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I
NTERNATIONAL
F
EDERATION OF
J
OURNALISTS
 
The Role of Media inPromotion of Human Rightsand Democratic Developmentin Africa
Brussels, December 1999
 
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I
NTRODUCTION
 
“Press freedom is a cornerstone of human rights. It holds governments responsible for their acts, and serves a warning to all that impunity is an illusion
.”Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General, International Herald Tribune, June 2, 1999The link between human rights, democracy and development is a core question forpolicymakers, not just in the political world, but within the business and finance circlesof the global market.It is increasingly recognised that stability, social and cultural cohesion and structuresfor democracy are essential to strategies for trade, international co-operation andnational development. A key element of these strategies concerns independent journalism and free media which provide a bedrock for democratic exchange andrespect for human rights.The contribution made by journalists is clear: by exposing violations of rights mediacan improve the climate of democratic debate and reduce corruption in public life. Atthe same time, media sensitive to the importance of human rights provide reliablesources of information through which citizens, human rights groups, privateorganisations and public authorities can work together to promote development and toeliminate arbitrary abuse.________________________________________________________
African media are important for people to know their rights: A recentstudy on the impact of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Childin Ghana showed that the largest source of information for thepublic on the Convention and what it means for them is the media.
Independent-minded journalists in Africa have for many years played a central role inthe promotion of democracy. Many have put their lives or freedom at risk in order topromote transparent and accountable governance. The IFJ compiles extensive recordsof the sacrifice made by journalists and other media professionals. Many journalistshave been arrested, prosecuted or condemned to heavy fines or prison terms. Therehave been many instances of censorship or suspension of publications.Press freedom becomes an issue and independent journalism becomes a target becauseit is these are conditions without which it is impossible to advance and protect otherhuman rights. Therefore, professionalism among journalists, editors and publishers andquality in sources of information are vital to the defence of human rights for all.This memorandum offers some general reflections on the current conditions in which journalists work and the obstacles to press freedom, it considers the need for an
 
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integrated and strategic approach to support of independent journalism and concludeswith some suggestions for further actions.
O
BSTACLES TO
M
EDIA
F
REEDOM
 
The single most important obstacle to media freedom in Africa and elsewhere is thefailure to recognise the role played by independent journalism in the creation,nourishment and development of democracy.This lack of recognition is reflected in the presence of active censorship or restrictiveregulation of journalists, lack of rights of access to official information, a legallandscape which inhibits the ability of journalists to inquire freely (for instance, theapplication of draconian defamation and sedition laws), and the state administration of essential media services, including broadcasting, printing facilities and distributionsystems.It should be noted that a difficult relationship between journalism and the exercise of political power is itself a hallmark of democratic society and the tendency tomanipulate news and information or to try to shape the agenda of public debate existsin all societies.But in countries where the democratic culture is not well established and whererespect for democratic pluralism and human rights is not firmly entrenched, restrictionson media tend to be explicit and are profoundly damaging to the project of publicengagement in democracy and development.However, if human rights are to be respected journalists and the public have to knowsomething about them. Regrettably, in Africa ignorance and lack of awarenessabounds. Few journalists or public officials are able to identify with confidence evenhalf a dozen of the basic rights supported by The Universal Declaration of HumanRights or by the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.The question of raising awareness, improving training and developing skills for thepromotion of democracy remains a potent challenge for media professionals andpolicymakers alike. The African Charter needs to be more widely known anddiscussed and needs to be made meaningful to citizens. People need to know what thishome grown Charter says, how it can protect them and how they can assert their rightsthrough the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights.
Awareness is key to the promotion of rights. Citizens must be able tocelebrate achievements and successes. Media have a role to play inreporting good examples of tolerance, peace and respect for humanrights. It is not all bad-news dominated by conflict and strife.
 
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