Myanmar: News Media and Printing and Publishing Enterprises Law Reforms ➢ The key rules relating to appointments to and the structure and operation of the MPC should be included in the primary legislation rather than in subordinate rules. ➢ The number of members of the MPC should be reduced, perhaps to 9, 11 or 13 members, and rules on minimum quorum for meetings should be added. ➢ The way that members are appointed to the MPC should be designed so as to limit, as far as possible, the risk of political influence. Consideration should be given to how best to do this, including by removing political appointees, by limiting the role of the Ministry of Information in the process and potentially by having a wider range of bodies nominate members. ➢ The balance of MPC members between media and public representatives should be adjusted so that more members represent the overall public interest. ➢ The law should set out clear rules that require the government to provide an appropriate level of funding to the MPC and ensure that the budget is included as a separate line in the overall budget approved by parliament. ➢ Minimum qualifications should be established for Council members. ➢ The rules on replacing members whose tenure has been terminated early should come into play only where six months or more remain in the tenure of the departing member. Centre for Law and Democracy (CLD) is a non-profit human rights organisation working internationally to provide legal expertise on foundational rights for democracy. It believes in a world in which robust respect for human rights underpins strong participatory democracy at all levels of governance – local, national, regional and international – leading to social justice and equality. It works to promote, protect and develop those human rights which serve as the foundation for or underpin democracy, including the rights to freedom of expression, to vote and participate in governance, to access information and to freedom of assembly and association. International Media Support (IMS) is a non-profit organisation working with media in countries affected by armed conflict, human insecurity and political transition. In more than 45 countries worldwide, IMS helps to strengthen professional practices and ensure that media and media workers can operate even under challenging circumstances. In Myanmar, IMS is implementing a comprehensive media development programme supported by Denmark, Norway and Sweden focusing on legal reform, capacity development and professionalisation of the media, outreach and access to information, and the peace process. Fojo Media Institute supports free, independent and professional media and freedom of expression in Sweden and internationally. Fojo is the leading media development institute in Sweden and is a dialogue partner to the Swedish International Development Cooperation (SIDA) and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on media development issues. Over the years, Fojo has built capacity for journalists from more than 100 countries and has been part of establishing journalism training institutes, self-regulatory mechanisms and media centres in a number of countries. The Centre for Law and Democracy is a non-profit human rights organisation working internationally to provide legal expertise on foundational rights for democracy - 19 -