Author Archives for Brigitte Read

Kenyan court declares criminal defamation unconstitutional

March 10, 2017 10:12 am Published by Leave your thoughts

On 6 February 2017 Justice John Mativo ruled that Section 194 of Kenya’s Penal Code, which creates the offence of criminal defamation,  violates the right to freedom of expression as guaranteed under Article 33 of the supreme law of the land. Jaqueline Okuta and Jackson Njeru, two individuals separately charged with criminal defamation...


Gambian criminal laws challenged at regional court

December 9, 2015 10:24 am Published by Leave your thoughts

The Federation of African Journalists and three exiled Gambian reporters have filed a legal claim before the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States to challenge the pervasive culture of persecution, violence, and injustice towards journalists in The Gambia. They argue that their right to freedom of expression has...


South Sudan media stakeholders appeal for decriminalization of defamation in media laws

December 9, 2015 9:14 am Published by Leave your thoughts

A two-day conference held in Juba to mark International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (2 November), has recommended decriminalization of defamation as is contained in the South Sudan 2013 Media Authority Act. It also appealed to the government to speed up investigation of the seven journalists killed in South Sudan,...


PEN International’s Resolution #19: Criminal defamation and insult laws

November 8, 2015 7:49 am Published by Leave your thoughts

The Assembly of Delegates of PEN International, meeting at its 81st World Congress in Quebec, Canada, 13th to 17th October 2015 Despite the growing international consensus that criminal defamation infringes the fundamental right to freedom of expression as expressed by international and regional human rights bodies and mechanisms, prosecutions of journalists and other...


A few successes, many challenges: campaign reflects on road ahead

September 23, 2015 10:47 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

The crusade against defamation, insult, false news and sedition laws across the African continent will be won with a mixture of both political and legal methods, delegates at a 19-20 September continental campaign meeting in Johannesburg agreed. At the Decriminalisation of Expression’s two-day meeting, activists from African and international organisations exchanged ideas on...


Zimbabwe internet conference resolves to press for decriminalisation of expression

August 27, 2015 5:42 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

On 21 August, stakeholders in Zimbabwe’s internet sector met at the National Internet Governance Conference hosted by MISA-Zimbabwe in Harare. The conference participants agreed on 14 guiding “principles and actions on internet governance in Zimbabwe.” The seventh principle emphasised the importance of decriminalising expression to enable information flow freely. According to a statement...


Gabon decriminalises defamation

August 14, 2015 10:09 am Published by Leave your thoughts

Gabon’s Cabinet on Tuesday voted to decriminalise press offenses, in a decision that is a big milestone in the campaign against criminal defamation laws in Africa. The meeting that arrived at the decision was chaired by the central African nation’s president, Ali Bongo Ondimba. Gabon’s current penal code stipulates jail time and heavy...


Young East African lawyers trained in defending media freedom

August 5, 2015 11:17 am Published by Leave your thoughts

If journalists are the frontline in the battle to protect media freedom, then the last line of defense is perhaps the idealistic lawyers with the smarts to challenge restrictions by taking litigation beyond national courts through to regional and international structures. In early July, KAS Media Africa partnered with the Media Legal Defence...


NUSOJ meets Parliamentarians on Media Law Reform

July 10, 2015 11:13 am Published by Leave your thoughts

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) held yesterday, 9 July 2015, in Mogadishu a private lobby meeting with 32 Members of the Federal Parliament on the need to seriously reform the Media Law 2008 and further amend the current draft media law which was distributed to parliamentarians for debate, amendment and approval....