Myanmar: Broadcasting Law social responsibility. The Council may recommend public service advertisement which commercial broadcasting may air. 73. No broadcasting institutions shall sell airtime except for advertisement. 74. The production of the broadcast advertisements using local resources shall be encouraged. Code of Conduct 75. (a) The broadcast code shall be developed based on the following: (i) moral and ethical values; (ii) widely accepted [national] standards for the media. (b) The process of crafting the Code shall be transparent and participative. 76. Upon adoption of the Code, the Council shall initiate an information and education campaign to make broadcasting institutions and the public aware of its existence and provisions. 77. The Code of Conduct shall define content and production standards in the following areas: (a) balance and impartiality in news and current affairs programming and the duty to strive for accuracy in these programmes; (b) protection of children; (c) classification of programmes, including films, according to the recommended age of viewers; (d) the terms, conduct and editing of interviews; (e) the use of covert recording and subterfuge; (f) keeping within accepted boundaries of taste, decency and ethical values, including in relation to the portrayal of sexual conduct, violence and anti-social behavior, the use of strong or abusive language, and the broadcasting of text message sent in by viewers or listeners; (g) the coverage of crime and anti-social behavior; (h) distinguishing between factual material and comment; (i) the treatment of religion, ethnic minorities, women and men, minors and disadvantaged groups; (j) human right issues; (k) respect for privacy; (l) the use of subliminal images or sounds; and (m) appropriate advertising, including truth. 78. (a) The Council will be solely responsible in monitoring full compliance to the Code by all broadcast institutions as set out in section 77. (b) The Council is duty-bound to accept and take action on all complaints about violation of any provision of the Code from any individual or organization. Such complaint shall be dealt with by the Council in a fair and balanced manner. 79. To give effect to section 78(b), the Council shall establish internal procedures for investigating and processing complaints. Such procedures shall include ensuring that the broadcast institution is given an opportunity to be heard and defend itself from the complaints or accusations. 80. After due investigation and evaluation, the Council shall decide on the merit of the complaint and prepare a report based on the findings and send it to both the complainant and the broadcast institution concerned. 81. If the complaint is found to be of merit or valid as described in section 78(b), the Council shall apply one or more of the following sanctions: (a) a warning; ARTICLE 19 – Free Word Centre, 60 Farringdon Rd, London EC1R 3GA – www.article19.org – +44 20 7324 2500 Page 27 of 30