RDTL Decree-Law 25/2015 on the Press Council. Rough unofficial translation by La’o Hamutuk. For more
information and documents, see http://www.laohamutuk.org/misc/MediaLaw/14MediaLaw.htm
Decree-Law No. 25/2015
Of 5 August
ESTABLISHING THE PRESS COUNCIL AND APPROVING ITS STATUTES
The Media Law, approved as Law No. 5/2014 of 19 November, predicted the figure of the Press Council,
an independent administrative body that operates in the media sector, and instructed the Government
on its creation and approval of its Statute.
Based on the framework made by the Media Law, in view of the existing national legislation on the legal
framework for public entities in Timor-Leste, and enjoying sharing the experience of media regulators
from other countries with which Timor-Leste has affinities, elaborated a statute intended to be
sufficiently clear and pragmatic as a guide for the activity of the country's first Press Council and
simultaneously comprehensive and flexible to follow the progress of regulatory activity and the sector
itself over of the time.
This preambular diploma, as well as creating the Press Council, aims to respond to specific issues
associated with the initial phase of the new entity’s activity.
In turn, the Statute of the Press Council, approved in annex to Decree-Law, is divided into four chapters:
Chapter I deals with general aspects, Chapter II contains rules on the organization and functioning of the
Press Council, Chapter III deals with the financial and asset management issues of the institution and
Chapter IV lists the procedures available to citizens and the Press Council applicable to the various
dimensions of journalism and the media sector.
The imperative to ensure the independence of the Press Council, expressly enshrined in the Media Law,
it is reflected in many aspects of its Statute, among which stand out are the management of conflicts of
interest in decision making and eligibility requirements, guarantees of independence, and
incompatibilities applicable to the members of the Council.
At the same time, it provides to the Press Council the human and financial resources necessary for the
proper performance of its duties. In a context where the members of the Press Council do not perform
these functions permanently, carrying them out together with their professional activity, the figure of
the Executive Director and technical staff, including legal, are particularly relevant both to ensure the
smooth daily functioning of the institution and to support, with all the necessary information, the
activity of the Council.
The Press Council can act in response to an external impulse, for example at the request of a citizen, or
on its own initiative, always feeling responsible to journalists, the media and society.
The activity of the Press Council is structured in defined procedures, adapted to the various issues that
may arise. Even when its development depends on subsequent legislation, as, for example, with
administrative offence procedure, the Statute provides an exhaustive list of means available to
journalists, the media, the general public and the Council to respond to every case.
In turn, the result of such procedures may take various forms. Under the usual procedure, the Press
Council can adopt directives and recommendations, which are the privileged instruments for the
dissemination of best practice standards and guidelines on how best to respect the rights and
obligations enshrined in the Constitution and the law applicable to the sector. The mediation procedure,
in turn, is an alternative to the courts, simple and informal, available to all those who are involved in a
dispute in the context of journalism. In these cases the Press Council hears all parties, helps in mutual
understanding of their views, and promotes an agreement.
Above all, it is intended that the Statute of the Press Council, together with the Media Law, allows the
Press Council to continue its important duties and powers in a complete, thorough, transparent and
independent manner. Only then can this body actually contribute to Timorese media sector
development in an ethical, professional and free form, independent of any political or economic
influences.
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