**Africa: Urgent need for media freedom in Africa

THE URGENT NEED FOR MEDIA FREEDOM IN AFRICA
STATEMENT PRESENTED TO THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE COMMISSION OF THE AFRICAN UNION H.E PROFESSOR ALPHA KONARE

By a delegation of CREDO for Freedom of Expression & Associated Rights, FAHAMU, International Federation of Journalists, Justice Initiative and Media Institute of Southern Africa - Supported by writer and Nobel prize winner Professor Wole Soyinka.

July 1, 2004

His Excellency,
Professor Alpha Konare
Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union

Call on African Union member Countries to repeal all media legislation inconsistent with the Constitutive Acts of the Union and to begin process of adopting treaty level guarantees for media freedom.

We congratulate you on the development of the vision, mission and strategic framework for the development of the African Union. We particularly commend the Commission on the aspects that seek to further develop a wide range of rights issues in Africa.
In line with this direction, our delegation has asked to meet with you today to draw your attention to the untenable situation of the media in Africa and the critical need for a new continental mechanism to promote and guarantee media freedom. In 2003, there were 170 reported cases of attacks on journalists and media houses by governments either through ‘legal’ and ‘judicial’ persecution or through harassment and intimidation by security agents. (Kindly see some examples in Appendix 1). Many more went unreported. In June 2004 the figure for reported violations of media freedom already stands at 102. If this trend continues, there may be well over 200 such cases by the end of 2004, an increase of almost 20% on last year.
This sad situation persists, because many member governments of the African Union do not accept that their citizens and media have the right to express or report views and events that are contrary to, or are critical of the ‘official’ position.
This state of affairs is further underlined by the fact that at present, there are no legal or institutional frameworks that adequately guarantee media freedom in Africa, at the continental level.
Persistent official persecution, arbitrary harassment, and physical intimidation, make it impossible for the African media to collectively, effectively and freely serve as a platform for the dissemination of news and information, and as an avenue for debate, and expression of opinions and ideas - a process which is vital to the democratic, and socio economic development of Africa.
No society in the history of the world has ever been able to maximize its potential for development, where critical and independent minded journalism, and differences in opinions or ideas are punished as offences.
Last year, we submitted to your predecessor His Excellency Amara Essy and to the incumbent Chairperson of the African Union His Excellency Thabo Mbeki a petition signed by over a hundred media and freedom of expression organizations, and dozens of individual campaigners from Africa and internationally. The petition called for the repeal of legislation inconsistent with the African Unions Constitutive Acts, for the release of imprisoned journalists and reopening of media houses shut down by some African governments. We again re-submit this petition to you, and through you to the incoming Chairperson of the African Union (Kindly see appendix 3) in the context of the elaborate and commendable vision and mission of the African Union.
We also urge you to note that it is of utmost importance to strengthen the effective protection of these rights at the continental level if the African media is to play its expected role of promoting democratic values across the continent, as well as promoting peace and security, social, political and economic development and integration which are also goals of the African Union. For instance, the projects for an independent and respected pan-African radio and television stations, cannot succeed unless the legal and institutional frameworks for media law and practice in all AU member states uphold media freedom and freedom of expression.
The African Union is uniquely placed to advance the fundamental rights of media freedom and freedom of expression on the African Continent. The AU is also well placed to engage with civil society groups working to promote and protect media freedom, and with them, promote a legislative framework that upholds media freedom. We urge the African Union to seize this opportunity, in accordance with its commitment to ‘promote and protect human and peoples' rights, consolidate democratic institutions and culture, and to ensure good governance and the rule of law.’
It is for this reason that we specifically call on you and the Heads of States of the member countries of the African Union to urgently and within a given time frame review the media freedom situations in member states with a view to repealing or amending those laws and regulations that violate the rights to media freedom and freedom of expression and replacing them with legislation consistent with regional and international standards.
The executive and judicial arms of several governments have already implemented reforms or made rulings that uphold media freedom. For instance, the Ghanaian legislature has repealed criminal defamation laws and a Ugandan High Court has recently ruled that “false news” laws used to persecute the media are inconsistent with good governance and democracy. Other African governments should be encouraged to follow these laudable examples within a time frame.
Whilst acknowledging that some provisions and statements already exist at the continental level that promotes freedom of expression (Kindly see appendix 2 for existing provisions), these general principles have not been adequately reflected in the legal and institutional frameworks at national levels. More importantly there are no explicit and effective guarantees for media freedom at the continental level. We therefore call on the African Union to commence the process of adopting and implementing better elaborated standards which will enable more effective promotion and protection of media freedom and freedom of expression in Africa.

Signed
Rotimi Sankore, Coordinator, CREDO for Freedom of Expression & Associated Rights
Gabriel Baglo, Director Africa Office, International Federation of Journalists
Firoze Manji, Director, Fahamu
Chidi Odinkalu, Open society Justice Initiative
Luckson Chipare, Director, Media Institute of Southern Africa
Supported by Professor Wole Soyinka, Writer and Nobel Prize Winner

Profiles and Contact Details

**The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) is a dynamic, member-driven network of national chapters coordinated by a professional regional secretariat which seeks - through monitoring, training, capacity building, research and the distribution of information - to foster free independent and diverse media throughout southern Africa in the service of democracy and development, as stated in the Windhoek Declaration and the African Charter on Broadcasting.
**The Centre for Research Education & Development Of - [CREDO] - Freedom of Expression & Associated Rights is an international human rights organisation focusing on work in Africa. CREDO believes that freedom of expression and other strongly associated rights are major platforms on which all civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights stand. CREDO's work focuses on themes in Africa related to: freedom of expression, media freedom, rights/access to information and information resources; freedom of opinion, association, assembly, political participation and related rights; and anti-discrimination issues, e.g. discrimination based on gender, race and ethnicity.
**Fahamu is committed to supporting progressive social change in the South through using information and communication technologies. Fahamu believes that civil society organisations have a critical role to play in defending human rights, and that information and communication technologies can and should be harnessed for that cause. We are committed to enabling civil society organisations to use the Internet in the interests of promoting social justice.
**The IFJ is the worlds largest organisation of journalists and represents 500,000 journalists in more than 100 countries. The IFJ promotes international action to defend press freedom and social justice through strong, free and independent trade unions of journalists. In Africa, the IFJ works with its numerous affiliates and through its Media For Democracy in Africa Programme. It opposes discrimination of all kinds and condemns the use of media as propaganda or to promote intolerance and conflict; believes in freedom of political and cultural expression and defends trade union and other basic human rights; and works to improve conditions for independence of journalists and high standards of journalism in the African media.

MORE INFORMATION:

For further information contact the IFJ, IPC-Residence Palace, Rue de la Loi 155, B-1040 Brussels, Belgium, tel: +32 2 235 22 00, fax: +32 2 235 22 19, e-mail: [email protected]; or MISA Mozambique, Avenida Emilia Dausse No. 389 Maputo R/C, tel: +258 130 2842, fax: +258 130 2833, e-mail: [email protected]; or MISA regional office in Namibia, 21 Johann Albrecht Street, Private Bag 13386, Windhoek, Namibia, tel. +264 61 232 975, fax: +264 61 248 016, e-mail: [email protected], [email protected]; or WAN, Director, Press Freedom Programme, 25 rue d'Astorg, 75008 Paris, France, tel: +33 1 47 42 85 00, fax: +33 1 47 42 49 48, e-mail: [email protected]; or CREDO International Office, 73-75 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BD, UK, tel: +44 20 77875501, fax:+ 44 20 77875502, e-mail: [email protected], [email protected]; or FAHAMU, 14 Standingford House, Cave Street, Oxford OX4 1BA, UK, tel: +44 1 865 791777, fax: +44 1 865-203009, e-mail: [email protected]

APPENDIX 1
ILLUSTRATIONS OF RECENT VIOLATIONS OF MEDIA RIGHTS AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN AFRICA

CENTRAL
Central African Republic

Journalist arrested and his house searched, 21st May 2004.

Source: Journaliste en Danger (JED)/International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX)

Issues: media harassment
Corneille Wanguia-Vickot, assistant editor-in-chief of the daily "Le Confident", published in the capital, Bangui, was arrested on the order of Interior Minister Jules Bernard Ouande. The journalist's home was also raided after he refused to disclose his sources for a story. He was released after spending 48 hours in detention. According to Wanguia-Vickot, his arrest comes on the heels of the paper's report on a 15 million CFA franc (approx. US$27,700) misappropriation of funds at the Interior Ministry. The minister demanded to know the source of the information. When the journalist refused, he was arrested and his house was searched.
Chad
Police raid newspaper offices on 22nd May 2004

Source: Journalists en Danger (JED)/ International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX).

Issues: media harassment and threats.

On 22 May 2004, a team of local police officers, under the authority of an unidentified senior officer, raided the newsroom of "N'djamena Hebdo", a newspaper published out of the capital of N'djamena. The officers were reportedly looking for the paper's publication director, or possibly other journalists. None were present at the time of the search.

According to witnesses, after finding no one in the paper's offices, the officers parked their vehicle at a close distance, where it remained until early evening. Having been warned of the police presence, the journalists remained in hiding over the weekend.
The official reason for the search remains unknown. However, "N'djamena Hebdo" editor-in-chief Djendoroum Mbaïninga, who spoke to JED by phone from N'djamena on 25 May, believes the events may be linked to a special 20 May edition of the paper devoted to a "failed coup d'Etat", which allegedly took place on the night of 16 May. Mbaïninga says he suspects the article may have "ruffled a few feathers."

The state attorney general, contacted by the newspaper with regards to the incident, said he knew nothing of the police action. On 25 May, operations at the paper had returned to normal and journalists were neither arrested nor otherwise harassed by police.

Democratic Republic of Congo
President of National Union of Congolese Newspapers arrested in Kinshasa, 17TH June 2004.
Source: Journaliste En Danger (JED)
Issues: censorship, abuse of regulatory powers
Kabeya Pindi Pasi, programming director for the Kinshasa-based private television station Tropicana TV and president of the National Union of Congolese Newspapers (Union nationale de la presse congolaise, UNPC), was arrested on 17 June 2004 after violating a court-imposed ban on foreign music broadcasts. Pasi was taken to the State Security Court (Cour de sûreté de l'Etat, CSE) and held for more than five hours before he was finally released on the orders of Press and Information Minister Vital Kamerhe.
During his detention, a judicial investigator questioned the journalist at length on his station's broadcast of foreign music videos, particularly rap videos, despite a recent suspension order issued by the Song and Performance Censorship Commission, effective "until further notice".
The commission's letter, signed by CSE Public Prosecutor Théotime Kikongi Ki Masala and distributed to all television station heads, stipulates, among other things, that "given the seriousness of this attack on our values, which has offended the nation's highest authorities, it is time to put a stop to this debauchery [. . . ]."

EASTERN AFRICA
Kenya
Police Crackdown on ‘alternate press’, 10th January 2004.
Source: Network for the Defence of Independent Media in Africa (NDIMA)

Issues: censorship

On 10 January 2004, police raided news stands in major Kenyan towns and confiscated copies of newspapers published by the "alternative press". Scores of vendors were arrested in the well-coordinated crackdown, which Tourism and Information Minister Raphael Tuju said was aimed at getting rid of illegal newspapers. He added that the action was taken because the newspapers had not complied with the law on "registration, execution of a bond and making returns". On 12 December 2003, the minister had warned that a crackdown would be carried out because the owners of the "alternative press" had failed to respect journalistic principles with respect to balance and fairness.
In the capital city, Nairobi, police raided at least one printing press and confiscated newspapers rolling off the press, which would have been ready for sale on 12 January. During the dawn raid at the "Independent" newspaper's Immediate Press, the officers seized plates and other equipment. The newspaper's editor, Mburu Muchoki, said that at least 15,000 copies were impounded.
Newspapers that were confiscated include the "Independent", "Kenya Confidential", "Citizen", "News Post", "Weekly Wembe" and "Summit". Police also arrested "News Post" publisher Ndirangu Kariuki, but later released him.

Somalia
Journalist sentenced and then fined for defamation, 21st April 2004
Source: Writers in Prison Committee, International PEN
Issues: criminal defamation.
Abdishakur, the editor-in-chief of the weekly Puntland-based newspaper "War-Ogaal", was arrested on 21 April 2004. The detention was made in the wake of a "War-Ogaal" article which claimed that the Puntland finance minister, Abdirahman Mohamud Farole, sold food in the United Arab Emirates that had been donated by the international community for distribution in Somalia. Abdishakur was subsequently sentenced to six months' imprisonment for defamation. However, local human rights and journalist organisations persuaded the court to allow the sentence to be commuted to a fine.
After deducting the 40 days the journalist had already spent in custody, Abdishakur was required to pay 2.6m Somali Shilling (approx. US$140). He was released on 1 June. The journalist had suffered from malaria while in detention and, on his release, complained that his arrest had been "unfair and unjust."

Sudan
Eleven journalists detained, 16th May 2004

Source: Reporters without Borders (RSF)

Issues: censorship.

On 15 and 16 May 2004, national security forces arrested Mahgub Mohamed Salih, editor-in-chief of the daily "Al-Ayam", Zohair Al-Sarrag, a columnist with the daily "Al-Sahafa", Mahgub Orwa, editor-in-chief of the suspended daily "Al-Sudani", Mohamed Latif Ali, a columnist with "Al-Ray Alaam", and a journalist with the daily "Akbar Al-Youm", for several hours. Salih is also chairperson of a press freedom defence committee that was set up on 4 May. The other arrested journalists are also members of the committee.
The arrests were designed to prevent the journalists from submitting a statement opposing the new press law to Parliament and President Omar el-Beshir. The statement was signed by 210 journalists. While the arrested journalists were in detention, six other members of the committee managed to submit their written objections to Parliament and the communications minister. Before releasing the five detained journalists, the security forces barred them from using the name of the committee and banned the newly-launched organisation. Newspaper editors were also prevented from publishing reports in the name of the committee.
In a separate incident, on 23 May, the general manager of the daily "Al-Azmina", Jamal Anqara, managing editor Omar Ismaïl and four other journalists with the paper - Osman Hamid, Haider Abdelhafeez, Kamal Awad and Asim Mohieldin - were summoned by the security forces and arrested after the paper carried an article about the collapse of the Sudanese economy. The "Al-Azmina" journalists were interrogated and detained for over 30 hours before being released on bail late on 24 May. They were ordered to report to the prosecutor responsible for crimes against the state on 27 May, for further investigations.

NORTH AFRICA
Egypt
Journalist sentenced to two years in prison for defaming minister, 16TH June 2004.
Source: Reporters without Borders (RSF)
Issues: criminal defamation
Ahmed Ezzedine, a correspondent with the weekly "Al-Ousbou", was handed a two-year prison sentence on the 16th June 2004. Ezzedine was found guilty of defaming Deputy Prime Minister and Agriculture Minister Youssef Wali, after he accused the minister of "false testimony" in an article on 23 June 2003. Currently, Ezzedine faces immediate imprisonment if he decides to appeal the 16 June 2004 verdict, as Egyptian law provides for imprisonment pending an appeal. The verdict comes despite President Hosni Mubarak's 23 February promise to introduce a parliamentary bill that would end prison sentences for press offences.
Libya
Government daily "Al-Zahf al-Akhdar" suspended for one week 27 January 2004
Source: Reporters without Borders (RSF)
Issues: licence suspension, abuse of regulatory powers, harassment.
The government daily "Al-Zahf al-Akhdar" ("The Green Step") was suspended for one week on 27 January 2004 for suggesting that Colonel Muammar Gaddafi should no longer be referred to as the "guide of the revolution" and should instead start behaving as a genuine head of state.
The Libyan authorities said "Al-Zahf al-Akhdar" was suspended for making "serious mistakes" and for "publishing articles contrary to the power of the masses." The newspaper had recently carried an article calling on Gaddafi to "fully exercise the power of a president and to put an end to the rhetoric surrounding his title as 'guide of the revolution'". The article said the revolution had matured and it was "now time to change the rules of the game and create a model state". "The warrior who has led this revolution must now build the state and truly become president", the paper added.

Tunisia
8 Internet Users Sentenced to 26 years imprisonment, 6 April 2004.
Source: Reporters without Borders (RSF)
Issues: abuse of judicial process, harassment
A Tunis court sentenced eight Internet users from the southern city of Zarzis to up to 26 years in prison. The convicted Internet users were accused of promoting terrorist attacks on the sole basis of files they downloaded from the Internet.
The Tunis Criminal Court, presided by Judge Adel Jeridi, sentenced seven persons to 19 years and three months in prison. They included Hamza Mahrouk, aged 21, Amor Farouk Chelandi, aged 21, Amor Rached, aged 21, Abdel-Ghaffar Guiza, aged 21, Aymen Mecharek, aged 22, Ridha Hadj Brahim, a 38-year-old teacher, and Ayoub Sfaxi, who lives abroad. Tahar Guemir, aged 19, who also lives abroad, was accused of being the ringleader and sentenced to 26 years in prison. Another defendant, 19-year-old Abderrazak Bourguiba, is to be tried shortly by a juvenile court because he was only 17 at the time of the alleged offences. RSF called for Bourguiba's immediate release.
The Internet users were convicted of "creating a gang to terrorise people", "violence against individuals with the intent to terrorise", "holding unauthorised meetings", "theft and attempted theft", "preparing explosive materials" and "unauthorised possession of substances intended for making explosive devices".

WEST AFRICA
Guinea
"Jeune Afrique L'Intelligent" news weekly banned, 17TH May 2004.
Source: Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA)/Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)
Issues: censorship
The Ministry of Local Government (MATD) has banned the sale of the 9 to 15 May 2004 edition (issue 2261) of the news weekly "Jeune Afrique L'Intelligent". This is the second time in the last two weeks that an edition of the newspaper has been prevented from going on sale.
According to MFWA-Guinea, the MATD was displeased with an article entitled, "Searching desperately for François Fall", published on page 12 of the paper.
The article, written by "Jeune Afrique L'Intelligent" staff writer Cheick Yerim Seck, referred to measures which it claimed President Lansana Conté used to persuade François Lonceny Fall to rescind his decision to resign from his position as prime minister. Barely two months after he was appointed prime minister on 23 February, Fall announced his resignation from General Conté's government at a 27 April news conference in Paris, France. He insinuated that he had had personal differences with the president and chose to announce his resignation while outside the country because he feared reprisals from the government.
Ivory Coast
New "security measures" tighten state's grip on RTI, 22ND June 2004
Source: Reporters without Borders (RSF) / International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX)
Issues: censorship
The Ivorian government has tightened its grip on the national radio and television station RTI, following the announcement by Interim Communications Minister Hubert Oulaye, on 10 June 2004, of a series of new measures aimed at bringing the station's news coverage in line with "government interests."
On 10 June, following an attack on government positions by isolated rebel factions at Gohitafla several days earlier, managers at RTI received a ministerial communiqué announcing that news items covering the event or any items dealing with defence and security issues would henceforth be subject to a "preview by cabinet" with a view to "protecting the interests of the state". The press review that closed the evening news broadcast each night was also cancelled, while two journalists have been assigned to oversee programming content and inform the minister of any items that might "endanger the security interests of [the state]."
Sierra Leone
Police Raid Office of Independent Daily, 21st January 2004.
Source: Reporters without Borders (RSF)/ International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX).
Issues: harassment, abuse of police powers
The raid came after three journalists from the paper went to the scene of an accident, in which a police car collided with another vehicle, during a police operation against illegal street vendors.
Following a tip-off to "Awoko", three journalists went to the scene of the accident to take photographs. The paper's offices are located less than 50 metres away from the area. Police officers warned them off and followed the journalists back to their offices. Led by Assistant Police Chief Momodu Bangura, several dozen officers then raided the offices and destroyed equipment. Three journalists - Austin Thomas, Sylvester Suallay and Junior John - were assaulted during the raid.
The following day, the police returned to the newspaper's offices after it published details of the incident and the raid in its morning edition. The officers threatened to arrest members of "Awoko"'s management.

SOUTHERN AFRICA
Angola
Editor faces prison term, 30th March 2004.

Source: Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)

Issues: criminal defamation, abuse of judicial process.

On 30 March 2004, the Luanda Provincial Tribunal sentenced Felisberto de Graça Campos, director and editor of the weekly magazine "Semanario Angolense", to 45 days in prison or a fine of US$1,200 for a series of articles published in 2003 that detailed the fortunes of prominent government officials.
Campos's sentence follows defamation charges filed against him by the defence minister, General Kundy Payama, who was included in a list of 59 people believed to be millionaires. The list included politicians, economists, senior military officials, ministers and members of parliament.
Campos was charged under Article 43 of the Press Law, which refers to "abuse of the press", and Article 407 of the Penal Code. He faced a sentence of three to six months in prison under the Press Law, plus an additional four months under the Penal Code.
Malawi
Regulatory authority threatens to withdraw radio station's broadcasting licence, 25th May 2004.

Source: Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)

Issues: abuse of regulatory powers, censorship.

Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) Director General Evance Namanja has threatened to withdraw Radio Maria's broadcasting licence, accusing the Catholic radio station of being ‘partisan’ in its coverage.
The matter follows a directive issued by President Bakili Muluzi saying MACRA should "deal with religious stations that are brewing trouble" in the country. The president issued the directive after launching his own radio station, FM 89.6, in Blantyre on 14 May 2004. Muluzi said MACRA had powers to revoke the licences of radio stations that intervene in politics.
Muluzi was reacting to a sermon aired on Radio Maria in which a preacher condemned "the tendency to impose leaders on the people." The preacher said that "even after Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus, the disciples had to democratically choose Judas' replacement."
Shortly following the 14 May function, Namanja warned Radio Maria's general manager, Monsignor Joseph Kim, that MACRA could revoke the station's licence. Namanja also sent MACRA officials to the station to obtain tapes of programmes aired between 6:00 and 7:00 a.m. (local time) on that day.
Zimbabwe
Standard" editor, reporter appear in court to face allegations of contravening Public Order and Security Act, 8th June 2004

Source: Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)

Issues: criminal defamation.
On 8 June 2004, Bornwell Chakaodza, editor of "The Standard" newspaper, and reporter Valentine Maponga were remanded out of custody to 14 August for contravening Section 15 of the Public Order and Security Act (POSA).
Allegations against the two journalists first arose on 16 May when they published a story entitled, "The family of slain mine boss blames government officials". The story said the family of murdered Trojan Mine boss Leonard Chimimba was blaming government officials for his death. Chakaodza and Maponga relied on a named source who has since distanced himself from the article. Chakaodza and Maponga appeared before Magistrate Memory Chigwaza. The state contends that the two journalists erred in implicating certain unnamed senior government officials as being behind Chimimba's murder. The mine boss was alleged to have been in possession of information connected to nickel theft in South Africa.

APPENDIX 2
EXISTING PROVISIONS ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND MEDIA RIGHTS
Below are the existing provisions within the African continental framework pertaining to the freedom of expression, media freedom and access to information.
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Cultural Charter for Africa, 1976
Article 2
In order to fulfil the objectives set out in Article 2, the African States solemnly subscribe to the following principles:
(b) Respect for the freedom to create and the liberation of the creative genius of the people.

Article 20
The African States should recognize that there can be no cultural policy without corresponding policies on information and communication.

Article 21
The African States should encourage the use of the information and communication media for their cultural development.
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African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, 1981.
Article 9
1 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.
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African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, 1990.

Article 7
Every child who is capable of communicating his or her own views shall be assured the rights to express his opinions freely in all matters and to disseminate his opinions subject to such restrictions as are prescribed by laws.
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Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa, African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, 2002.
Article 1
1. Freedom of expression and information, including the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other form of communication, including across frontiers, is a fundamental and inalienable human right and an indispensable component of democracy.

2. Everyone shall have an equal opportunity to exercise the right to freedom of expression and to access information without discrimination.
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NEPAD Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance, 2002.

Article 15
To promote and protect human rights we have agreed to:
· Ensure responsible free expression, inclusive of the freedom of the press.
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Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, 2003

Article 9
Each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures to give effect to the right of access to any information that is required to assist in the fight against corruption and related offences.