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D o m i n i c a n R e p u b l i c 9. OTHER RESTRICTIONS ON THE CONTENT
OF INFORMATION The Propagation of Ideas Law bans the release of information
in cases of: The charges of the prosecutor (Art. 41); reports of
defamation cases that involve people?s private lives (Art. 42);
defamation of persons whose trials have resulted in pardons or expiration
of a statute of limitations (Art. 42); the deliberations of the
courts (Art. 42); publication of information regarding the identity
and personality of minors under 16 who have been separated from
their parents or guardians (Art. 43) or the suicide of minors under
16, with a few exceptions (Art. 44). Art. 113 of the Minors Law, ratified by Law 14 of 1994, forbids
revealing the name, voice, age, image ? in photographs or videotapes
? and background of minors who may be in danger, misfortune, abused
or in any other difficult situation, through print, radio or television
media in such manner as to affect the minor?s physical, moral, psychological
or intellectual development. This prohibition includes anything that will facilitate the
minor?s identification, directly or by exposing relatives or the
minor?s residence. The law also bans the publication of information of any type
in which children appear as offenders or victims of crimes that
affect their reputation or dignity (Art. 237). The Central Electoral Board issued in 1999 specific rules for
the presidential elections of the year 2000 that contains restrictions
on the freedom of information. Art. 9 of said regulation forbids
media companies such as newspapers, radio or television stations
to restrain from or restrict unwarrantedly the use of its services
or facilities to any group or political party officially recognized
that is willing to pay for its services. Art 10 also sets forth
that all electoral opinion polls that are to be published must be
so entirely indicating the technical specifications of such survey.
And lastly, Art. 12 of the above rules states that the Central Electoral
Board may withdraw from any medium the respective electoral advertisement
that is contrary to what is set forth in the rules.
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