“Liberalization of the media is a political course” – Permanent Representative of Uzbekistan to the OSCE speaks about openness of information sphere

Permanent Representative of Uzbekistan to the OSCE Abat Fayzullayev spoke at a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council with a report on the results of an online conference dedicated to the International Day for Universal Access to Information, which took place on September 28, 2020, the MFA reports.

The conference was attended by over 200 experts from 40 countries, as well as heads and representatives of the UN, OSCE, the Public Foundation for Support and Development of National Mass Media, the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, government agencies of a number of countries, diplomatic and academic circles.

Participants drew attention to the importance of avoiding global restrictions on the fundamental right of people to free access to information during a pandemic; the need to unconditionally ensure this right at the constitutional and legislative levels; and the high importance of introducing a system of political guarantees in the above area.

It was especially noted that openness and the liberalization of the information sphere that has begun are not temporary changes, but a purposefully chosen political course.

During the conference, the participants exchanged views on the current situation in the field of freedom of speech and mass media in the world. They discussed the current challenges and threats countries are facing, talked about possible methods of overcoming them, countering the spread of fake news and false information.

Following the meeting, Fayzullayev’s speech on the results of the high-level online conference dedicated to the International Day for Universal Access to Information was circulated as an official document of the OSCE Permanent Council.