Southern Africa

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Spotlight: Southern Africa Access to Information Free Expression & the Law

How well can citizens in southern Africa access public information?

28 September 2016
Media Institute of Southern Africa

In commemoration of the first International Day of Universal Access to Information, MISA has launched its Transparency Assessment, which seeks to establish the ease or difficulty with which citizens in southern Africa can access public information.

Southern Africa Access to Information Free Expression & the Law

Report reveals southern Africa's "most open and secretive government institutions"

MISA's 2015 report reveals that direct requests for information are still generally met with hostility within the public service, with researchers experiencing long delays, non-responsive institutions or demands to justify their request for information.

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa ‎28 September 2015

Southern Africa Access to Information

Report examines southern Africa's most open and secretive institutions in 2014

On 28 September, the Media Institute of Southern Africa marked International Right to Information Day by launching Government Secrecy in an Information Age: 2014 Report on Open & Secretive Public Institutions in Southern Africa.

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa ‎29 September 2014

Access to Information Southern Africa Attacks

So this is democracy? Examining the state of media freedom in Southern Africa

For this 20th edition of So This Is Democracy? the disturbing but relevant theme is "media behind bars", due to the many cases MISA recorded in 2013 of authorities arresting journalists, often without a clear reason and then detaining them, interrogating them, and confiscating their equipment and materials.

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa ‎ 6 May 2014

Latest from Southern Africa

On Valentine's Day, southern African countries urged to respect LGBT rights

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa

Southern Africa Free Expression & the Law 14 February 2014
Journalists attacked in Malawi, South Africa and Zambia

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa

Southern Africa Attacks 31 May 2013
Concerns over media freedom in Southern Africa

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa

Southern Africa 3 May 2013
MISA launches annual state of media freedom report

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa

Southern Africa World Press Freedom Day 2 May 2012
MISA concerned by growing intolerance of media freedom in the region

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa

Southern Africa World Press Freedom Day 1 May 2012
MISA celebrates women journalists on the occasion of International Women's Day

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa

Southern Africa 8 March 2012
In its World Press Freedom Day statement, MISA highlights "emerging threats, the need for vigilance and consolidation on media gains in Southern Africa"

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa

Southern Africa World Press Freedom Day 30 April 2009
Attacks on the Press in 2008: Zimbabwe

‎ Committee to Protect Journalists

Southern Africa 12 March 2009
So This is Democracy? Report on the state of media freedom and freedom of expression in southern Africa

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa

Southern Africa 26 June 2008
Report on the state of media freedom and freedom of expression in southern Africa 2007

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa

Southern Africa 8 May 2008
MISA releases annual publication "So This Is Democracy?: State of media freedom in Southern Africa"

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa

Southern Africa 30 April 2004
ARTICLE 19 releases campaign pack on defamation and insult laws in SADC countries

‎ ARTICLE 19

Southern Africa Free Expression & the Law 2 May 2003
FXI's 5 April 2002 weekly report

‎ Freedom of Expression Institute

Southern Africa 8 April 2002
Newspaper charged for publishing photograph; licencing of journalists proposal panned

‎ Freedom of Expression Institute

Southern Africa 16 December 2001
FXI condemns SADC call for journalists' accreditation

‎ Freedom of Expression Institute

Southern Africa 5 November 2001
CPJ concerned about deterioration of press freedom in SADC region

‎ Committee to Protect Journalists

Southern Africa 11 October 2001
CPJ calls for more press freedom in SADC countries

‎ Committee to Protect Journalists

Southern Africa 3 August 2000
CPJ calls for more press freedom in SADC countries

‎ Committee to Protect Journalists

Southern Africa 3 August 2000
MISA presents sixth annual report on state of media freedom in southern Africa

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa

Southern Africa 2 May 2000
Obscenity laws and freedom of expression

‎ ARTICLE 19

Southern Africa 20 February 2000
MISA issues report on state of media freedom in Southern Africa

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa

Southern Africa 29 April 1999
MISA honours Namibian editor with 1997 Press Freedom Award

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa

Southern Africa 15 October 1997
MISA launches website

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa

Southern Africa 25 September 1997

At a glance

Africa

members working in this region 13

See list

Most covered free expression issues in this region

More from Africa

Internet Freedom in Africa: Baseline Report of Eight Countries

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) 11 January 2018
The West Africa Internet Rights Monitor: Monitoring Report for April-June 2017

MFWA has identified lack of effective internet-specific legal frameworks, inadequate infrastructure and high cost of data as major challenges in the internet sector in West Africa.

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) 15 September 2017
OGP in Africa: Opportunities for open contracting and open data

This report presents a review of the efficacy and capabilities of the Open Government Partnership or OGP to promote Open Contracting through the National Action Plans of their African member–states.

Africa Freedom of Information Centre 20 April 2015

Take Action!

Release Imprisoned Bahraini Human Rights Defender Dr. Abduljalil al-Singace

Bahrain human rights defender Dr. Abduljalil al-Singace shouldn’t spend another birthday in prison for exercising his right to freedom of expression. Call for his release here.