The Charter calls for concrete measures to be taken by African states,
including all state and government controlled broadcasters to be
transformed into public service broadcasters and the introduction of
independent regulators. Also addressed is the need to strengthen the
independent production sector and introduce local content through minimum
quotas.

John Barker, Head of ARTICLE 19's Africa Programme said:

"Broadcasting is intrinsic to the development of democracy in Africa. This
Charter is unique in that it appreciates not only the need for the
development and protection of African cultural content, but the importance
of developing democratic and localized broadcasting environments. It gives
us a solid basis for our work on broadcasting in the region, and we look
forward to continuing the awareness-raising begun this year in Windhoek,
lobbying with our colleagues to have the Charter adopted and implemented by
African governments."

The conference participants called on UNESCO to distribute the Charter and
for all African media organizations to use it as their starting point in
advocacy for the development of national and regional broadcasting policies.

Additional outcomes from the conference included a resolution supporting
moves to appoint a Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression within the
African Commission for Human and Peoples' Rights. Calls were also made to
amend or repeal all laws inconsistent with the right to freedom of
expression, with particular emphasis on the need to repeal criminal laws
protecting reputation and, where necessary, to replace them with civil laws.

ENDS

For further information contact John Barker, Head of ARTICLE 19 Africa
Programme. [email protected]; tel. +27114031488; fax +27114031517.

Notes
1. The Windhoek Declaration on the Development of an Independent and
Pluralistic Press. On ARTICLE 19's website at
www.article19.org/docimages/1017.htm.

2. The Charter is a culmination of a number of pre-conference initiatives,
and discussion and lobbying at the conference itself, led by a partnership
between ARTICLE 19, the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters
Africa Section (AMARC-Africa) and the Southern Africa Communication for
Development (SACOD).

Reply to:

Ilana Cravitz, Communications Co-ordinator
[email protected]

Direct line: +44 20 7239 1199

ARTICLE 19, Global Campaign for Free Expression
Lancaster House, 33 Islington High Street, London N1 9LH, UK

Tel: +44 20 7278 9292, Fax: +44 20 7713 1356, e-mail: [email protected],
www.article19.org