The Office of the President yesterday organized a discussion on a draft law on media freedom initiated by the President and prepared by a working group. Representatives of media and civil organizations and researchers attended the meeting in the Civil Chamber. 

Advisor to the President Ch.Sosormaa opened the discussion and passed on Ts.Elbegdorj’s greetings to journalists on the World Press Freedom Day today. She said freedom of the press was a basic human freedom and thus its violation was akin to a violation of human rights. Media freedom allowed citizens the right to free speech and to write without control. It also guaranteed citizens access to information.

Law Advisor to the President, J.Bayartsetseg, introduced the draft law and said there was little transparency in Mongolian media which continues to face political and economic pressure. The draft proposes to give citizens rights listed in UN Declaration, the Constitution and international recommendations and has been prepared with 4 chapters and 21 articles.

Participants felt there were avoidable repetitions in the draft and favored use of the same terminology as in other draft laws such as those on information transparency, and on the rights to information, both of which have been submitted to Parliament, and also on the national media agency and public media, submitted to the Ministry of Justice and Internal Affairs.

MP E.Bat-Uul said that the draft should include a provision to allow people to protest if curbs are placed on media freedom.