THE SIXTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE
OIC BROADCASTING REGULATORY AUTHORITIES FORUM
IBRAF 2018
19-20 February 2018, Cotonou, Republic of BENIN
REPORT
IBRAF-1/2018/D.REP
The Sixth Annual Meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Broadcasting Regulatory Authorities Forum (IBRAF) was held in Cotonou, Republic of Benin on 19- 20 February 2018.
The representatives of the broadcasting regulatory authorities of the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Dr Abdelhamid Salhi, representative of OIC Media Department, and Mr. Nana Kwasi GYAN APENTENG, the President of African Communication Regulation Authorities Network (ACRAN) and the Chairman of the National Media Commission of Ghana (NMC), participated to the Meeting. The OIC participants were welcomed by Mr. Adam BONI TESSI, term-President of IBRAF and the President of the High Authority for Audio-visual Media and Communications (HAAC). In his speech, he referred the crucial role of IBRAF as a platform for encouraging dialogue and cooperation among IBRAF Members. He underlined that through the annual meetings of IBRAF, Member States regularly share their experiences and have the chance to keep abreast of all the latest developments in the field of audio-visual media in participating countries. Mr. BONI TESSI, on behalf of HAAC, expressed his pleasure for hosting such an esteemed event and wished all participants a fruitful meeting.
Assoc. Prof Hamit ERSOY, Member of the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK) and Secretary General of IBRAF, welcomed all participants and thanked HAAC for the excellent organization of the event and expressed his gratitude to the authorities of Republic of Benin for their generosity to host the Sixth Annual Meeting of IBRAF. After he gave a very brief information on the activities of the IBRAF, he underlined the vital importance of the main theme of the annual meeting which focuses on the necessity of alignment of the broadcasting legislation with the chancing technology.
The Meeting was chaired by Mr. BONI TESSI and Dr ERSOY. The draft agenda of the Meeting was discussed and adopted. The agenda, as adopted, is attached as Annex I.
The revive of the last annual meeting held in Bandung, Indonesia in 23 February 2017 was made by Dr Yuliandre DARWIS, the president of KPI and outgoing president of IBRAF. Mr. GYAN APENTENG, the President of ACRAN, informed the participants about the activities of ACRAN and expressed his pleasure for having been invited to the meeting.
The representatives of the IBRAF Members made their presentations, provided information and exchanged views with regard to the progress and objectives achieved in broadcasting sector in their countries covering information on national media landscape, functions of broadcasting regulator or governmental body with similar functions and national legislation etc.
Presentations regarding the main theme “Rapidly Changing Technology and Consistency of Broadcasting Legislation” were made. During the presentations, it was affirmed that Digital technologies and internet based services made possible to access to the audio-visual content via the screens of smart phones, tablets, laptops, PCs, smart TVs, etc. It is emphasized that broadcasting regulatory authorities of IBRAF Members should promptly take necessary steps regarding the regulation of internet based audio-visual media services by taking into consideration existing practises in the world.
It is reminded that based on the decision taken by the OIC Islamic Conference of Information Ministers (ICIM) in Jeddah on 19-22 December 2016, IBRAF has been solicited to function as OIC Audio-visual Media Observatory to generate a database for televisions and radios operating in all OIC member states and observers, which will become available on the official website of IBRAF ( For this purpose, all members are invited once again to prepare and communicate a table of national televisions and radios (indicating their medium of broadcast such as terrestrial, satellite, cable-IPTV or OTT, theme of broadcast whether they are general or thematic -news, religion, children, sports, music, cinema-serials and teleshopping and their status whether they are public broadcaster or private/commercial one) with the IBRAF PS.
The “Cotonou Declaration on Al Quds” which is committed to the defence of the cause of Palestine and Al Quds in the field of audio-visual media, has been adopted. NCC of Cameroun, HAC of Guinea, HACA of Ivory Coast, HAC of Mali and HAAC of Togo voiced their intention to the IBRAF Permanent Secretariat to become Member of IBRAF and their membership was duly voted and accepted by all participating members unanimously.
The delegations expressed their sincere gratitude to the High Authority for Audio-visual Media and Communications (HAAC) for the hospitality extended and the excellent arrangements of the Meeting.
It is agreed by unanimity that the term-Presidency of IBRAF was handed over from KPI of Indonesia to the HAAC of Republic of Benin.
The participants of the Meeting adopted the present Report.
Cotonou on 20 February 2018
Rep.IBRAF-20- 02-2018