Information Ministry holds meeting on Media Law, executive regulations

Muscat: The Ministry of Information on Wednesday organised an introductory meeting at its theatre on the Media Law, issued by Royal Decree No. (58/2024), and its executive regulations.

The meeting covered the policy foundations that the Ministry of Information relied on in preparing the Media Law. These foundations include the Basic Law of the State, Oman Vision 2040, five-year plans, previous legislative regulations for media activities, and the Basic Law of the State's provisions related to freedom of the press and media.

The meeting also reviewed relevant international human rights conventions and their alignment with the law.

It discussed the relationship between the Media Law and its executive regulations and the stages of preparing the draft executive regulations.

This process involved forming a committee at the Ministry of Information immediately after the law was issued, coordinating with partners in competent government bodies and civil society through a mechanism of community participation in drafting the regulations, and securing the necessary approvals from relevant government bodies.

The meeting also touched on the most important provisions of the executive regulations for the Media Law.

These include specifying the procedures for licensing media activities, identifying the types of activities that require a licence, the rights and obligations of media professionals, and regulating publications, artistic works, and penalties.