Press release highlighting recommended changes to South Sudanese draft media legislation.

Comment on the Draft Media Legislation in Southern Sudan.

A round up of the latest news from the Africa region in June 2008.

ARTICLE 19 expresses its condolences over the tragic killing of the National Union of Somali Journalists, NUSOJ Vice President Nasteh Dahir Farah.

A round up of the latest news from the Africa region in April 2008.

Press release on the need for freedom of expression in order to hold a valid election run-off in Zimbabwe.

A round up of the latest news from the Africa region in April 2008.

A round up of the latest news from the Africa region in March 2008.

A round up of the latest news from the Africa region in February 2008.

Recommendations from the joint fact-finding mission on Kenya's media coverage of its post-election crisis.

Joint fact-finding mission report on Kenya's media coverage of the post-election violence.

A round up of the latest news from the Africa region in January 2008.

Note summarising ARTICLE 19’s main comments on the draft Somali Media Law (draft Law), approved by the Transitional Federal Parliament of the Somali Republic (TFP) on 1 December 2007.

A round up of the latest news from the Africa region in December 2007.

Guidebook on election coverage for media correspondents.

A round up of the news from the Africa region in November 2007.

A round up of the news from the Africa region in October 2007.

Action plan for freedom of speech in Niger.

A round up of the news from the Africa region in September 2007.

Press release celebrating the success of Noseweek, a monthly investigative satirical journal, in defending its cause of freedom of expression at Cape Town’s High Court.

A round up of the latest news from the Africa region in August 2007.

A round up of the latest news from the Africa region in July 2007.

Report on the electoral and media laws of Angola all of which impose illegitimate restrictions on free speech and are easily abused to silence political opponents.

Memorandum on a set of four draft laws for Sudan: a draft freedom of information law, a draft public service broadcasting law, a draft law setting up a broadcast regulator and a draft law to regulate the print media.

A round up of the latest news from the Africa region in June 2007.

Signed statement on self regulation in Southern Sudan and code of ethics of the print media.

Declaration of Table Mountain on abolishing “Insult Laws” in Africa and setting free press higher on the agenda.

Annex to the Declaration of Table Mountain on Abolishing “Insult Laws” in Africa and Setting Free Press Higher on the Agenda.

Comments on freedom of expression in Sudan, in the context of the consideration by the United Nations Human Rights Committee of the Third Periodic Report of Sudan on the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

A round up of the latest news from the Africa region in May 2007.

A comprehensive thematic report on human rights violations in Zimbabwe between 1996 and 2006. The report was collectively produced by a coalition of human rights organisations.

Testimony of the Law Society of Zimbabwe President, Beatrice Mtetwa, of events of 8th May 2007 where lawyers were attacked outside the Zimbabwean High Court. A petition of the Society is also included.

Notes on the Draft Media Law of Somalia. The notes recommend revision of the draft law to meet international standards and best practice.

A round up of the latest news in the Africa region in April 2007.

A round up of the latest news from the Africa region in March 2007.

A copy of the Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation among the members of the Freedom of Information Coalition of Sierra Leone. This copy is signed by the members of the Coalition, facilitated by ARTICLE 19.

Analysis of the draft Media Services Bill of Tanzania 2007.

Election media advisory adopted at a meeting of media owners, managers, leaders and advocates, as well as regulators hosted by Channels Television, and Media Rights Agenda (MRA).

Submission to the United Nations Human Rights Committee regarding freedom of expression in Sudan. Report submitted in advance of the 4th periodic report on the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

A round up of the latest news from across the Africa region in February 2007.

Statement calling for a review of the Kenyan Ministry of Information and Communications Draft Freedom of Information policy.

Background paper on freedom of expression and the Nigerian elections of 2007.

A round up of the latest news from the Africa region in January 2007.

Statement calling for an immediate enactment of Nigeria’s Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill ahead of the national elections scheduled for April 2007.

Joint ARTICLE 19 and AMDH action plan for the consolidation of freedom of speech in Mauritania

Recommendations of the Freedom of Expression Special Interest Working Group at the NGO Forum 41st Ordinary Session of the ACHPR in Accra.

This checklist has been specifically designed for civil society organisations in Africa and elsewhere who wish to conduct a thorough analysis of the implementation status of the African Union’s ‘Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa’.

ARTICLE 19 has issued a statement to the African Commission’s Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression to investigate human rights violations in the Horn of Africa country of Eritrea.

This online course provides comprehensive training in campaigning on access to information. It is aimed at the African region but can be adopted for use be activists in any part of the world.

Produced by the southern roundtable on freedom of expression, this statement calls for and makes a commitment to assisting and facilitating Southern Sudanese media institutions to develop a self-regulatory code of ethics and make recommendations on the establishment of an independent self-regulatory body to be put in place as soon as is practically possible.

This statement was developed at a two day colloquium facilitated by the ARTICLE 19 Africa Programme as part of an ongoing programme to encourage the adoption of self-regulating codes of conduct and organisation of colloquia regarding media coverage of elections in Africa.

Memorandum on the draft Communications Bill of Namibia, assessing the proposed legislation against international standards.

Training manual for African broadcast regulators.

Draft Broadcasting Bill for Southern Sudan presented by ARTICLE 19 in March 2006 to the southern Minister of Information, to be considered for adoption.

Draft Freedom of Information Bill for Southern Sudan presented by ARTICLE 19 in March 2006 to the southern Minister of Information, to be considered for adoption.

Draft Media Policy Framework for Southern Sudan presented by ARTICLE 19 in March 2006 to the southern Minister of Information, to be considered for adoption.

Draft Media Policy Framework for Southern Sudan presented by ARTICLE 19 in March 2006 to the southern Minister of Information, to be considered for adoption.

Draft Public Service Broadcasting Bill for Southern Sudan presented by ARTICLE 19 in March 2006 to the southern Minister of Information, to be considered for adoption.

Statement outlining ARTICLE 19's concerns at the proposal of a statutory media council in Kenya, as outlined in the Media Council of Kenya Bill.

Memorandum on Kenya's Freedom of Information Bill.

Statement of support on Sierra Leon's draft Access to Information Bill.

Note on the proposed draft freedom of information bill of Sierra Leone.

A historical declaration from Sudan. Northern and Southern Sudanese media workers and civil society agree to work together for a legal and policy framework for the media that guarantees freedom of expression.

A statement by the Civil Society’s Media Caucus at WSIS

Comments on the Liberian draft 'Law and Policy Providing for the Establishment of the National Public Broadcasting Service'.

An evaluation of the decisive role that the Sudanese media will play in informing the public about the peace agreement, and the implications of such a role.

An evaluation of the decisive role that the Sudanese media will play in informing the public about the peace agreement, and the implications of such a role (in Arabic).

On 4-7 July 2005, ARTICLE 19 facilitated a workshop in Somaliland for local broadcasting and newspaper editors aimed at developing a code of conduct for media coverage of the upcoming elections.

Note analysing the draft law prepared by the Mozambican branch of the Media Institute of South Africa, detailing the absence of elements crucial to a good freedom of information law.

The present Sudanese legal regime includes legislation and practices governing the media that run counter to democratic values and fundamental freedoms. This report provides the argument for urgent institutional, legal and policy reform.

The existing media and media community in Sudan will be crucial for communicating the peace accords to the population in a credible an inclusive way.

Memorandum expressing grave concern about the effect of the 2004 Press and Printed Materials Act on freedom of expression.

The Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) may accurately be described as the leading weapon of the government and the ruling ZANU PF party in their ongoing campaign to stifle independent media reporting in Zimbabwe. This report focuses on the first two years of AIPPA, describing the legislation, critiquing it and providing an overview of the way in which it has been implemented and the impact it has had on the free flow of information and ideas in Zimbabwe.

Briefing note analysing the draft proclamation drawn up in May 2004 and following on from analyses of two previous drafts issued in 2003.

Memorandum analysing the Access to Information Bill (Bill No. 7), as published by the Ugandan Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting in April 2004.

Written comments submitted by ARTICLE 19 and the Open Society Institute Justice Initiative in the case challenging the constitutionality of the National Media Commission Act, 2002.

Memorandum analysing the draft 'Access to Information Bill' against two key ARTICLE 19 publications, 'The People's Right to Know: Principles on Freedom of Information Legislation' and 'A Model Freedom of Information Law.'

Memorandum on the the Ugandan draft Access to Information Bill, 2004.

Memorandum analysing the draft Bill on Access to Sources of Information, prepared by an NGO coalition, against international standards.

Note assessing the Information and Broadcasting Policy issued by the Office of the Prime Minister following consultation and stakeholder involvement.

Memorandum on the Malawi Communications Act of 1998, establishing the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) and providing for the reconstitution of the Malawi Establishment Broadcasting Corporation (MBC).

Report on the impact of informal information and communication networks on security in Tanzanian refugee camps. The report focuses on the necessity of freedom of information for security and development in protracted refugee situations.

Memorandum analysing the draft Right to Information Bill circulated by the Ministry of Information for public comment.

Letter analysing concerns held by ARTICLE 19 and others regarding the Bank's proposed Disclosure Policy.

Memorandum analysing amendments to the 1998 Press and Communications Law and the 2002 Law on Press Cards, signed into law by the Constitutional Court of Togo on 25 September 2002 (also available in French through our French publications page).

Report on new directions in policy, regulations and frameworks concerning broadcasting in Africa.

Updated briefing note evaluating the revised Proclamation Concerning Press Freedom, here entitled the

Declaration outlining the basic principles defined by the African Commission on Human and People's Rights with regard to freedom of expression in Africa

This editorial serves as an introduction to the Rights V's Reputations Defamation Campaigns Pack.

The newsletter is published monthly and gives a update on freedom of expression issues from the previous month.

A practical and informative resource to assist civil society activists in campaigning against defamation and insult laws. Designed with reference to Africa but can be adapted to suit activists worldwide.

An overview of defamation and insult laws in the South African Development Community (SADC).

Report on the legal framework for freedom of expression in Ethiopia, intended to inform debate about the adoption of a new press law.

Briefing note highlighting concerns with the draft Proclamation Concerning Press Freedom.

Report discussing the relevance of theatre as a means through which women in Africa may achieve freedom of expression. This publication deals specifically with Zimbabwe, Kenya, Mali and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Comments on the draft Tanzanian Media Policy for discussion by stake holders.

Written comments submitted by ARTICLE 19 on the licensing of journalists.

Memorandum analysing the 2001 revision of the 1999 Gambian National Media Commission Bill, which extends to both print and broadcast media.

ARTICLE 19's latest edition of Censorship News covers the current situation in Zimbabwe

Memorandum on The Zimbabwean Access to Information and Privacy Bill as amended.

Memorandum on the Zimbabwean Access to Information and Privacy Bill, legislation heavily regulating all aspects of media.

Amicus curiae brief submitted by ARTICLE 19 in the case of Capital Radio (Private) Limited v. The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe.

Resolution of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, deciding to develop a Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression.

Report on freedom expression and freedom of association in Sub-Saharan Africa.

A report on the outcome of a study undertaken by Media Rights Agenda (MRA) and ARTICLE 19, on the legal and institutional framework for the regulation of the electronic media and telecommunications in Nigeria.

Submission to the Government of Ethiopia regarding observations on the protection and promotion of freedom of expression in the country.

Joint report which makes a number of recommendations for reform in the area of freedom of expression which, if implemented, might allow the creation of a climate in which freedom of expression is respected and protected and where the role of the media is tolerated and encouraged in a pluralist system in DRC.

Report arguing that the 'right to truth' concerning past human rights violations follows from a general right to access information. The report also contains case studies from Malawi, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

This study is intended to examine developments in the sub-Saharan region in the light of A19's principles on Freedom of Information legislation and to contribute to the process of change and reform already underway.

This study is intended to examine developments in the sub-Saharan region in the light of ARTICLE 19's Principles on Freedom of Information Legislation and to contribute to the process of change and reform already underway.

A report by ARTICLE 19 and the Forum of Conscience developed as a potential useful resource into the ongoing political emergency in Sierra Leone.

Memorandum on Nigeria's Freedom of Information Bill.

A Question of Balance looks at trends in media coverage of the referendum and makes a number of recommendations for changes urgently needed to ensure that the public is provided with fair and impartial coverage during forthcoming parliamentary elections.

A report that describes the union-level Constitutional and legal provisions which affect the media either on Tanzania mainland only or on both Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar

Report providing an in-depth analysis of Zanzibar's structural democratic deficitwith regard to the fundamental rights of freedom of expression, association and assembly.

The final report of the 1999 ARTICLE 19 Malawi election media monitoring project.

Written comments submitted by ARTICLE 19 on false news as a restriction on freedom of expression.

Paper discussing legal developments in southern Africa which gave new impetus to the need to reform outdated laws relating to obscenity.

A practical guide which aims to assist in the training of human rights activists to investigate and monitor state-sponsored violence in Africa and, in particular, the increasingly important phenomenon of “informal repression”.

Written comments submitted by ARTICLE 19 on the legitimacy of criminal defamation actions protecting government officials under international human rights law.

Report on the anniversary of the death of Norbert Zongo, a pioneering journalist and fearless critic of the government of Burkina Faso. He was brutally killed on 13 December 1998, along with three companions.

Report detailing the development of the freedom of expression situation in Cameroon since 1995.

Written comments submitted by ARTICLE 19 on false news as a restriction on freedom of expression.

Report outlining the minimum steps necessary to provide the foundations for a democratic transition to democracy as well as the specific measures necessary to safeguard freedom of expression as part of that transition.

Report on the Gambian government's continuing harassment of the independent media, in particular the case of the radio station Citizen FM.

Report on attempts to licence the work of journalists in Commonwealth African countries such as Uganda and Zambia.

This report looks at attempts to control and censor the Internet and the challenges posed to the growth of the Internet as a tool for free expression in Africa.

Report aiming to provide guidance on how governments should interpret and apply the free expression provisions in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The report looks at case studies from South Africa, Uganda and Sierra Leone.

As the legal case which has silenced Citizen FM radio enters its seventeenth month, ARTICLE 19 reports on the Gambian government's continuing harassment of the independent media. The report also makes public concerns, first communicated in May 1999 to the Gambian government, that its draft National Communication and Information Policy (NACIP) is in danger of failing to meet The Gambia's international human rights obligations.

Report on violence in the Rift Valley Province and how, to a significant extent, violence has been fuelled by people’s lack of access to independent and impartial information through the media.

An analysis outlining why the early introduction of freedom of information legislation is necessary and how such laws might be implemented in Malawi

Report outlining the need for reforms in Malawi due to a lack of accessible communications services with the resulting effects on basic human rights and freedom of expression.

Report highlighting freedom of expression concerns in the Gambia including the harassment of journalists and political activists.

Report casting a critical spotlight on the workings of Cameroon's democratic process, and its media, concluding that fundamental freedoms of expression and assembly, vital to the political process, are routinely violated despite guarantees under the Constitution and international law.

A report that examines the informal repression of several African countries, drawing on a similar phenomenon that occured in Latin America.

Joint report providing an agenda for reform for freedom of expression in Nigeria.

Examines and analyses the Rwandan media, often blamed as a major cause of the genocide, which began on 6 April 1994 and claimed the lives of approx. 500,000 people within three months.

Report providing an analysis of the freedom of expression situation in Northern Cameroon, three years after the country's return to multi-party democracy.

Report on the trial of human rights activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and other members of the Ogoni community in Nigeria, accused of the murder of four Ogoni traditional chiefs during a riot in May 1994.

Report documenting the violations of freedom of expression by Kenyan authorities including suppression of information, harassment, detention, false charges, torture and ill-treatment of government critics by the Kenyan government.

Report on the link between famine and censorship. The report takes the case studies of China and Ethiopia to argue that famines can be prevented if censorship is not prevalent.

Assessment and outline of a strategy for media support - media in Sudan at a crossroads; a Sudan consortium project publication