Ethiopia: Concerns over press law
In a letter to the Ethiopian government six free expression organisations (ARTICLE 19, Media Institute of Southern Africa, Media Foundation of West Africa, Media Rights Agenda, the Committee to Protect Journalists and the International Federation of Journalists) reiterated their concerns over the recent draft Proclamation to Provide for the Freedom of the Press (Draft Proclamation) in Ethiopia. “The Draft Proclamation in its present form contains some improvements on previous drafts, but there are still some serious problems with the law, including: restriction on who may practice journalism; government-controlled licensing and registration systems; and harsh sanctions for violations of the law, including up to five years imprisonment.”
Press Release on the Draft Proclamation to Provide for the Freedom of the Press in Ethiopia
22nd July 04
In a letter to the Ethiopian government six (6) free expression organisations (ARTICLE 19, Media Institute of Southern Africa, Media Foundation of West Africa, Media Rights Agenda, the Committee to Protect Journalists and the International Federation of Journalists) reiterate their concerns over the recent draft Proclamation to Provide for the Freedom of the Press (Draft Proclamation) in Ethiopia.
The Draft Proclamation in its present form contains some improvements on previous drafts, but there are still some serious problems with the law, including: restriction on who may practice journalism; government-controlled licensing and registration systems; and harsh sanctions for violations of the law, including up to five years imprisonment.
Other areas of concern include: excessively broad exceptions to the right to access information held by public authorities; the granting of a right to reply that undermines the principle of editorial independence; the establishment of a government-controlled Press Council with powers to prepare and enforce a Code of Ethics; and powers vested in the courts to engage in prior-censorship.
The letter:
- Welcomes the initiative of the Ethiopian government to consult some media stakeholders on the draft Proclamation and urges it to ensure that in practice the process is truly inclusive and democratic.
- Calls on the Ethiopian government to ensure that the ongoing national consultation on the draft Proclamation takes into consideration the concerns and recommendations of international, regional and national free expression organisations.
- Further urges the Ethiopian government to amend the draft Proclamation to address these concerns and to bring it into line with the highest international standards on free expression.
Ends
1. For further information
Contact:
Fatou Jagne, ARTICLE 19 Africa Programme Officer
[email protected], Tel: +44 2072789292/ +44 2072391192
or
Luckson Chipare,
Director Media Institute of Southern Africa [email protected], Tel: +264 61 232975
Julia Crawford
Africa Programme Coordinator
The Committee to Protect Journalists
Tel+ 212-465-9344 x112
For an analysis of the Draft Proclamation visit link:
http://www.article19.org/docimages/1817.doc
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