To complement the National Audiovisual Council Decision No 220/2011 on the Code for the regulation of audiovisual content
Issuer: Consiliul National al Audiovizualului
Published in: The Official Gazette No 534 of 28 July 2011

Convinced that minors and their problems represents a delicate topic which the Romanian society does not manage in a satisfactory way at this stage,
Recalling the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 20 November 1989, ratified by Law No 18/1990, republished, as amended, that in all actions concerning children the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration,
Having regard to the role of audiovisual media in raising public awareness,
In view of the fact that legislative protection applies and potentially vulnerable minors at risk, or
Convinced that freedom of expression and ensuring full access to any information of public interest constitute essential foundations of a democratic society, while at the same time ensuring a high level of protection of objectives of general interest, in particular the protection of minors and human dignity,
Recalling that, according to studies on violence, the likelihood of imitating violent behaviour presented in audiovisual programmes depends on three factors: 1. The presentation of such conduct in itself and, in particular, its repeated broadcasting; 2. reporting to the positive values in society (how those repercussions are presented); 3. the degree of realism of images,
In keeping with the provisions of Articles 3 (1), 10 (3) (e), 17 (1) (d) and 39 (2) of the Audiovisual Law No 504/2002, with its subsequent amendments and supplements;

The Members of the National Audiovisual Council have adopted the following decision:

Article I
The National Audiovisual Council Decision No 220/2011 on the Code for the regulation of audiovisual content, published in Official Gazette of Romania Part I No 174 of 11 March 2011, is amended as follows:
In Article 17 a new paragraph (2) shall be insert and it shall read as follows:
“(2) In the case of these dramas, broadcasters cannot broadcast images of the tragedy or images showing the suffering of the family members or of other persons close to the victim or to the victim’s family.”
Article II
This Decision shall be published in the Official Gazette of Romania, Part I.

The President of the National Audiovisual Council

Răsvan Popescu

Bucharest, 28th of June 2011.
No. 459.