International human rights and freedom of expression organisations have joined their voices in protest against the Belarusian Draft Law on Mass Media, which imposes further restrictions on an already severe regulatory regime for Belarusian mass media. They called for an immediate withdrawal of the law. (27-JUNE-08)
Based on a ARTICLE 19 press release, this article is written by Ralph Pluimert
On 24 June 2008 the draft law was adopted by the lower house of parliament, the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus, and is currently before the upper chamber, the Council of the Republic. If approved, the Bill will pass to President Lukashenka for approval. Letters addressed to the Members of the Council of Republic and to President Lukashenka urge them to reject the draft and calls on the Belarusian authorities to revise the Law on Mass Media in order to bring it into line with international human rights standards.
The letters also remind Belarusian authorities about the country’s international commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which it is a signatory, and its obligations with respect to the right to freedom of expression.
The letters are signed by
ARTICLE 19
Human Rights House Foundation
Index on Censorship
Norwegian Helsinki Committee
Norwegian Pen Centre
Civic Belarus (Czech Republic)
The Danish Union of Journalists
Norwegian Union of Journalists
The letter was also supported by
the Rafto Human Rights House Foundation (Norway)
teh Human Rights Centre (Georgia)
One World/People in Need (Czech Republic)
The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Read the letter to President Lukashenko
For more information on the draft law, go to:
New law on mass media approved by parliament (internal link)
To read OSCE´s reaction on the law:
OSCE media freedom representative urges Belarus not to adopt restrictive media law
