{"id":317,"date":"2024-06-13T11:40:58","date_gmt":"2024-06-13T10:40:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mediadefence.org\/ereader\/?post_type=publication&p=317"},"modified":"2024-06-24T20:54:10","modified_gmt":"2024-06-24T19:54:10","slug":"african-regional-instruments","status":"publish","type":"publication","link":"https:\/\/www.mediadefence.org\/ereader\/publications\/introductory-modules-on-digital-rights-and-freedom-of-expression-online\/module-1-key-principles-of-international-law-and-freedom-of-expression\/african-regional-instruments\/","title":{"rendered":"African Regional Instruments"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A number of regional instruments guarantee the right to freedom of expression in Africa.  For example, article 9 of the African Charter provides as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201c1. Every individual shall have the right to receive information.
2. Every individual shall have the right to express and disseminate his opinions within the law.\u201d[footnote]African Charter on Human and Peoples\u2019 Rights (1981) (accessible at: https:\/\/www.achpr.org\/legalinstruments\/detail?id=49<\/a>).[\/footnote]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Oversight and interpretation of the African Charter is the sole domain of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR<\/a>), which was established in 1987.  A protocol to the African Charter was adopted in 1998 which created an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACtHPR<\/a>), and which came into effect in 2005.[footnote]Ibid.<\/em>[\/footnote]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It should be noted that reference to \u201cwithin the law\u201d in article 9(2) of the African Charter should not be seen as permitting states to enact laws that violate the right to freedom of expression. The ACHPR made clear in Constitutional Rights Project v Nigeria<\/em><\/a> that \u201c[g]overnment[s] should avoid restricting rights, and take special care with regard to those rights protected by constitutional or international human rights law. No situation justifies the wholesale violation of human rights.\u201d[footnote]Constitutional Rights Project v Nigeria<\/em> (1998) (accessible at https:\/\/www.achpr.org\/sessions\/descions?id=100) at pp 57-58.[\/footnote]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The right to freedom of expression is further underscored in the African Declaration and the ACHPR Guidelines on Freedom of Association and Assembly in Africa.[footnote]ACHPR, \u2018Guidelines on Freedom of Association and Assembly in Africa\u2019 (accessible at https:\/\/www.achpr.org\/presspublic\/publication?id=22).[\/footnote] Nuanced aspects of the right to freedom of expression are explained and recommendations to States and other bodies in relation to these aspects in instruments such as the Resolution on the Deployment of Mass and Unlawful Targeted Communication Surveillance and its Impact on Human Rights in Africa,[footnote]ACHPR, \u2018Resolution on the deployment of mass and unlawful targeted communication surveillance and its impact on human rights in Africa\u2019 (2023) (accessible at https:\/\/africanlii.org\/akn\/aa-au\/doc\/resolution\/2023-11-09\/573\/eng@2023-11-09).[\/footnote] and the Joint Declaration on Media Freedom and Democracy.[footnote]ACHPR, \u2018Joint Declaration on Media Freedom and Democracy\u2019 (2023) (accessible at https:\/\/achpr.au.int\/en\/news\/press-releases\/2023-05-04\/joint-declaration-media-freedom-and-democracy).[\/footnote]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are also a number of sub-regional instruments that engage the right to freedom of expression, such as the:<\/p>\n\n\n\n