DEFENDER'S ASSESSMENT OF ACTIVITIES OF RA NATIONAL COMMISSION ON TELEVISION AND RADIO
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/society25581.html
Published: 16:18:58 - 26/03/2012
Shortcomings and problems identified
Especially in case of various infringement of the law in television
broadcasting, including lack of pluralism, violations of advertising
law, not fulfilling the requirements of the legislation on Armenian
Language and ignoring the ethical rules the results of the monitoring
of TV and Radio companies activities carried out by the NCTR were
extremely insufficient.
As a result of spatial interpretation of appropriate provisions
of RA Law "On Advertisement" and "On TV and Radio" in the respect
to advertising restrictions on Public TV airtime the NCTR did not
ensured the rights of private TV channels and Armenian taxpayers,
who fund and observe the Public Television.
Declaring that the digitalisation process is not within its
jurisdiction, the NCTR not only does not accept the responsibility
for the most essential processes of its area, but even is not
aware of the information of utmost importance. Realization of its
own functions in such a way testifies to their insufficient and
inadequate implementation.
In the respect to assurance of antimonopoly guarantees prescribed by
the law, the NCTR displayed inactivity during 2011 and did not carry
out its oversight functions for prevention of over-concentration and
monopoly of broadcasting market.
Positive Developments
Due to May 26, 2011 amendments to the Article 9 of the RA Law
"On Advertisment" advertisement volume abuse possibilities in Public
TV airtime were eliminated which derived from spatial and non-legal
interpretations of the law.
The NCTV revealed two cases of law violation in the result of
monitoring of TV and Radio companies activities and legitimately
reacted to it.
An addition was made to the RA Law "On TV and Radio", according
to which the Public TV and other private TV channels of Armenia are
obliged to broadcast at least one TV program for children and one news
program with sign language translation or Armenian subtitles in their
programs for children and (or ) news programs during the day airtime.
Karen Andreasyan,
Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia
The list of the identified positive developments, gaps and shortcomings
is not exhaustive.
The introduced Chapter (15) of the HRD Annual Report 2011 is available
in full at http://pashtpan.am/pages/downloadPdf/file_id/536.
Summary of the HRD Annual Report 2011 Chapter 12 concerning the
activities of the RA Ministry of Education and Science will be
published next.
The HRD Annual Report 2011 was developed based on the complaints
received by the Staff of the Human Rights Defender, legislation
analysis, trustworthy and non-disclaimed publications in press,
reports of the international and local organizations as well as
information received during the interviews with field specialists
and human rights defenders.
From: Baghdasarian
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/society25581.html
Published: 16:18:58 - 26/03/2012
Shortcomings and problems identified
Especially in case of various infringement of the law in television
broadcasting, including lack of pluralism, violations of advertising
law, not fulfilling the requirements of the legislation on Armenian
Language and ignoring the ethical rules the results of the monitoring
of TV and Radio companies activities carried out by the NCTR were
extremely insufficient.
As a result of spatial interpretation of appropriate provisions
of RA Law "On Advertisement" and "On TV and Radio" in the respect
to advertising restrictions on Public TV airtime the NCTR did not
ensured the rights of private TV channels and Armenian taxpayers,
who fund and observe the Public Television.
Declaring that the digitalisation process is not within its
jurisdiction, the NCTR not only does not accept the responsibility
for the most essential processes of its area, but even is not
aware of the information of utmost importance. Realization of its
own functions in such a way testifies to their insufficient and
inadequate implementation.
In the respect to assurance of antimonopoly guarantees prescribed by
the law, the NCTR displayed inactivity during 2011 and did not carry
out its oversight functions for prevention of over-concentration and
monopoly of broadcasting market.
Positive Developments
Due to May 26, 2011 amendments to the Article 9 of the RA Law
"On Advertisment" advertisement volume abuse possibilities in Public
TV airtime were eliminated which derived from spatial and non-legal
interpretations of the law.
The NCTV revealed two cases of law violation in the result of
monitoring of TV and Radio companies activities and legitimately
reacted to it.
An addition was made to the RA Law "On TV and Radio", according
to which the Public TV and other private TV channels of Armenia are
obliged to broadcast at least one TV program for children and one news
program with sign language translation or Armenian subtitles in their
programs for children and (or ) news programs during the day airtime.
Karen Andreasyan,
Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia
The list of the identified positive developments, gaps and shortcomings
is not exhaustive.
The introduced Chapter (15) of the HRD Annual Report 2011 is available
in full at http://pashtpan.am/pages/downloadPdf/file_id/536.
Summary of the HRD Annual Report 2011 Chapter 12 concerning the
activities of the RA Ministry of Education and Science will be
published next.
The HRD Annual Report 2011 was developed based on the complaints
received by the Staff of the Human Rights Defender, legislation
analysis, trustworthy and non-disclaimed publications in press,
reports of the international and local organizations as well as
information received during the interviews with field specialists
and human rights defenders.
From: Baghdasarian