With an initiative of “Globe International” NGO and in the framework of “Media legal advocacy” project funded by the Embassy of Great Britain and North Ireland, a joint meeting of working groups on drafting and presenting media related laws was organized on 4th of March, 2011 in the Conference hall of the Open Society Forum.

The chief objective of the meeting was based on the proposal to “standardize the terms used in the development of media draft laws, concepts and provide a shared understanding of the general provisions”, which was developed as a result of a round table meeting titled “Media Legal Environment and Challenges” organized by “Globe International” NGO on 19th of December, 2010.

After presentations of the Working Groups taken Ms D. Saranchimeg, Experts’ Team member has taken a presentation on “Terms in draft laws and general provisions” that introduced outcome of analysis of common definitions and issues in the law drafts. 

Ms. Naranjargal Kh, Project Consultant spoke on “Terminologies of information and media” and she has introduced the main terminologies used at international level and gapes of Mongolian translation.

Issues raised the meeting:
          o To regulate media self- regulation of media and media council by the Law on Public Media
          o Term of the public media is confused in the present draft
          o There is a need for a package of information law, so the objectives of these laws should be compared and adjusted
          o To incorporate accountability of media
          o To create a single method of regulation instead of 2-3 different methods stated in these laws and regulations
          o To standardize, harmonize and effectively define the terminology, contextuliase terminologies and  disallow duplications
          o To elaborate the article on content regulation issued by Communications Regulatory Commission as it can serve as potential censorship
          o To specify the definition of media and journalist
          o To issue a regulatory article on media regulation of government institutions
          o To standardize the terminology
          o To state the independence of media from government institutions in the draft law on the freedom of media
          o To adhere to the aspect on freedom of media stated in the draft law developed by the Office of the President
          o To provide legal protection for journalists
          o To adhere to the international standard on eliminating the article on defamation from the Criminal Code
          o To ensure thorough branding of the terminology by the working groups
          o To integrate articles on purpose in the set of laws
          o To use term “public media” carefully, otherwise public broadcaster already exists
          o To elaborate an article on the presence of press in scientific organizations to indicate the importance of professional journalism in the development of science
          o To use term media instead of media and tools of information
          o To set a committee on terminology
          o To engage a professional translator for the translation of media terminology
          o To remove any duplication of terminology and concepts in the laws
          o To provide dictionary explanation of the terms and apply accordingly
          o To provide explanation of new, professional terms that are unclear to the public

Following working groups on drafting media laws and concepts took part in the meeting and presented their draft laws and concepts.

Office of the President
            Draft law on “Freedom of Media”
 
Working group of the Parliament
           Draft law on “Freedom and Right to Access Information”

Cabinet Secretariat of the Government of Mongolia
          1. Draft law on “Information Transparency, Freedom and Right to Access Information” /Submitted to the Parliament/
          2. Draft law on “Digital Signature” /Submitted to the Parliament/

Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs (MoJHA)
         1. Draft law on “Mass Media Law”
         2. Draft law on “Freedom of Media”

General Intelligence Agency
          1. Draft of new version of the law on State Secrecy
          2. Draft law on “Cyber Safety”

Information, Communications Technology and Post Authority
          1. Draft law on “Information Safety”
          2. Draft law on “Content Protection”

Communications Regulatory Commission
         1. ”General Regulatory Conditions and Requirements of the Digital Content Service” (entry into force- 1st of March, 2011)
         2.  “General Regulatory Conditions and Requirements of the Television and Radio broadcasting” (entry into force- 1st of March, 2011)