Press freedom: Let journalists work without threats and intimidation

Journalists

Journalists outside Parliament buildings on November 30. Detaining journalists at undisclosed locations without communication with family members or colleagues subjects them to mental anguish.


 

Photo credit: Jeff Angote | Nation Media Group

International human rights law regards plurality of journalism as imperative, because the journalist’s watchdog role is integral to democracy. This invokes the public’s right to receive information under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

It states that “everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his/her choice”.

Article 10 of the European Convention on Human rights echoes the foregoing proclamation by declaring that “you have a right to responsibly say and write what you think and to give and receive information from others. This includes the freedom of the press”.

While reaffirming the fundamental importance of freedom of expression as an inalienable human right and indispensable component of democracy, The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights on October 23, 2002 in the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa recognised the critical role played by the media in “promoting the free flow of information and ideas and in assisting people to make informed decisions and in facilitating and strengthening democracy”.

Civil unrest

Crucially, Article 6 of the commission enshrines the right to liberty and security of every single person and, in particular, expressly prohibits arbitrarily arresting or detaining anyone. In no time are the above rights in increased jeopardy as when a country experiences civil unrest and political upheaval.

Conflict triggers violations of the right to freedom of expression as states clamp down on dissent and attempt to maintain control by pushing down rebellious and destabilising forces in the society. Journalists play a key role in spotlighting these abuses as well as obtaining first-hand information and disseminating news about the conflict through the various media houses.

Reporters themselves are, however, not immune to aggression directed at them by repressive regimes that unfairly deem their reports partial. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an American independent non-profit and non-governmental organisation committed to the protection of press freedom and rights of journalists, the number of reporters incarcerated around the globe reached a new high in 2021.

Authoritarian regimes from Europe to Africa brutally attacked and muzzled the independent press under the pretext of national security. Between January 1 and December 1, at least 108 journalists were put behind bars, totalling a record 293 imprisoned journalists across the world. It’s the highest number since the New York-based lobby started tracking the imprisonment of journalists in 1992.

In sub-Saharan Africa, at least 45 journalists are currently languishing in prison with the biggest setback for media freedom recorded in Ethiopia. New media restrictions instituted by the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed reflect just how hostile the media environment has grown as Ethiopia is sucked deep into a whirlpool of violence and mindless bloodletting.

There has been a sharp increase in the number of Ethiopian journalists behind bars over the past four years, from none in 2018 to one in 2019 and seven in 2020.  As of December 1, there were nine reported cases, including Tesfa-Alem Tekle, who was arrested for alleged links to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

Harassing and persecuting journalists for carrying out their duties is abhorrent and inimical to the principle of freedom of expression. It rolls back gains made on press freedom and obstructs free flow of information to the detriment of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.

Displacement of people

Lack of objective and independent coverage on the ground gives propaganda a chance to advance as truth retreats, which prolongs conflicts and results in massive human suffering, widespread displacement of people, unchecked plunder of public resources, breakdown of the rule of law and ultimate collapse of states.

Arresting and detaining journalists is also injurious to their mental health. Detaining journalists at undisclosed locations without communication with family members or colleagues subjects them to mental anguish and leaves them with emotional scars which might take long to heal and which might affect their professional lives. It is equally draining to family members and fellow colleagues.

Finally, arresting and jailing journalists contravenes Article 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which proscribes arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

The international community and lobby groups should pressurise autocratic regimes holding journalists behind bars to release them unconditionally and all must unequivocally commit to upholding press freedom for the good of humanity.

Mr Maosa is a banker. [email protected]; @ndegemaosa