Compliance of moldovan legislation in the field of national minority media to international human rights standards [Articol]

Abstract

The availability of national minorities’ mass media in any state is a factual confirmation of respect for human rights and international law in this area. The legislation of the Republic of Moldova allows the representatives of minority ethnic groups to create their own media. In general, legal acts and regulations in Moldova comply with the international human rights standards. The missions of international organizations monitoring the situation in the republic note certain shortcomings that are being gradually eliminated.There is a consistently high demand for national minority media in the Republic of Moldova. Every fourth resident of the country belongs to minority ethnic groups. Despite the high demand, the number of such media is small. The exception is the south of the republic, where the autonomous territorial formation of Gagauzia is located, where Gagauz and Bulgarians live compactly. On its territory, all local media broadcast mainly in the languages of national minorities. The experts interviewed in the course of this study explain the small number of national minorities’ media through the lack of funds and a shortage of professional staff. The distinctive characteristics of these media - language, subject matter, region of distribution or broadcasting - represent an advantage for the target audience and a disadvantage for advertisers. For the vitality of such media, international organizations, in particular, the UN and the OSCE, recommend providing them with support at the state level. These can be both direct and indirect subsidies.The assessment of national minorities’ media should be carried out from two positions: the functioning of the media and the protection of human rights in the context of national minorities. The availability of this media group ensures freedom of access to information for national minorities, political stability in the country and prevents separatist sentiments.