SOMALIA: UN RIGHTS OFFICE CONCERNED OVER DRAFT LAW THAT WOULD CURTAIL PRESS FREEDOM

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From: UNNews <UNNews@un.org>
Date: 19 Jul 2013 10:00:00 -0400
Subject: SOMALIA: UN RIGHTS OFFICE CONCERNED OVER DRAFT LAW THAT WOULD
CURTAIL PRESS FREEDOM
To: news11@ny-mail-p-lb-028.ptc.un.org

SOMALIA: UN RIGHTS OFFICE CONCERNED OVER DRAFT LAW THAT WOULD CURTAIL
PRESS FREEDOMNew York, Jul 19 2013 10:00AMThe United Nations human
rights office today expressed concern over a draft law in Somalia that
would require journalists to reveal their sources and prevent them
from disseminating information against Islam or Somali traditions.

"We urge the Somali authorities to review the draft in order to ensure
its conformity with international human rights standards," the
spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
(OHCHR), Rupert Colville, told reporters in Geneva.

"We are particularly concerned that the draft legislation contains
vague language and extremely broad categories that could easily be
used to curtail freedom of expression, for instance requiring media
not to contravene or disseminate information that is against Islam, or
Somali traditions or traditional ethics," he said.

The draft law also requires journalists to reveal their sources if
published information stirs up public sentiments, and would suspend
journalists and other representatives of media organizations accused
of violating the media legislation.

Mr. Colville said the Somali Government had promised to organize broad
consultations prior to the law's enactment. However, the draft media
law was submitted and adopted by the Council of Ministers on 11 July
and will now be submitted to the Somali legislature and later to the
President. This process is estimated to take less than two months,
leaving insufficient time for wide-ranging consultations to take place
to improve the law.

OHCHR said it is also concerned about the composition of the proposed
regulatory body, the National Media Council, and the selection process
for its members, neither of which guarantee its independence.Jul 19
2013 10:00AM
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