HRCM urges state to ease access to information

Journalists have rated difficulty in access to information as the second biggest obstacle to media freedom in the Maldives, according to a recently published report by the Maldives Broadcasting Commission (MBC).

The HRCM today called on the state to implement January’s landmark Right to Information (RTI) Act. The RTI act (Dhivehi) aims to widen and improve the scope for the citizen’s rights to information in order to increase transparency and accountability.

Noting increased threats to press freedom, the HRCM said: “[Reporters must] be able to work with independence, without intimidation or threat to bring stakeholder attention to social issues.”