TRES/007/10/2011: Resolution on Freedom of Expression, Access to Information and Protection of Journalists in Africa
We, the participants to the NGO Forum in the 50th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and 24th African Human Rights Book Fair held from 19th – 21st October, 2011 in Banjul, The Gambia
Recognising that enjoyment of the rights to freedom of expression, access to information in facilitating the promotion as well as protection of other civil, political, economic and social rights and that the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and protection of journalists as essential component of democracy, providing all with opportunities to, inter alia, express their political views, receive and impart information and participate in cultural activities as well as economic and social activities that will lead to development, engage in religious practices or other beliefs, form and join trade unions and cooperatives, and elect leaders to represent their interests and hold them accountable as well as participating in other processes of national importance;
We recommend the African Commission to:
- Adopt a resolution to expand the Article IV of the Declaration of Principles of Freedom of Expression in Africa to incorporate the principles of this Declaration
- Propose at the January 2012 AU Summit to adopt 28 September as the African “Right to Information Day”
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Urge Member States to repeal all criminal incitement laws which continue to infringe the rights to freedom of expression and of the press
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Strongly condemn incidences of attacks and harassment of journalists during the course of their work
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Urge the states to put in place measures to protect journalists even in cases of attacks by non state actors
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Urge the Government of the Republic of The Gambia to release information on the fate and whereabouts of the journalist, Chief Ebrima Manneh who disappeared in 2006.
Done in Banjul – 21st October, 2011
