Regulatory authorities
Radio, film and television are the most regulated media in the country. Or rather the only ones. In El Salvador the Direction of Public Broadcasting, Radio and Television (DEPRT), depends from the Ministry of Government and Territorial Development. The directorate is in charge of censoring and categorising - if they are suitable for all audiences, for teenagers or only adults - the national television programs and the films that are shown in the cinemas. The direction, in theory, also has power over radio programming; in practice, however, radios escape this control. It is common that censorship occurs almost exclusively for moral and/or religious issues, and not for themes of graphic violence.
In the last six years DEPRT has been conducting sensitivity sessions on topics about genre, rights for children and youth, as well as values and principles. These sessions have had the participation of children, teenagers, senior adults and persons with disabilities. These activities have been carried out through cinema forums where movies about values and principles are projected. Also, they provide information about violence prevention, respect to the film rating system as well as radio and television programmes. In addition, they inform about content rights within the current legal regulations that support DEPRT actions, such as: Integral Special Law For a Life Free From Violence Against Women, Law of Equality, Equity and Eradication of Discrimination Against Women and the Law for the Integral Protection of children and Youth (LEPINA in Spanish).