+at+the+dialogue+with+AU+Rapporteur+Advo.+Pansy+Tlakula.JPG) |
| Rapportuers UN Rapportuer Margaret Ssekagya (Left) at the dialogue with AU Rapporteur Advo. Pansy Tlakula |
Kampala, 18th
September 2012;
The Africa Union Special Rapportuer on the Freedom of expression, opinion and
Information, advocate Pansy Tlakula has expressed the need by her office and
that of her counterpart at the United Nations to make a formal visit to the
country.
Advocate
Pansy was speaking at a National Public Dialogue on freedom of expression and
information (FOE-I) organized by Human Rights network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)
on 17th September 2012 at Serena hotel in Kampala, which attracted
media practitioners; academia; CSOs and government agencies.
She
noted that given the various human rights concerns in Uganda especially on
freedom of expression, her office would make an official request to Ugandan government
to facilitate her visit. “….i will officially write to the Ugandan government
to admit a joint mission of AU and UN to come and assess the situation of FOE-I
in Uganda between January and April 2013……”
Advocate
Pansy who was on an informal visit to Uganda was dismayed by the status of
freedom of expression in Uganda which participants noted was characterized by; stringent
media legal framework closure of media houses, physical attacks on journalists,
denial of platforms to guarantee divergent thoughts; denial to practitioners to
access news scenes; illegal arrest and detention of journalists; harassment and
intimidation of journalists among others.
She
commended HRNJ-Uganda for organizing the event which she described as very
relevant in strengthening freedom of expression, opinion and information in Uganda
and Africa as a whole. She also hailed the UN Special Rapportuer on the
situation of Human rights defenders, Ms Margaret Ssekaggya for championing the
human rights agenda. She outlined the importance of civil society in Uganda and
freedom of expression practitioners to continuously engage in dialogue with the
state/ government and to utilize both her office at the AU and the UN mechanisms
to ensure the promotion and protection of FOE-I in the country.
She
called on the State to take steps to decriminalize defamation and prosecute
persons who perpetrate attacks on journalists to end impunity. She called for
the establishment of independent regulatory bodies, adding that politicians
should not be allowed to own media houses because this compromises their
offices.
The
UN Special Rapportuer on the situation of human rights defenders, Ms Margaret
Ssekaggya on her part observed that the numerous cases received by her office reveal
that journalists continue to suffer all kinds of threats to muzzle the media.
She said that journalists were among the many human rights defenders who are
most vulnerable while at work. She called on the government to pass a law for
the protection of human rights defenders basing on technical advice by the AU
and UN.
HRNJ-Uganda
thanks all journalists who have withstood the turbulent environment and
continued to promote freedom of expression, opinion and Information in Uganda.
For
More Information Contact;
Human
Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)
Kivebulaya Road Mengo Kampala Opp. St.
Marcelino Pre. School,
P.O.BOX.
71314 Clock Tower Kampala, Tel: +256-414-272934 / +256-414-667627
Website:
Www.hrnjuganda.org,
BLOG: http://hrnjuganda.blogpost.com
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