Governments urged to abolish insult laws

THE Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) has rejected efforts by governments in the region to stifle the media with “insult” laws and criminal defamation.

Misa’s annual general meeting held in Blantyre, Malawi,last week called on chapters in the region to work towards the abolishment of ‘insult’ laws and criminal defamation. Of late, ‘insult’ and defamation laws were being used by governments and influential individuals to suppress media freedom, it said.In Namibia, several organisations and individuals linked to the ruling party have called on authorities to tighten the grip on the media freedom and freedom of expression.However, the Misa AGM said laws and customs that repress media freedom and freedom of expression were a disservice to society.The AGM endorsed the Table Mountain Declaration of June 2007, which called on African governments “as a matter of urgency” to abolish all laws that restrict press freedom and have pledged to increase “aggressive and persistent campaigning against press freedom violations and restrictions in Africa.”Misa agreed that in country after country, “the African press is crippled by a panoply of repressive measures, from jailing and persecution of journalists to the widespread scourge of ‘insult’ laws and criminal defamation which are used, ruthlessly, by governments to prevent critical appraisal of their performances and to deprive the public from information about their misdemeanours.”In the same way that Misa continues to promote the Windhoek Declaration, the African Charter on Broadcasting, the Declaration of Principle on the Right to Freedom of Expression in Africa, it vowed to popularise the Table Mountain Declaration and elevate its status as a campaign tool.”To this end, Misa resolves to seek the SADC, Africa Union and United Nations endorsement of the declaration,” Misa said in a statement.The media rights group said an independent media profession with effective self-regulation was the best system for promoting freedom of expression and ensuring the highest professional standards for the media.”To this end, the 2007 Misa AGM resolves to take measures to support the establishment of self-regulatory mechanisms by the media councils and to build the capacity of the media councils to sustain themselves.”Of late, ‘insult’ and defamation laws were being used by governments and influential individuals to suppress media freedom, it said.In Namibia, several organisations and individuals linked to the ruling party have called on authorities to tighten the grip on the media freedom and freedom of expression.However, the Misa AGM said laws and customs that repress media freedom and freedom of expression were a disservice to society.The AGM endorsed the Table Mountain Declaration of June 2007, which called on African governments “as a matter of urgency” to abolish all laws that restrict press freedom and have pledged to increase “aggressive and persistent campaigning against press freedom violations and restrictions in Africa.”Misa agreed that in country after country, “the African press is crippled by a panoply of repressive measures, from jailing and persecution of journalists to the widespread scourge of ‘insult’ laws and criminal defamation which are used, ruthlessly, by governments to prevent critical appraisal of their performances and to deprive the public from information about their misdemeanours.”In the same way that Misa continues to promote the Windhoek Declaration, the African Charter on Broadcasting, the Declaration of Principle on the Right to Freedom of Expression in Africa, it vowed to popularise the Table Mountain Declaration and elevate its status as a campaign tool.”To this end, Misa resolves to seek the SADC, Africa Union and United Nations endorsement of the declaration,” Misa said in a statement.The media rights group said an independent media profession with effective self-regulation was the best system for promoting freedom of expression and ensuring the highest professional standards for the media.”To this end, the 2007 Misa AGM resolves to take measures to support the establishment of self-regulatory mechanisms by the media councils and to build the capacity of the media councils to sustain themselves.”