Iraqi stakeholders meet to discuss draft law on media and telecommunications
13-11-2007 (Amman)
Iraqi TV
© UNESCO
Iraqi broadcasters, parliamentarians and representatives of the judiciary, along with international media experts, concluded a high-level technical meeting where they discussed a draft law currently before the parliament on media and telecommunications in Iraq.
This law, if passed, would confirm the existence of the Iraqi Media and Communications Commission (CMC) - the national independent regulator that has been in place since mid-2004.
Paolo Lembo, UNDP Iraq Director, welcomed the steps taken by CMC to strengthen the law on media and telecommunications. “UN agencies will continue their support to CMC’s goal to achieve international best practices and build the foundation of the legal and regulatory framework on media”, he said.
In his opening remarks, Mogens Schmidt, UNESCO’s Deputy-Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information stressed the fundamental role the media could play in Iraq’s reconciliation process. “Legal frameworks provide a structural character that point to the future,” he said. “We must develop these structures as part of a long-term vision for reconciliation and development. This media law must be connected to long-term thinking in Iraq,” he continued.
The draft law under discussion upholds many of the general principles of freedom of expression and independent regulation that guided the establishment of the CMC in the first place.
“Iraqi representatives understood the importance of having an independent media commission. They also agreed and recommended to remove certain penalties from the law,” stated Emad Alkhafaji, an independent journalist participating in the meeting.
The draft law will go into effect with one more reading in parliament. UNESCO and UNDP, in collaboration with its partners, will follow up on the results and continue to support the development of a free and independent media in Iraq.
The meeting was part of a larger conference that took place in Amman from 4 to 7 November, organized by UNDP, UNESCO and the Iraqi Communications and Media Commission.
Paolo Lembo, UNDP Iraq Director, welcomed the steps taken by CMC to strengthen the law on media and telecommunications. “UN agencies will continue their support to CMC’s goal to achieve international best practices and build the foundation of the legal and regulatory framework on media”, he said.
In his opening remarks, Mogens Schmidt, UNESCO’s Deputy-Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information stressed the fundamental role the media could play in Iraq’s reconciliation process. “Legal frameworks provide a structural character that point to the future,” he said. “We must develop these structures as part of a long-term vision for reconciliation and development. This media law must be connected to long-term thinking in Iraq,” he continued.
The draft law under discussion upholds many of the general principles of freedom of expression and independent regulation that guided the establishment of the CMC in the first place.
“Iraqi representatives understood the importance of having an independent media commission. They also agreed and recommended to remove certain penalties from the law,” stated Emad Alkhafaji, an independent journalist participating in the meeting.
The draft law will go into effect with one more reading in parliament. UNESCO and UNDP, in collaboration with its partners, will follow up on the results and continue to support the development of a free and independent media in Iraq.
The meeting was part of a larger conference that took place in Amman from 4 to 7 November, organized by UNDP, UNESCO and the Iraqi Communications and Media Commission.
Related themes/countries
· Jordan
· Media Laws
· Iraq
· Towards democracy in Iraq
· Freedom of Expression: News Archives 2007
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