(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is a 25 January 2007 ARTICLE 19 press release: Senegal: New Report Published on the State of Freedom of Expression Ahead of the Senegalese presidential elections on February 25, ARTICLE 19 publishes a report on the state of freedom of expression in Senegal. The legal, political and institutional framework for […]
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is a 25 January 2007 ARTICLE 19 press release:
Senegal: New Report Published on the State of Freedom of Expression
Ahead of the Senegalese presidential elections on February 25, ARTICLE 19 publishes a report on the state of freedom of expression in Senegal.
The legal, political and institutional framework for freedom of expression in Senegal must be reformed, urges a new report published by ARTICLE 19 just ahead of February 2007 elections. The report outlines key challenges and obstacles to freedom of expression in the lead up to presidential elections.
The report highlights the arrests, attacks and harassment of journalists, political opponents and human rights defenders. It also highlights the excessive government control over the national television and the lack of independence of the broadcasting and telecommunication regulatory bodies in Senegal.
“We are concerned by the unjustified attacks on freedom of expression especially in the lead up to the elections and the resistance of the Senegalese government to adopt legislation that conform with international standards on freedom of expression,” says Agnès Callamard, Executive Director of ARTICLE 19.
ARTICLE 19 hopes to contribute to the improvement of Senegal’s legal and institutional framework in accordance with international norms on freedom of expression, with the aim of consolidating democracy and freedom of expression. ARTICLE 19 hopes that Senegalese policymakers and all national and international stakeholders will take into account challenges that need to be overcome before and during the upcoming presidential and legislative elections in February 2007, as well as the necessary reforms over the long term.
Below are some of the recommendations formulated by ARTICLE 19:
The Senegalese government should:
– Take urgent measures to repeal all press offences, such as the provisions in the penal code and the penal procedures regarding criminal defamation, the publication of false news, insults and offences towards the Head of State and national and foreign institutions;
– End attacks, intimidation, administrative and judicial harassments against journalists and political opponents who peacefully express their opinions;
– End the excessive and undemocratic restrictions on the right to protest publicly and peacefully;
– Establish in consultation with stakeholders in the broadcasting sector a clear and transparent process to ensure the complete liberalisation of television and radio, which takes into account the three existing sectors (public, private and community/association), diversity and the pluralism of information;
– Transform Radio Télévision Sénégalaise (RTS) into a true public service broadcaster, accessible to all with editorial independence and governed by an independent executive board, in order to meet the needs for pluralism of information for all sectors of Senegalese society;
– End all partisan propaganda by the RTS for the benefit of the governing party and ensure that it respect its duties as a public service broadcaster especially during the period of the presidential elections of February 2007;
– Adopt a law on freedom of information in accordance with international standards, and in consultation with all national stakeholders.
Media practitioners and institutions should:
– Reinforce the respect of ethical standards and take into account the public interest in the delivery of information;
– Initiate a revision of the collective bargaining convention of journalists with a view to protecting journalists from corruption and an unfavourable financial situation;
– Contribute to the financing of the regulatory body, strengthen its capacity and respect its rulings and recommendations;
– Ensure that government subsidies to the media are used according to the law.
For a copy of the report, see http://www.article19.org/pdfs/publications/sengal-liberte-d-expression.pdf
