Digital transformation, Internet freedom in spotlight at Central Asian Media Conference in Tajikistan

DUSHANBE, 20 November 2015 - After a two-day discussion on digitalization and its impact on media freedom and pluralism in Central Asia, participants of the 17th Central Asian Media Conference in Dushanbe, adopted a set of recommendations to help foster independent and pluralistic media in the context of digital transition (the recommendations will be available shortly).

Some 70 media policy and broadcasting experts, civil society and government representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, along with experts from Denmark, Germany and Mongolia, took part in the conference organized by the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media.

“Digitalization creates new opportunities for the free flow of information, diversity and a pluralistic media environment,” said Dunja Mijatović, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, in her address at the conference.

The impact of the digital terrestrial switchover on media pluralism, the challenges of media regulation as well as the role of public service and state media in a convergent media environment were all issues discussed at the conference together with recent media freedom developments in Central Asia.

The Representative stressed that Internet freedom remains one of the biggest media challenges in the OSCE region.

“Keeping the Internet free is vital for exercising the basic right to freedom of expression and freedom of the media. These rights are the same, regardless of whether they are exercised online or offline,” she said.

During her stay in Dushanbe, Mijatović also met with Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Aslov for a constructive discussion on media freedom issues in Tajikistan. She welcomed the government's efforts in decriminalizing defamation in 2012 and encouraged the authorities to abolish the remaining criminal law provisions that provide specific protection for high-level government representatives.

In addition, Mijatović stressed the need to reform the law “On periodical press and other mass media” in order to strengthen journalists' rights and enhance the editorial independence of media outlets.

The Representative also expressed concern about the regular, and often unannounced, blocking of websites and social networks.

“I fully understand and respect the authorities’ right to take measures necessary to ensure national security,” Mijatović said. “But any restrictions must be clearly defined by law, be proportionate and be based on a court decision. It is important to maintain the fundamental right of citizens to freely receive and impart information, both offline and online.”

Mijatović further encouraged the authorities to ensure that all journalists are free from governmental pressure and have unhindered access to official information of public interest. She also expressed the readiness of her Office to continue assisting Tajikistan with expertise on the digital switchover process and other media freedom issues.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.