Equatorial Guinea Senate approves press freedom law
The new regulation aims to protect journalists, establish clear duties, and promote rigorous reporting.
The Senate in Equatorial Guinea has approved a new law regulating press freedom, recognizing journalism as a pillar of the state and a public service. The law focuses on three key areas: protecting journalists' security, rights, and dignity; regulating professional duties and ethics; and demanding rigor and continuous training.
The Secretary of State for Information, Press, Culture, and Tourism expressed gratitude for the law, stating it resulted from dialogue with journalists, media directors, civil society, and students. The Democratic Coalition Group voted in favor, emphasizing the need for editorial independence, fair labor practices, media funding transparency, and institutional guarantees.
The PDGE Parliamentary Group also supported the bill, with its spokesperson warning about the dangers of fake news and hate speech on social media. The Senate president highlighted the importance of good journalistic practices, adherence to truth, and social responsibility to foster national development and cohesion.
Why it mattersThe new press freedom law aims to protect journalists and ensure responsible reporting, impacting the daily work and professional standing of media practitioners in Equatorial Guinea.