Gambia: Human Rights Defenders,Csos Meet in Banjul Ahead of 51st African Commission Session

The African Center for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS), on Saturday, officially opened its NGO Forum which precedes the 51st Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights and the 25th African Human Right Book Fair. The NGO forum which commenced from 14th to 16th April, brought together Human Rights Defenders and Civil Society Organisations across the world to brainstorm on issues concerning Human Rights in Africa.

In his opening remarks the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of The Gambia, Lamin Jobarteh said the importance of the forum cannot be overemphasize, noting that the subject matter that the forum is looking at is pertinent and will impact on the people in the continent. He added that the participation of the participants will also bring solutions to the problem confronting the continent in the area of human rights protection and promotion. He expressed his believe that the result of the forum will be successful.

For her part, a representative of the NGO Forum Steering Committee, Ms. Paulette Oyane Ondo described the forum as innovative and thatit has been organised for several years with the aim of examining the continent's human rights situation. She said the forum is diverse given that people from different countries came under one umbrella to discuss on different issues from the perspective of human rights.

Madam Ondo thanked the African Centre under the leadership of Hannah Forster for its commitment towards human rights protection and promotion.

The Special Rapporteur on Women's Rights in Africa at the African Union Commission, Soyata Maiga saluted the existence of the NGO Forum, describing it as a platform were representatives of governments, African Union organs, NGOs in the field of human rights and human rights Commissioners exchange ideas and share experiences in the human rights situation of the continent and the world at large. She said the NGO Forum is a welcome space if open among participants.

Commissioner Maiga reaffirmed the commitment of NGOs towards humanity, while underscoring the important role they play in the protection and promotion of human rights in the continent.

Also speaking at the opening was the President of the International Federation of Human Rights Commission, Souhayr Belhassen, who challenged Human Rights Activists to continue their advocacy and raise awareness on human rights issues. She said despite some achievements, there have been massive violations of human rights in Africa.

Madam Souhayr urged States parties to respect Protocols and International Instruments on human rights. She raised issues over the 2011Arab Spring which led to the downfall of Africa's Arab dictators. She also raised concerns over the issues in Guinea Bissau and Mali among a host of other countries experiencing political problems on the continent. She however hailed the efforts of ECOWAS for solving the political crisis in Mali while urging participants to find solutions to the problem confronting the Human Rights situation on the continent.

The Director of the African Center for Democracy and Human Rights, Studies Hannah Forster, underscored the importance of the forum saying that they are dreaming of Africa without Human Rights violations. She paid tribute and homage to Africans who have died and who continue to suffer in the process of Human Rights violations. She also raised concerns on the political situation in Guinea Bissau and Mali.

Madam Forster urged participants to find solutions confronting the African continent. She said Africa is facing emerging threats such as the Bokul Haram in Nigeria and the Al Shabab in Somalia. According to her, all these are concerns to the African Centre and the Commission as a whole. She noted that the forum will look at different areas of Human Rights such as Freedom of Speech and Expression, Women's Rights etc. She disclosed that the Angola and Sudan reports will also be examined.

At the end of the forum, recommendations and suggestions will be forwarded to the African Commission for considerations.

Freedom of Expression Discussed at NGO Forum

The Special Interest Group on Freedom Of Expression raised a number of issues concerning attacks and intimidation on journalists across the entire continent highlighting specifically the killing of journalists with impunity, harassment, obnoxious legislations that impedes on the media, exploitation of journalists and political interference in the work of the media.

In Zimbabwe it was reported that three members of the media Monitoring Project were arrested for insulting the president under the Criminal Law and codification realm Act. Insults laws have been largely used on journalists, as well as media workers and other members of civil society.

Somalia remains the ultimate dead ground for journalists. Already four journalists have been killed in the last four months and five since December.

Eritrea still holds about 32 journalists in jail some of whom have been reported dead. The majority are held in-communicado and have no access to any form of legal representation and family members denied access to them.

In Tunisia journalists have been beaten and attacked;

In Guinea Bissau journalists continue to be attacked and seriously threaten in relation to their work, not only by the powerful government authorities, but the notorious personalities involved in the drug trade as well.

In Mali the radio and television station was attacked and offices ransacked during the recent coup d'etat.

In the case of the Gambia the Special Interest group on FOX decried the obnoxious media laws and charges of giving false information under which various people including journalists have been charged and tried despite the fact that section 25 (1)(f) of the Constitution enshrined the right to the citizens to petition the president or ministers but most of those who tried to exercise this right have been charged and tried.

The Blocking of Alternative internet news site by the government in the Gambia was also cited. It was reported the at least five of these sites are currently blocked. the situation that confronts journalists are very challenging, while it is discouraging to note that, what is going on in some media houses in relation to labour rights are absolutely unacceptable as journalists are seriously exploited some of them working for a number of years without any form of contracts and other social benefits.

Law on sedition, the laws appears to be vague, and has been used on journalists, Official Secrets Act - which prevents journalist from getting information as the law barns public officials to talk to journalists;

In Congo Brazzaville, the government employs systematic censorship to ensure that journalists will not come out with issues that are very much critical of the state at the same time tailoring information to counter in the crudest fashion what the independent media reports.

There is a worrying trend in the fact that some African governments, notably Ethiopia and Burundi are using terrorism charges against journalists.

In Sudan, the government security agents systematically raid private media houses after publication and confiscate large publication forcing these media houses to lose lot of revenue while at the same time prosecuting journalists.

In Angola, it was reported that the President's son had bought the public TV Channel. In the same vein the government is also buying out some of the private media, with a mission to entirely change the editorial line and focus. Journalists are specifically targeted and attacked with impunity while covering demonstrations.

Strategies

There was a clarion call for the need to mainstream civil society in term of Freedom of Expression/ Freedom of Information- thereby creating a link between civil society and the media- in order to ensure that FOI legislations are implemented to the letter. seditious laws, undermine the issue of FoI- since seditious law criminalize opinion- civil society must team up the media to curtail any claw back laws the impedes the effective implementation of FOI laws.

IN countries that have enacted the FOI laws, civil society have problems in actually trying to actualize it, or realize their ultimate significance- civil society therefore need to look at the mechanization processes of ATI more thoroughly'

IN ADDITION TO the Legal and physical threats that confronts journalists in relation to the execution of their duties; it was also mentioned that the meager wages paid to journalists is a serious threats in relation to quality journalism;

There is an urgent need for media law reform in most countries where the media is severely suppressed

While acknowledging the previous resolution adopted by the Commission, it was recommended that The Special Rapporteur on FOX and ATI should move to the next step by making country visits and talking out issues with governments and other media stakeholders.

Journalists should ensure that the resolutions that are adopted by the African commission in relation to their specific countries are used as national advocacy tools. Journalists must take up the responsibility in reporting on these resolutions in their national media.

Journalist should seriously advocate for the Transparency and ownership in the media.

The SIG also recommends for the immediate release of Chief Ebrima manneh and called for justice for Deyda Hydara

It was strongly recommended that African governments most especially The Gambia, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Somalia Eritrea, The Democratic republic of Congo and Guinea Bissau, take appropriate measures in bringing their media laws in conformity with internationally recognized standards most especially when the Declaration of Principles will clock ten years next year.

The group has decided to come up with two resolutions - one a country specific resolution on The Gambia and a thematic resolution covering issue of law reform and other crucial challenges confronting journalists in the continent.


(2012-04-17/allafrica)