develop shared principles, rules, decision-making procedures
and programmes to shape the use and evolution of the internet.
5.
The powers of regulatory bodies shall be administrative in
nature and shall not seek to usurp the role of the courts.
Principle 18. Complaints
1.
Public complaints systems for print, broadcast, online media
and internet intermediaries shall be widely accessible and
determined in accordance with established rules and codes of
conduct.
2.
Any regulatory body established to adjudicate complaints about
media content shall be protected against political, commercial
or any other undue interference.
Principle 19. Protection of
practitioners
journalists
and
other
media
1.
The right to express oneself through the media by practising
journalism shall not be subject to undue legal restrictions.
2.
Journalists and other media practitioners shall be free to
organise themselves into unions and associations.
Principle 20. Safety of journalists and other media practitioners
1.
States shall guarantee the safety of journalists and other media
practitioners.
2.
States shall take measures to prevent attacks on journalists and
other media practitioners, including murder, extra-judicial
killing, torture and other forms of ill-treatment, arbitrary arrest
and
detention,
enforced
disappearance,
kidnapping,
intimidation, threats and unlawful surveillance undertaken by
State and non-State actors.
3.
States shall take measures to raise the awareness and build the
capacities of journalists and other media practitioners, policy
makers and other stakeholders on laws and standards for
ensuring the safety of journalists and other media practitioners.
4.
States shall take effective legal and other measures to
investigate, prosecute and punish perpetrators of attacks against
journalists and other media practitioners, and ensure that
victims have access to effective remedies.
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