TIRANA, Oct 13 /ATA/ The head of the Audiovisual Media Authority (AMA), Armela Krasniqi, guaranteed on Wednesday that AMA will continue strict monitoring of compliance with the provisions set out in the Broadcasting Code and tightening the penalties for audio-visual media service operators that breach the provisions of child protection code.
In attendance of the International Conference on “Child Protection in Audiovisual Media” held in Tirana, were the OSCE Representative for Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro, experts from Great Britain, Belgium, Germany and professors and experts from country and region. This conference, which is divided into three panels, will serve as an added value and a moment of reflection for all stakeholders involved, the media, society and the community on their role in educating the minors.
In her remarks at the conference, Krasniqi pointed out that the contribution to child protection is the most fundamental contribution to society and its future.
“All of us are cognizant of the fact that the effect of audio-visual media encourage aggressive behaviour among the children, sow fear and produce violent heroes and moreover distort the social norms in relation to violence. In the face of technological development and multidimensional challenges associated with it, the task of the media is above all to protect the highest social interests through education and protection of children, ” Krasniqi underlined.
The Head of AMA stated that “the activity of the Audiovisual Media Authority is based on law no. 97/2013 “On audiovisual media in the Republic of Albania.” The law provides for the basic principles that form the basis of the audiovisual activity. But more explicitly it is the Broadcasting Code, an important bylaw that contains and defines the principles, rules, requirements and practices of audiovisual broadcasting in the Republic of Albania.
Krasniqi stated that the Broadcasting Code is designed to ensure the independence and impartiality of the activity of the media service providers with the aim of making them more aware of their role and responsibility.
The Head of AMA Krasniqi announced that based on the AMA strategy for 2021-2023, the Broadcasting Code will be revised.
“The revision will be conducted by AMA in broad consultation with all relevant actors in this field. I also took the opportunity yesterday at the OSCE Conference and I am repeating today the appeal for as much feedback and inclusiveness in the review of this Code, fully convinced that multiple ideas make a Code that serves and covers many components of the time that we live. The Complaints Council has been functioning at the AMA since April 2016.”
Since its inception, the Council of Complaints has handled over 570 ones.
178 of them are about violation of the children’s rights,” – Krasniqi said.
The Head of AMA, Krasniqi said that AMA has reviewed the formats of entertainment programs for children, in the form of artistic spectacles or quizzes.
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