OSCE supports roundtable discussion on Tajikistan’s draft Information Code

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe organized a public discussion and presentation of the draft Information Code of Tajikistan on 14 October 2021 in Bokhtar, the Khatlon region.

The roundtable discussion was organized jointly with the International Affairs Committee of Majlisi Namoyandagon of Majlisi Oli (the Lower Chamber of Tajikistan’s Parliament), the National Association of Independent Mass media of Tajikistan and the Open Society Foundation.

Twenty-two participants, including the senior representatives of Tajikistan’s parliament and Ministry of Justice, civil society, local government stakeholders and media, including a strong representation of female journalists, attended the event.

The meeting’s main objective was to facilitate an open discussion, aimed at gathering a concrete set of recommendations on the draft Information Code. By facilitating open discussions, including setting up working groups on the final text of the Information Code, the meeting ensured inclusivity and took into consideration feedback from local media such as “Nabzi Bokhtar” newspaper, TV Qurghonteppa, TV Khatlon, and the Union of Journalists of Tajikistan in the Khatlon region.

“The OSCE Programme Office is happy to support this timely initiative, and further help our Tajik partners in all necessary steps, leading to the completion of this important piece of state legislation,” said Michal Prawdzik, Media Officer at the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe.

Usmonzoda Hairiddin Usmon, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs of Majlisi Namoyandagon of Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan said: “The main purpose of codification of legislation within the framework of Information Code, is to provide a systematic, legal structure for the development, and regulation of this area. As a result, it aims to eliminate the inconsistencies in existing legislation, in connection with the emergence of new conditions and the use of information and communication technologies.”

Similar discussions were organized in Khujand, the Sughd region, as well as in Dushanbe, earlier in September 2021.