A/HRC/41/35/Add.1
(d)
Investigate, thoroughly and impartially, incidents of journalists and
human rights defenders being hacked, respond appropriately and take steps to ensure
the non-repetition of such acts.
Pluralism and diversity in communications
77.
The Special Rapporteurs call upon the relevant authorities to:
(a)
Ensure that the allocation or renewal of radio and television licences is
guided by democratic criteria and pre-established, public and transparent procedures
that serve as a check on the possible arbitrariness of the State and guarantee equal
opportunities for all persons and sectors concerned;
(b)
Establish an advisory council or forum for all the stakeholders involved
(public, private, commercial and community media), in order to engage in a dialogue
on the general framework for spectrum allocation, in a case-by-case review of the
rights already granted to beneficiaries in good faith, and in the establishment of new
allocation processes.
78.
With regard to community radio, the Special Rapporteurs call upon the
relevant authorities to:
(a)
Ensure the implementation of legislation to promote community radio
and ensure that radio-spectrum space is reserved for community media;
(b)
Ensure that the competitive bidding processes are differentiated from
those established for the private sector, so that genuine community media do not have
to compete with private actors according to the same criteria;
(c)
Create sector-support funds under transparent allocation mechanisms
and in accordance with objectives that respect the independence and autonomy of
indigenous communities and peoples;
(d)
Provide training support so that local initiatives can ensure rural and
indigenous access to information and communications.
79.
With regard to public broadcasting, the Special Rapporteurs call upon the
relevant authorities to:
(a)
Encourage the development of public media, leading ultimately to an
independent public broadcaster accessible to all people in Ecuador;
(b)
Make public service media accessible to all and ensure that such media
represent the views of a wide spectrum of political and social interests, including those
of vulnerable groups. A diverse and plural media system should include public
broadcasting with sufficient economic and human resources so that they do not close
owing to a lack of such resources;
(c)
Develop public media protocols and measures to guarantee both
pluralism in coverage, especially in electoral contexts, and the independence of
journalists and analysts from government influence.
Access to information
80.
The Special Rapporteurs call upon the relevant authorities to:
(a)
Promote a culture of transparency, accountability and facilitation of
public access to information, and train public servants accordingly about the need to
be responsive to requests for information;
(b)
Issue general guidelines for dealing with requests for access to public
information and establish standard processes for responding to access to information
requests in a manner that is compatible with international human rights;
(c)
Support the Office of the Ombudsperson, as the guarantor of the organic
law on transparency and access to public information, in exercising its power to
enforce the law against government agencies and use the remedies of access to
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