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CIMA Releases Report on Media and Law
July 29, 2011
By: Carlos Aramayo | Printer Friendly

On July 22, the Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA) released the “Media and the Law: An Overview of Legal Issues and Challenges” report. The report examines the different kinds of laws that affect the media and explains how they are used in many countries to influence the operations of news outlets and the information they offer. It primarily focuses on restrictive laws and legal challenges faced by journalists in developing countries, although laws in developed countries dealing with issues such as libel and terrorism are also considered. An initiative of the National Endowment for Democracy, CIMA works to improve the effectiveness of media assistance programs. The report was authored by Peter Noorlander, a lawyer who specializes in media law and human rights.  Noorlander is the legal director of the Media Legal Defense Initiative.

According to the report, statistics on the number of journalists in prison – the harshest possible use of the law against the media – indicate that as of the end of 2010, there were more journalists imprisoned than at any other time in the decade. The report identifies that the problem of imprisonment of journalists is concentrated in a relatively small number of countries. More than two thirds of the cases are in China (34), Iran (34), Eritrea (17) and Burma (13). Together with Cuba, which was a consistent jailer of journalists until 2009, these countries have been responsible for 68 percent of all journalists’ incarcerations since 2006. The only countries in addition to this quartet to have consistently jailed journalists in 2006-2011, though in lower numbers, are Uzbekistan, Ethiopia, Azerbaijan, Iraq and Russia.

Furthermore, the report points out that “three constants emerge” when states are imposing laws to restrict the flow of information. The constants take the shape of: libel laws, national security and related laws and licensing and registration laws, all of which are aimed at restricting individual journalists as well as at media outlets.

In conclusion, the report indicates that civil society actions can have a positive impact against the use laws to repress the media. It strongly recommends campaigning for better recognition of the right to freedom of expression and points out that better coordination among international civil society organizations is paramount to achieve a broad and consistent message.

To read the full report, please click here.

Source:
Democracy Digest – From Ecuador to Cambodia: media law, democracy and human rights