African Parliament launches press freedom campaign

By Joyce Namutebi        
            
The Pan African Parliament (PAP) has launched a campaign on press freedom for development in five regions of Africa.

The decision was reached at the end of a dialogue on "Media Freedom in Africa" held in Midrand, South Africa recently. |

"The Pan African Parliament hereby decides to launch the campaign on 'Press Freedom for Development and Governance: Need for Reform' in all five regions of Africa," the Midrand Declaration on Press Freedom in Africa stated.

 The regions are eastern, southern, western, northern and central, according to Uganda's representative to PAP, Onyango Kakoba, who also chairs the justice and human rights committee.

PAP also resolved to establish an annual 'PAP award on media freedom in Africa' for individuals, organisations and member states as well as establishing an annual PAP index on Media freedom in Africa.

The law makers premised their resolve on Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights which states that every individual shall have the right to express and disseminate his or her opinions within the law.

They also acknowledged the 1991Windhoek Declaration which promotes and independent and pluralistic African press.

They further pointed out that the protocol to the treaty establishing the African Economic Community relating to PAP in the objectives mandates the parliament to promote the principles of human rights and democracy in Africa as well as encouraging good governance, transparency and accountability in member states.

They called upon African Union member states to use the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights model law on access to information in adopting or reviewing access to information laws.