Changing the State of Expression in Belarus

A presentation to the Government of Belarus8 December 2009

Freedom Reporting and Accreditation ConsultantsSoumitra Chatterjee, Megan Glick, Jonathan Marshall, Ralanda Winborn, Frauke Hentz

Agenda

• Background and justification• Legal frameworks• Pertinent Cases• Recommendations• Campaign• Q & A

Background• Relationship with

Council of Europe• Media

accreditation• History of

documented accreditation malfeasance

Justification• Implications of full compliance– Potential Member or Guest Status with CoE– Freedom of expression as pathway for other

human rights corrections• Goals– Increase ease and transparency of

accreditation– Commitment to meeting CoE accreditation

standards– Improving the international image of Belarus

Legal Framework• Need for conformity with Council of Europe

standards• Council of Europe Standards– Promote freedom– National security

• Amendments to Belarusian Law ("On Mass Media")– Statutory provisions– Regulations to guide application process

Pertinent Cases• Viktar Parfyonenka• Radio Racyja- independent• Denied accreditation on specious grounds• 25 September 2009

• Euroradio• Accredited for one year• Independent, established• 13 November 2009

Recommendations• Standardizing accreditation– Transparency, efficiency, and appeals

• Promote independent media– Eliminate government subsidies

• NGO network– Facilitate communication– Independent oversight

• Public diplomacy campaign– Support and evaluation

Public Diplomacy Campaign• Goals– Increased awareness of free expression

progress– Demonstrate commitment – Evaluation in action

• Components–White paper– Overall design and new media efforts– Annual Freedom of Expression Symposium

New Media Efforts• Current Ministry of Foreign

Affairs website– Solid framework– Advertised transparency– Links to regulations and

applications• Drawbacks

– Protracted inquiry response– Delayed notifications– Lack of appeals process

the first annual freedom of expression symposium

Message from President Aleksandr Lukashenka

Interactive Blog

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New accreditation listings

Annual Symposium Register Now

EXTERNAL LINKSSeeking accreditation? Apply Here

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus

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changing the state of expression

Welcome! Вітаю!Your connection to accreditation in Belarus…

…Together we’ll change the state of expression.Please check out the interactive blog, and be sure to share your story! Please note registration for the symposium is now open.

BELARUSbeheard.com aims to link individual journalists and foreign mass media with the government of Belarus, specifically the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

President Lukashenka’s message provides an

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