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CSOs push for African protocol on freedom of expression
MISA-Zimbabwe
June 27, 2007

African freedom of expression activists meeting in Accra, Ghana, have resolved to petition the African Union to draft a protocol on the right to freedom of expression in Africa in terms of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.

The resolution was crafted during a conference on Strengthening Freedom of Expression in Africa which was held in Accra on 25 - 26 June 2007. Participants agreed on the need for the envisaged protocol to be drafted in terms of Article 66 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights which provides for the drafting of special agreements and protocols to supplement and strengthen the provisions of the Charter whenever necessary.

The two day conference also analysed the effectiveness of the Declaration of Principles on the Right to Freedom of Expression in Africa which was adopted by the African Commission for Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) 32nd Session which was held in Banjul, The Gambia in October 2002.

Officially opening the conference, Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) Executive Director Professor Kwame Karikari commended the ACHPR for coming up with the Declaration of Principles on the Right to Freedom of Expression in Africa but expressed concern that African states were not taking the non-binding Declaration seriously.

Professor Karikari lamented the fact that compliance and implementation of the provisions of the Declaration was entirely dependent on the goodwill of individual governments.

Ghanaian law lecturer Doctor Raymond Atuguba urged those who will draft the envisaged protocol to reconsider the definition of freedom of expression.

"The traditional definition of the media as encompassing print and broadcasting is just a sub-set of all the other modes of expression. We cannot pretend to cover all forms of expression and then immediately zero in on the freedom of the media leaving other forms of expression to their fate," said Atuguba.

The conference also resolved to popularise the Declaration of Principles on the Right to Freedom of Expression in Africa as well as the mandate of the Special Rapportuer for Freedom of Expression in Africa. Participants urged African governments and the African Union to provide adequate resources to the Special Rapportuer to ensure the effective implementation of the stipulated mandate. South African Chief Electoral Officer and member of the ACHPR, Commissioner Pansy Faith Tlakula, is the incumbent Special Rapportuer for the Right to Freedom of Expression in Africa.

The conference was organised by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) together with the Centre for Research Education and Development of Rights in Africa (CREDO - Africa) and attended by representatives from the Network of African Freedom of Expression Organisations (NAFEO), lawyers and journalists.

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) is a member of NAFEO.

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