The law on mass media might be amended to prohibit gender discrimination

On Wednesday, the Parliament’s legal committee approved a draft law on equal opportunities for men and women, which includes amendments to the law on mass media.

Thus, the draft developed by the Government proposes supplementing two paragraphs of article 4 of the above law in order to prohibit gender discrimination: “Periodicals and news agencies must use a correct and non-discriminatory language, covering the equality and the roles of men and women in equal extent and treating them as having the same value and dignity, thus contributing to diminution of sexist stereotypes.” Also, “It is inadmissible and punishable by law to publish any materials or information that present the image of a gender in a humiliating manner and/or contain an open or concealed appeal to promote a gender in various areas to the detriment of the other gender,” say the proposed amendments to the law on mass media.

This draft also proposes amendments to the law on advertizing, aiming at the prohibition of sexist advertizing.

The main goal of this draft is to create equal conditions for the participation of women in politics and in decision making. Thus, it is proposed to observe the share of minimum representation (40%) for both genders when forming the Government, the Parliament’s Permanent Bureau and the electoral lists for parliamentary and local elections.

To enter into force, the law will have to be voted by the Parliament.
 
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