Romania

[RO] Protocol on Co-operation between CNA and ANPDC

IRIS 2009-7:1/30

Mariana Stoican

Journalist, Bucharest

On 14 May 2009, the Consiliul Naţional al Audiovizualului (national council for electronic media - CNA) and the Autoritatea Naţională pentru Protecţia Drepturilor Copilului (national authority for the protection of children's rights - ANPDC) signed a protocol on active co-operation to protect and promote children's rights through the exchange of relevant data and information and the effective handling of all infringements in this field (chapter 1 para. 1).

Improvements will also be made to the monitoring of how children's rights are protected in broadcasting. In particular, the public image of children and the protection of their privacy must be respected (chapter 1 para. 2). Protection from scenes of violence in audiovisual programmes should be improved (chapter 1 para. 3). Joint efforts should also be made to enhance provisions on the protection and promotion of children's rights (chapter 1 para. 4).

The CNA has undertaken to analyse at a public meeting any case referred by the ANPDC involving a possible breach of children's rights in broadcasting and to give its opinion in accordance with its powers (chapter 2 para. 1). Decisions taken by the CNA at such public meetings must be communicated to the ANPDC within 15 days of the case being referred (chapter 2 para. 2). The ANPDC, for its part, using the powers assigned to it under the Child Protection Act, will analyse every breach of children's rights notified to it by the CNA and inform the CNA of its opinion within 15 days (chapter 2 para. 4).

The ANPDC and CNA have each appointed one person to monitor compliance with the obligations set out in the protocol (chapter 2 para. 5); both parties also wish to consult each other on every future draft normative act relating to respect for children's rights in audiovisual programmes (chapter 2 para. 6).

The protocol entered into force on 14 May 2009 and is valid for one year initially. It will be automatically renewed annually unless one of the parties applies for it to be annulled no later than 30 days before the renewal date (chapter 3 paras. 1 and 2).