The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatovic, commended today the recent adoption of a comprehensive access-to-information law by the Ukrainian parliament , calling it “a considerable step towards government transparency”.

“The new law should increase government transparency and improve participatory democracy in Ukraine. My office will closely monitor its implementation, offer advice and share ‘best practices’ from other OSCE states,” said Mijatovic.

Parliament adopted the access-to-information law on 13 January. During a visit to Kyiv in October 2010, Mijatovic urged the authorities to reform the media law, including by adopting laws on public service broadcasting, media ownership transparency and privatization of print media, and by abolishing the “public morality law”.

She also called for the swift adoption of a law on public broadcasting, noting that Ukraine’s authorities had not done so despite assurances that a law would be in place by the end of 2010.

“I hope that a new public service broadcasting law will be enacted as soon as possible, and that independent and viable public service channels will start catering for all segments of the society, offering the national audience impartial and pluralistic content,” said Mijatovic.

Mijatovic said her office would continue to closely monitor the developments in Ukraine and offered its continued support and expertise in promoting media freedom.