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Momodou
Denmark
11829 Posts |
 Posted - 11 Nov 2009 : 18:35:00
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African Human Rights Defenders on Freedom of Expression
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
“Freedom of Expression today is under threat in many parts of African continent. Freedom of opinion and information has been hailed as a valuable indicator of the general situations of human rights in a particular country or region. Conversely, an environment in which there is no freedom of expression is often characterized by other violations of human rights, and indeed, makes any assessment of the human rights situation more difficult. In the context of the work of human rights defenders, freedom of expression is not only a right that defenders fight to protect, but is a right that allows them to carry out their valuable work of protection and promotion of human rights”.
These sentiments were echoed at a panel discussion on the challenges to and strategies for addressing violations of freedoms of expression in Africa, held at the Kairaba Beach Hotel, on Tuesday 10th November 2009.
Mr. Hassan Shire, the Chairperson, East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network, reiterated the difficulties faced by human rights defenders and journalists in that part of Africa.
Mr. Shire indicated that in 2005, a programme to defend human rights defenders in conflict zones such as Somalia and Sudan initiated. He said the programme was meant to supplement the work of the journalists and human rights defenders that had fled their countries for fear of executing their duties. He added that they do help human right defenders to do their work and protect them to do their work, protect others and themselves. He stated that they intend to take a holistic approach to the situation in front line and that freedom of expression is one of the areas of that part they want to take. He talked of a prominent lawyer from Sudan and a journalist from Somalia that have fled their countries and are now living in Uganda for their advocacy for rights.
A lawyer, human rights defender and focal point on Sudan, living in exile, said they are operating directly from Kampala on issues about Sudan, Darfur in particular. He told the panel that in 2005, the Sudanese government enforced a law that revoked the licence of the journalists and even went to the point of suspending newspapers from publication for three days, adding that some media houses do not publish for more than sixteen times. He said in 2009, Sudanese government blocked access to an online paper that published and showed bodies of soldiers that were killed in the attack by JEM rebel soldiers. The Sudanese journalist also stated that the leader of the Sudanese National Security threatened to cut off hands and heads of journalists and human right defenders that collaborate with the International Criminal Court (ICC). He asserted that more than twenty (20) Sudanese Journalists are currently living in exile in Africa and in Europe. He described Sudan as a hot spot for journalists and human rights defenders by form of threats, harassment and intimidation.
Mr. Hassan Mahmoud, an exiled journalist from Somalia, now living in Uganda, told the panel that Somalia is the hottest country for journalist in the whole of Africa. He said in 2009, seven (7) journalists were killed for doing their work and one hundred and fifty (150) journalists have fled into exile for fear of their life. Mr. Hassan indicated that his life was in danger when in 2007, he joined the Voice of America (VOA) as correspondent from Mogadishu.
He said there were more than five hundred death threats on him from unknown people. He asserted that in June 2009, there was a big fight in his area and when he reports that to VOA, the Islamist Fighters wanted to kill him. He said the Islamists was accusing him of being a collaborator with the West by reporting for VOA and foreign agents. He said they attacked his house and vandalized all his belongs but he was away at that time.
Mr. Hassan stated that in East Africa, especially in Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea, there is no freedom of expression at all. He added that the perpetuators against journalist s and human rights defenders never want the public to know their bad deeds and if any journalist exposed those deeds to the public that particular journalist and media house is always a target. He told the audience that he is currently living in exile, leaving his eight children and wife back home which is always a night mare for him.
Miss Estelle Nkounkou, a member of the West African Human Rights Defenders Network, said freedom of expression is not yet a reality in many West Africa countries. Miss Estelle said the incident that happened in Guinea Conakry on 28th September is a clear manifestation of violation against freedom of expression. She stated that the enactment of a new law in Niger was out to suppress freedom of expression in that country. She indicated that many African countries have good laws in place in terms of freedom of expression but that the concerned authorities would do within their means to suppress those laws. She took an example of Benin, The Gambia and Senegal. She said since 2008, Senegalese authorities had arrested 190 journalists. She stated that many West African countries are coming up with laws aiming to block journalists and creating a hostile environment for them to operate in. she said as journalists and human rights defender they should speak for those that could not speak for themselves. She called for the protection of human rights defenders and journalists indeed. She added that there are still many obstacles in defending freedom of expression in West Africa.
Commissioner Reine Alapini-Gansou, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights Defenders in Africa described the issue of freedom of expression as a cross cutting issue and said both segments of the societies should not stop advocating for it. She said she do reflect her mind all the time where the issue of freedom of expression came from and call on all and sundry to do the same to have a better idea of freedom of expression.
Madam Gansou said as human rights defenders talking and expressing views is part of their being and should not allow any body to control them in expressing those views and feelings. Commissioner Gansou emphasised that freedom of expression cannot go without human rights defending advocacy. She said the two can only go hand in hand together. She buttressed the point on the article 9 of the African Charter and 19 of the Universal Declaration of Haman Rights, which she said should be a cause of concern for all.
Madam Gansou stated that the African Commission has passed many resolutions on the issue of freedom of expression and urged on human rights defenders to familiarise themselves with these resolutions. She stated that journalists are part and parcel of the struggle for human rights and that they could not be left behind. She said that the Africa Commission is aware of the situation in some countries where journalists are killed like DR Congo, Somalia and Sudan, where they describe journalists as “image or photo hunters”. She told the audience that they received many individual complaints and that the Commission does sit over them and made decisions and recommendations to that effect. She emphasised that one must have the rights to speak his or her mind and write their views as enshrined in the Universal Declaration and African Charter. She added that freedom of expression is a right for every human being.
Commission Madam Maiga told the audience that journalists should be able to communicate with the public in their local languages to know their views and to publish it factually. She said the public should be able to respect journalists and to see them as partners in development and nation building. She seriously called for the protection of women and to do more advocacies for their rights.
Mr. Halifa Sallah, editorial adviser of Foroyaa Newspaper, also made a presentation. We will relay that in our next issue.
Source: Foroyaa Online
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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