World Press Freedom Day Webinar Series
Part 2
How the African Declaration on Freedom of Expression offers a rights based agenda for a brighter future
The session will explore what the updated principles mean for access to information practices around the continent.
We have lined up some amazing speakers watch social media for more details! RSVP and we will send you the joining link to the webinar, places are limited!
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, in a process led by the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, last month published the final text of the new Declaration on Principles of Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa (available here), as adopted in November 2019 by the ACHPR. It forms part of the soft-law corpus of Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, alongside the Model Law on Access to Information for Africa as well as the Guidelines on Access to Information and Elections in Africa. The new declaration also includes a section on online rights, effectively providing a regulatory framework for digital rights in Africa.
The session will explore what the updated principles mean for access to information practices around the continent – such as internet shutdowns, universal internet access, data protection, media freedom etc – and the need to update freedom of expression and access to information legislation fit for the digital age.
