Modern, enlightened press law to be referred to legislature soon

Manama, June 22 (BNA): The Information Affairs Ministry revealed that the government has completed the new press law, and will refer it to the Legislature in the coming period to examine and approve it. The Ministry pointed out that there is no legislative vacuum in the media field in Bahrain, but the new law will contribute to protecting journalists and their establishments, as well as support the responsible freedoms of expression and opinion, as well as strengthen national fundamentals, adding that the new law includes a chapter on electronic media. The Information Affairs Ministry lauded the efforts exerted by the Speaker of the Council of Representatives, Fawzia bint Abdulla Zainl, in supporting the press and media sector in the kingdom through dedicating a parliamentary question, during the first session of the fifth Legislative Term, on the procedures taken by the Ministry to implement the royal directives on various occasions and events, particularly HM King Hamad’s messages on the International Press Day and the Bahrain Press Day every year, on the need to issue a modern and enlightened law that would consolidate responsible freedoms in the press and media, and keep abreast of the huge developments in the information and communication technology and the electronic field. The Information Affairs Ministry added that it had confirmed, in coordination with the Civil Service Bureau, the contracts of more than 90% of its employees with temporary contracts, and is currently taking the legal procedures to do the same with the remaining ones, in line with speaker’s proposal in this regard. The Ministry added that, in line with the directives of the Information Ministry, it had trained more than 100 Bahrainis through a joint programme with the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), which will provide it with specialised and qualified national media competencies. The Ministry added that it is studying the increase of hours allocated to parliamentary sessions and activities, in cooperation with a specialised media production company, in line with another proposal made by the speaker and a number of MPs. The Information Affairs Ministry underlined its keenness to highlight the activities of the Shura and Representatives councils to embody the bright image of the democratic process under HM the King’s Reform Project, promote parliamentary media, increase communication between members of the Legislative Branch and the citizens, strengthen the role of parliamentary culture and contribute to building a generation whose members are aware of national issues.