Creation and status

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.


Organization

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:

  • A member appointed by the President of the Republic, after consulting the members of HAICA, who assumes the functions of President,
  • Two members nominated on the proposal of the president of the legislative power, at least one of whom has experience in the public broadcasting sector,
  • Two members: at least one magistrate of the judicial order of the second degree, and an advisor to the administrative court, proposed by the most representative professional organizations of the magistrates. One of these magistrates assumes the functions of vice president of HAICA,
  • Two members nominated on the proposal of the most representative professional organizations of journalists,
  • Two members nominated on the proposal of the most representative professional organizations, non-journalistic audiovisual professions,
  • A member nominated on the proposal of the most representative organizations of the owners of information and communication companies.

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

  • The rapporteurs,
  • Communication and Media Service,
  • Monitoring service,
  • Department of studies, reports and sound and visual archives,
  • Complaint Processing Service.

3- Administrative, Financial and Procurement Affairs Department:

  • Program Management Service,
  • Legal Affairs Department,
  • General Resources Service, Information System and Administrative Archives,
  • Accounting and Management Control Department Skills.

Competencies

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.

Link

HAICA website: www.haica.tn

Contact

19 rue du Lac Elbibane Lake I 1053 Tunis-Tunisia
E-mail address of the institution: contact@haica.tn