Forum on Freedom of Expression in Africa
Date: 29-30 June 2006
Venue: The Gambia

ARTICLE 19 in partnership with the Gambia Press Union, Media Foundation for West Africa, Media Institute for West Africa, the All Africa Editors Forum, Panos Institute for West Africa, Famedev, the West African Journalist Association, High Way Africa Conference, and SABMiller Chair of Media and Democracy will organise a Forum on freedom of expression during the African Union Summit.
The Forum will be held from the 29th to 30th June 2006. It will provide in-depth knowledge of the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa and other African Union mechanisms including the African Peer Review
Mechanism. The Forum will focus on how these mechanisms could be utilised at the national and regional levels to strengthen freedom of expression. It will also address key freedom of expression challenges and highlight the threats in many parts of the continent. The Forum will also seek to reinforce the work of existing freedom of expression and journalists networks in Africa and encourage them to utilise the mechanisms of the African Regional Human Rights System.

The Forum will bring together experienced African journalists, freedom of expression advocates, renowned African personalities with human rights credentials, influential networks and academics. The Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression in Africa is also expected to participate.

During the African Union Summit, a delegation will seek to meet a number of African Heads of States and Government and other key African Union representatives including the Chairperson of the African Union Commission to submit the recommendations of the Forum.

For more information please contact:
Fatou Jagne- Senghore
ARTICLE 19 Africa Programme Officer
Tel: 2218209513
Tel: 2215692315
Email: [email][email protected]
[email][email protected]

Background

Freedom of expression is in a state of crisis in many parts of Africa. The major challenge today is the reluctance of many African governments to respect freedom of expression and allow media practitioners and human rights advocates to operate freely. The continent has witnessed widespread violations of freedom of expression,
ranging from killings of journalists, attacks on media practitioners and equipments, arbitrary closure and banning of media outlets, enactment of antimedia laws, arbitrary arrests and detentions, abusive and selective use of legal proceedings.

Through its organs, the African Union has recognised the importance of freedom of expression and the role of the media. In 2002, the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR) with the support of ARTICLE 19 and other freedom of expression and human rights organisations
adopted a landmark Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa (Declaration) which was endorsed by the African Union in July the same year. This major decision was followed by the appointment in 2004 of a Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression whose mandate is, to monitor violations of the right to freedom of expression on the continent, make recommendations
to address the violations; and to assist African Union member states to review their national media laws and policies to comply with the principles set in the
Declaration.

Many African media and freedom of expression organisations have developed initiatives to reinforce freedom of expression standards on the Continent. The synergy of these important initiatives will increase the visibility of the ongoing advocacy at the national and regional levels. ARTICLE 19 as an international organisation has worked with its partners across Africa and will seek to reinforce this partnership and use all fora to raise awareness on the main freedom of expression challenges in Africa.