Resolution to the Midyear Meeting
Panama, Panama
March 6 - 9, 2015
WHEREAS
on July 25, 2014 during the session of the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino) Ecuadorean Congressman Octavio Villacreces presented a bill for the Communications Framework Law to the Political Affairs Committee of the body whose headquarters are in Panama
WHEREAS
the initiative seeks to draw up a Communications Law for the countries belonging to the Parlatino, titled "on the right to free access to communication"
WHEREAS
from the statement of motives we find an absolute lack of focus, in stating on its first page that "The news media ... have impeded a participatory society being forged"
WHEREAS
the news media have always been and will be the first allies of the citizens in the construction of a participatory society and democracy, where freedom of the press and of expression are fundamental pillars of that democracy
WHEREAS
the legislative bill proposes imposing obligations concerning the manner that content should be presented in news media
WHEREAS
the legislative bill proposes the creation of a "Supervisory Body" and provides the government with the mechanisms of control to "monitor, warn and promote" concerning news media content
WHEREAS
an evaluation of the bill could become some manner of promoting self-censorship
WHEREAS
the bill is now under legislative review in the Parlatino, which could turn it into an effective law that would call on the local Congresses to replicate it
THE IAPA MIDYEAR MEETING RESOLVES
to urge governments committed to fight against self-censorship to seek to protect journalists and ensure that no legal framework establishes disproportionate obligations that could give rise to this intimidating effect
to call upon all regional news media to remain alert to the future that this initiative harmful to regional press freedom could have
