RIGHTS: Less Freedom in Older Democracies

• by Sanjay Suri (london)
• Thursday, December 11, 2008
• Inter Press Service

Article 19 launched a book in London Thursday, 'Speaking Out for Free Expression', to mark 20 years of its existence, looking at the pattern of rights to information and expression through that period.

It is a picture that changed after the Sep. 11 attacks in the U.S. That date brought a significant reversal in the U.S. and in Western European democracies, says Article 19 executive director Dr. Agnès Callamard.

"What we are witnessing in the advanced countries is a new security agenda, where some of the more established democracies are actually seeing a reversal of protection of freedom of expression," Callamard told IPS.

In fighting the 'war on terror', governments do have a responsibility to protect their people and ensure their safety, she said. "But the war on terror has gone far beyond what we think is acceptable. The security agenda has taken such importance that the balance between the right to freedom and that of security is no longer there."

Western democracies have seen a setback both in law and in practice, Callamard said. "Most of Western Europe and the U.S. have seen a setback through new legislation and new powers given to the police and the state. That is a part of a wide range of setbacks for civil liberties more generally."

On the other hand, she said, worldwide protection for the freedom of expression has improved, and there are more democratic nations in many parts of the world, in Africa, Latin America, and of course eastern Europe. In these new democracies you will find greater right to freedom of expression and freedom of the media."

There has been progress in China, too, she said, which has moved on from the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989. "From that massacre things have developed in the right direction, but there is still very much to do for greater freedom of expression. Journalists and online dissidents are imprisoned, and there is no free political expression at this stage."

Africa has seen several dramatic changes for the better, the Article 19 report says. "What is very striking is how Africa changed because of the democratisation process and the telecommunications revolution," Callamard said. "The mobile revolution means that a high number of people can communicate and receive information. But Africa is still not where we want to see it.

"Somalia is a difficult place for anyone who wants to express himself or herself. In Senegal the situation has deteriorated - and Senegal used to be one of the symbols of a new Africa. South Africa continues to be an example of what can be achieved with enlightened leadership. There, freedom of expression is well protected, but at the continent level, despite positive changes, the challenges remain large."

Poverty is seen as a major obstacle to freedom of expression and access to information. "Community radio is an important source of information, and there are some very good newspapers, and very good journalism, but the literacy rate is not very high, so the structural problems linked to poverty constitute an impediment to protection of freedom of expression and access to information."

The report from Article 19, which takes its name from Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that guarantees free speech, takes a detailed look at 34 countries in five regions. Among the contributors are four special rapporteurs on freedom of expression from the United Nations, the Americas, Africa and Europe.

The report speaks of Al-Jazeera television in the Middle East region as a voice that has brought information to people "that was previously severely restricted." But here too the 'war on terror' has allowed many regimes to crack down on freedom of expression. In Egypt bloggers face draconian laws; in Yemen journalists critical of the regime have been imprisoned as 'terrorists'.

Iran is seeing particularly severe restrictions. Iraq still invokes laws that go back to the days of Saddam Hussein, particularly those relating to criminal defamation, on restrictions on access to information, and on repressive registration requirements for media, the report says.

© Inter Press Service (2008) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service

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