National Youth Commission welcomes setting up of committee to review censorship legislation

http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=100757

The National Youth Commission, Kummissjoni Nazzjonali Zghazagh (KNZ), said that as representative of youths, it believes in youths as catalysts of evolution and protects their right and duty to fulfill such a role in society and there should be realistic measures to avoid the hindering of artistic expression.

It was commenting on the debate going on in the country after threatened police action against a university newspaper editor for a vulgar article which had no literary merit.

KNZ urged respect towards the fundamental human right of freedom of expression as outlined in Article 10 of The European Convention of Human Rights. “In this light however,” it added, “KNZ also highlights that the exercise of such freedoms shall be carried with duties and responsibilities as highlighted by the same Article of the Convention, and shall not be used frivolously without sense of accountability of one’s actions.”

If present legislation is ambiguous or not reflecting today’s society, the legislation should be updated, it said, welcoming the government’s and opposition’s will to review such legislation through the setting up of a committee.