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Rubio, the current United States Secretary of State, stated that “for too long, Americans have been fined, harassed, and even accused for exercising their right to freedom of speech. Foreigners working to undermine the rights of Americans should not enjoy the privilege of traveling to our country.” He also warned that the State Department is already applying visa restrictions to foreign officials involved in acts of digital censorship, noting that this is a firm policy to protect global freedom of expression.
These statements align with the controversy generated in the Dominican Republic by the bill on freedom of expression and audiovisual media, which has been criticized by various sectors of civil society, journalistic guilds, and human rights defenders, who believe that some of its provisions could give rise to mechanisms of indirect censorship in media and social networks.
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In this context, the CARD stated that the U.S. initiative represents a significant warning to countries that, through restrictive laws or abusive regulations, violate the right to freedom of expression, especially in the digital environment.
“We support the statements of Secretary Marco Rubio because they constitute a defense of universal principles such as freedom of expression and access to information, fundamental rights that must be preserved in every democracy. We urge the Dominican authorities to review and reconsider any aspect of the bill that may be considered in violation of these principles,” declared the president of the CARD, Trajano Potentini.
The Bar Association reiterated its commitment to the defense of fundamental rights, and calls on the National Congress to promote modern, democratic legislation that respects international standards regarding freedom of the press and expression, and above all, fostering consensus.
