Indiantelevision.com Team

(2 July 2010 6:30 pm)

NEW DELHI: With just around three months left before the start of the Commonwealth Games, the Government has issued a Code of Conduct for Safe and Honourable Tourism on the essential theme of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’.

And while it does not refer directly to the media, it contains certain guidelines that may have some consequences for media and marketing.

It says that sexually explicit images or concepts/images that may compromise the safety of individuals shall not be used for marketing purposes. An unambiguous company policy shall be set up to ensure that marketing and advertising does not support the promotion of sexual exploitation or promotion of sexually explicit images.

It bars Internet usage that promotes, seeks any contacts for sex tourism and other sexual services, for search of pornographic material and/or to solicit the sale and purchase of illicit substances shall be prohibited.

The Code says publishing or transmitting or causing to be published or transmitted, material in any electronic form which depicts children engaged in sexually explicit act or induces children to online relationship with one or more children for and on sexually explicit act is an offence under section 67(b) of the Information Technology (Amendment) Act 2008.

This code of conduct shall be applicable among others to all the owners, suppliers, contractors, employees of entertainment establishments etc. In addition it shall be applicable to service providers like event management organizations, and entertainment providers.