Defending Digital Rights and Freedoms in Southern Africa

Through our Media Law Working Group, ISLP has long defended freedom of expression as a critical underpinning of accountable and inclusive development. Our work in this area also promotes the UN’s SDG 16: “to ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.”

ISLP recently convened journalists, lawyers, and other human rights defenders from seven countries for a two-day, in-person event as the capstone to our year-long program of activities promoting freedom of expression in sub-Saharan Africa supported by UNESCO’s Global Media Defense Fund. Co-hosted by the Southern Africa Institute for Policy and Research (SAIPAR) and the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) and held on March 13th and 14th, the gathering centered on International Law and Practices for Defending Digital Rights and Freedoms and Access to Information. Human rights defenders from Canada, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda, the U.S., Zambia, and Zimbabwe shared their varied experiences in rich and substantive conversations, which fostered learning from each other as well as
from our presenters.

Going beyond theoretical concepts, participants exchanged tactical strategies from their respective country contexts and flagged impending threats to freedom of expression and access to information, such as high license fees that impede journalists’ access to data and information. The convening addressed among other concerns internet slow-downs and shut-downs in the run up to elections, discussion of which was particularly timely as there are no less than four national elections scheduled in the region in the next year. Without freedom of the press and for citizens who express their opinions online, voters may not have full access to the information they need to make informed decisions.