes/countries
· El Salvador
· Media Laws: News Archives 2003
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