The First Deputy Chair of the Sector Economy and the Economic Policy Committee, Eka Sepashvili held a meeting with the Students’ Parliament on the topic “Hate Speech and Disgust in the Media”.

E. Sepashvili introduced the changes to be introduced to the Law on Broadcasting to prevent disgust and hate speech in the media. As she noted, the changes are developed in line with the Association Agreement commitments and envisage the approximation of the national legislation with the EU directives on audio-visual media service.

“It is essential to engage our youth to the consideration of the Draft and its objective, which is the prohibition of hate speech in the media. Naturally, the youth supports the freedom of speech and expression but also well realize and adequately estimate the damage that may be inflicted by the hate speech”, - she noted.

One of the authors of the Draft, Baia Kvitsiani informed the students about the EU 6-year program “Creative Europe”; according to her, legal harmonization is a precondition for participation in this program. She emphasized the outcomes and advantages that the creative sector will enjoy.

The meeting was attended by the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Public Broadcaster, Vasil Maglaperidze, who introduced the PB policy and plans on prevention of hate speech.