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27 April, 2023 - Minister of Information Ziad Makary announced today that “a comprehensive process of consultation has been concluded towards the reform of the media law in Lebanon, with the support of the UNESCO Regional Office in Beirut.” This announcement was made during a Press Conference at the Ministry of Information. It follows a participatory process launched by UNESCO last year that involved all stakeholders -MPs, media owners, journalists, syndicates, academics, civil society organizations. The enhanced version of the media law aims to strengthen the media landscape in Lebanon and is both aligned with international standards while taking into account the inputs of all stakeholders.

"It has become known to everyone that we used the draft media law present with the Administration, Justice and Media parliamentary committees to introduce amendments to its latest version submitted in July 2021, with the aim of developing and updating it, while ensuring freedom of speech and the protection of journalists”, said Minister Makary. “This is where cooperation began with the UNESCO Office in Beirut. I was also keen to publish the draft on the Ministry's website to solicit opinions and receive suggestions in order to make the necessary amendments. What is required today is to reach a modern law that reflects the aspirations of media professionals and guarantees freedom of expression and the protection of journalists. We have now completed the consultative stage, agreed on the fundamental amendments that the new media law must include, and we have moved to the legislative stage which will also include a series of steps. Therefore, we count on the cooperation of the media and parliamentary authorities at this stage, and on the cooperation of media professionals in terms of practicing the profession responsibly and combating hate speech and fake news. We thank the UNESCO office in Beirut and the expert Toby Mendel for their cooperation, and the biggest thanks goes to our partners in the battle to preserve freedoms, the media and media professionals, in the hope of reaching a media law that befits them and brings back Lebanon to the first ranks in relation to freedom of expression”.

Lebanese media are currently organized under the 1962 Press Law and the 1994 Audiovisual Media Law. The revised text proposed today reflects important updates as its scope is now clearly focused on media, including those distributed over the Internet and social media. The text also provides, among other things, a clear framework of rules on how licensing of broadcasters is to be organized and significantly improved rules on the independence of the Authority. A co-regulatory system of professional regulation of the media -a system of complaints- has also been added to the law.

“As part of its mission to enhance freedom of expression, access to information and safety of journalists, media law reform holds a particular importance for UNESCO globally and in particular in Lebanon”, said Costanza Farina, Director of UNESCO Beirut. “This support falls within the framework of the Partnership Compact between the Parliament and the UN Country Team in Lebanon (UNCT), signed in June 2022, to support legislative efforts and to realize the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.”

UNESCO expert and strategic partner Toby Mendel, a human rights lawyer who heads the Centre for Law and Democracy and who supported the process, said: “It is very encouraging to see consensus developing around a media law which is more modern and progressive, while also well adapted to the complex situation in Lebanon. Hopefully parliament will make the adoption of a progressive media law a priority.”