The Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services (AAAVMS) is an independent regulatory body with a competence over traditional media – television and radio – as well as over the new, on-demand audiovisual media services. The AAAVMS also has limited competences over the operators of electronic communication networks (the cable operators) and the print media publishers.
The Agency dedicates special attention to raising awareness about gender issues and gender equality in the audiovisual programmes, starting from its own obligations, as well as the obligations of broadcasters, which derive from international documents and from the national legislation.
The Law on Audio and Audiovisual Media Services stipulates that broadcasters must adhere to the principle of equal freedoms and rights regardless of sex, and prohibits them from broadcasting programmes that incite or spread discrimination, intolerance or hatred on the grounds (among others) of one’s sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or affiliation to a marginalized group. The Agency monitors the compliance with these obligations through ad hoc supervisions it undertakes either upon complaints or ex officio. The findings of these supervisions, the activities undertaken and the measures imposed are announced on the Agency’s website.
Since 2012, as part of the obligations stipulated by the Law on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, the AAAVMS has been conducting annual research and analyses focused on the way in which audiovisual programmes treat gender issues and depict women and men. With this, the Agency has contributed significantly to the construction of social norms regarding the way in which the population of different sexes acts in the public domain.
In this context, and with the aim of raiseing awareness about sexism in the media, in 2017, the Agency prepared a media campaign titled “Sexism Is Humiliating”, which consisted of three spots – two for television and one for radio broadcasting.
Agencies Operational Plans
Operational plan for the implementation of the National Action Plan for Gender Equality 2018-2020
