1 June 2006
AFRICAN FREE EXPRESSION GROUPS TO HOLD FORUM AT AU SUMMIT
Ten African organisations, including four IFEX members, will be holding a forum at the African Union (AU) Summit in Banjul, The Gambia on 29-30 June 2006, to discuss how regional human rights mechanisms can strengthen freedom of expression.
The forum will examine the main challenges facing free expression in Africa, and seek ways in which advocates can more effectively use the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights and the African Peer Review Mechanism to protect free speech rights in their countries.
Participants are expected to include the African Commission's Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and prominent journalists, human rights activists and intellectuals.
Participants will draft a list of recommendations that organisers aim to present to a number of African heads of state and key AU officials at the Summit, including the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Alpha Oumar Konare.
The organisations hosting the forum include ARTICLE 19, the Media Foundation for West Africa, the Media Institute for Southern Africa and the West African Journalists Association. Other groups include the Gambia Press Union, the All Africa Editors Forum, Panos Institute for West Africa, Famedev, and Highway Africa.
For more information, contact: Fatou Jagne-Senghore, ARTICLE 19 Africa Programme Officer; Tel: +221 820 9513 or + 221 569 2315; E-mail: fatou@article19.org or jagnfatou@sentoo.sn