OSCE media freedom representative welcomes Kyrgyzstan's media self-regulatory body, the first in Central Asia

VIENNA, 12 February 2008 - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFOM), Miklos Haraszti, congratulated today journalists in Kyrgyzstan on the launch of an independent media self-regulatory body, calling it an act of engagement for ethical standards and professionalism.

"I see the creation of Central Asia's first voluntary media complaint commission in Kyrgyzstan as an additional safeguard for freedom of the press. It will prove journalists' commitment to quality and responsibility, and will boost the social acceptance of independent reporting and opinion," said Haraszti.

The new body, called the Media Complaints Commission, will handle complaints about alleged breaches of the code of ethics by any media outlet in the country. Composed of nine board members representing the media and the civil society, the body was set up to provide an alternative to court procedures and give moral redress in case of non-respect for ethics guidelines.

"I hope this initiative will encourage media professionals in other countries of Central Asia to create similar accountability systems," Haraszti said, adding: "The governments of the region can assist similar developments only by exercising self-restraint in regulating the press. Responsibility can develop only in freedom."

The Media Complaints Commission was launched officially today with a press conference, which concludes a series of discussions bringing together media professions in support of self-regulation. The Commission's board members were elected and a joint code of ethics was adopted last December. Self-regulation was also the topic of the ninth Central Asia Media Conference, organized by the RFOM in Dushanbe in November 2007.