[hr-media] Africa Conference on Freedom of Expression (Pretoria, 19-20 February 2004)

PRESS RELEASE

AFRICA CONFERENCE ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

Date 19-20 February 2004
Venue: Burger Park Hotel, Pretoria


ARTICLE 19, The Global Campaign for Freedom of Expression and the African
Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (African Commission) in
collaboration with the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) and Media
Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) are organizing an Africa Conference on
Freedom of Expression from 19 to 20 February 2004, in Pretoria, South Africa.

The aims of the conference are to raise awareness on the African
Commission's Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa,
to discuss the establishment of a special mandate to monitor freedom of
expression in Africa and explore ways of implementing the Declaration.

"An effective African freedom of expression mechanism could assist the
African Commission guide the development of freedom of expression
jurisprudence on the Continent, identify and address threats to freedom of
expression and advise on national legislation and practice," says ARTICLE 19.

Another goal of the conference is to examine, in depth, key freedom of
expression issues and the challenges in Africa.

Government representatives, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and
Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, the African
Commission Focal Person on Freedom of Expression, national human rights
bodies, media regulators, press-freedom organizations, academic
institutions, journalists, editors and human rights activists will attend
the Conference.


BACKGROUND

The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights was created by the
African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (African Charter) with the
specific mandate to promote human and peoples' rights and ensure their
protection in Africa.

Article 9 of the African Charter guarantees every individual the right
receive information and to express and disseminate their opinions within
the law. To date the protection of this right has been problematic in many
African countries.

The African Commission has identified the need to address the shortcomings
in the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of expression,
especially, since the observance of this right plays an important role in
ensuring all the other rights guaranteed by the African Charter.

In Collaboration with ARTICLE 19, the African Commission decided to develop
a Declaration of Principle on Freedom of Expression that was adopted at its
32nd Ordinary Session held in Banjul, The Gambia in October 2002.

This Declaration has elaborated on the meaning and scope of the guarantees
of freedom of expression laid down in Article 9 of the African Charter and
in the African Commission's jurisprudence. It has also drawn from various
international standards and jurisprudence.

  ENDS.