HAICA (Haute Autorité Indépendante de la Communication Audiovisuelle)

The Independent High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HAICA) is an independent public body created by the legislative decree No. 2011-116 of 02 November 2011. It guarantees the freedom and pluralism of audiovisual communication in accordance with Legislative Decree 116, as well as conventions and international covenants ratified by Tunisia.
Its composition and organization meet the internationally recognized standards of independence. The HAICA also responds to the objectives of guaranteeing freedom of expression, pluralism and neutrality in the regulation of the media.

HAICA is governed by a collegial body composed of nine (9) independent personalities, recognized for their experience, competence and integrity in the information and communication sector. The President, Vice-President and HAICA members are appointed for a term of six (6) years, non-renewable. The third (1/3) of HAICA members is alternately renewed every two (2) years. The members of HAICA are appointed by decree, as indicated below:

The administrative structures are as follows:
1- Secretary General
2- Support Unit under the direct supervision of the President and Board members composed of:

3- Administrative, Financial and Procurement Affairs Department:

HAICA has an effective decision-making power to issue operating authorizations for private audiovisual companies, to draw up regulatory texts to organize the sector, and to supervise the operation of companies and the content of their audiovisual production. HAICA can sanction violations of the regulations when needed.

HAICA ensures the consecration of a pluralistic, diversified and balanced audiovisual media landscape that respects the values of freedom and justice and avoids exclusion based on discrimination based on race, sex or religion (Article 15). It ensures freedom of expression, political pluralism and freedom of opinion, particularly as regards political information (Article 16).

During election campaigns, HAICA ensures pluralism and media diversity (Article 43). To that end, the mechanism works to strengthen its human and technological capacities (Article 15), while presenting proposals for legislative and regulatory reforms (Article 18).
Also, HAICA has among its prerogatives the power to sanction the offenses committed by the audiovisual communication establishments, in accordance with the legislation, the specifications and the related license agreements. (Article 15)

HAICA plays a key role throughout the electoral cycle through the arbitration that it operates at the level of all audiovisual media, whether public, private or associative. During the election period, it organizes a careful monitoring operation to measure the time of speech and antenna for each candidate during his appearances in the audiovisual media throughout the campaign.