28 July 2004

IFEX MEMBERS RAISE CONCERNS OVER PRESS LAW


Nineteen IFEX members have written to the Ethiopian government raising concerns over the latest draft of a proposed press law they say contains serious restrictions on freedom of expression.

In a letter to Ethiopian Information Minister Bereket Simon, the organisations have urged the government to ensure that national consultations on the draft law respect the concerns of international, regional and local free-expression groups.

While the latest draft of the "Proclamation to Provide for the Freedom of the Press" contains improvements over previous versions, serious problems remain, the IFEX members say.

The draft law contains restrictions on who can practice journalism in the country and invests power in authorities to register and license the media. ARTICLE 19, an IFEX member, says conditions on who may practise journalism are "inconsistent with the [international] guarantee of freedom of expression, which grants everyone, regardless of their situation, the right to engage in expressive activities." Similarly, registration requirements for individual journalists are not supported by the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa, says ARTICLE 19.

The draft law also contains harsh penalties for violations of the law, including jail sentences of up to five years, and gives the Information Minister the power to censor foreign publications considered contrary to the national interest. It would also enable authorities to create a state-controlled Press Council that would enforce a Code of Ethics.

ARTICLE 19 has released a briefing note on the draft press law. It contains recommendations for bringing the law in line with international standards on freedom of expression (see http://www.article19.org/docimages/1817.doc).

A new report by the International Press Institute (IPI) also contains recommendations for improving press freedom in Ethiopia. IPI says the government has an opportunity to form a relationship with the media that "not only encourages and supports freedom of expression but also enhances the work of the present government in many other areas of democracy" (see http://www.freemedia.at/EthiopiaReport2004.htm).

Visit these links:

- IFEX letter to the Ethiopian Government: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/60360/
- CPJ: http://www.cpj.org/news/2004/Ethiopia23july04na.html
- Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa: http://www.article19.org/docimages/1410.doc
(Map: © Human Rights Watch)



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Also from the Communiqué, 28 July 2004

HAITI: PRO-ARISTIDE JOURNALISTS UNDER THREAT: CPJ REPORT 28 July 2004 UNITED STATES: IFEX MEMBERS URGE VISA RULE CHANGES FOR JOURNALISTS 28 July 2004 INTERNATIONAL: ARAB GROUPS LAUNCH DEMOCRACY NETWORK 28 July 2004 ISRAEL: ISRAEL/PALESTINE: JOURNALISTS PRESSURED TO TOE THE LINE 28 July 2004 NIGERIA: FREEDOM HOUSE, MRA LAUNCH HUMAN RIGHTS TRAINING FOR NIGERIAN JOURNALISTS 28 July 2004 OSCE TO HOLD CONFERENCE ON INTERNET MEDIA FREEDOM 28 July 2004 INTERNATIONAL: IREX Provides Grants for Independent Media 28 July 2004 INTERNATIONAL: Council of Europe Media Division Seeks Input on Future Activities 28 July 2004 INTERNATIONAL: UNCA JOURNALISM AWARDS 28 July 2004

Ethiopia

Blogger risks death penalty as judge confirms charges 26 January 2012 CORRECTION: Death penalty for blogger, prison for journalists 26 January 2012 Journalists convicted under anti-terror legislation 20 January 2012 IFJ condemns jail term handed down to Swedish journalists 27 December 2011 Two Swedish journalists found guilty of "supporting terrorism", face 15 years in jail 21 December 2011 See all alerts: Ethiopia


Central and Eastern Africa

DJIBOUTI: Radio journalist threatened and tortured for 24 hours 3 February 2012 KENYA: WiPC interview with Robert Wanyonyi on witnessing and reporting on crime 1 February 2012 KENYA: ARTICLE 19 publishes analysis of Freedom of Information Bill 1 February 2012 SOMALIA: NUSOJ outraged over live radio broadcast that exposed journalists to danger 31 January 2012


 
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