African Union Drops Controversial Media Observatory Proposal, Sets Scene for New Initiatives

24.03.10

Addis Ababa, March 24: An informal expert meeting on media and development hosted by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the European Commission (EC), today rejected the proposal for a pan-African media observatory launched by the AU and EU in July last year and instead discussed a range of practical proposals in support of African media.

The overwhelming majority of participants representing journalists, media owners, media development practitioners, journalism schools and self-regulatory structures agreed with a statement submitted by the GFMD and its partners that highlighted shortcomings in the proposal, notably its lack of recognition of principles of media freedom, its proposed involvement of governmental bodies in media disputes, the lack of clarity of its legal basis and its failure to recognise existing initiatives.

The AUC assured the meeting that the proposal for a pan-African media observatory would not be pursued further.

To read the full statement submitted by the GFMD, African Forum for Media Development, Federation of African Journalists, International Federation of Journalist and Article 19, click here: GFMD_statement_AU_meeting_March_23.doc

The meeting highlighted the important role the AUC can play in promoting media freedom and independent journalism in Africa.

They urged the AUC and the EC to recognise media development as a sector in its own right.

“In order to develop a meaningful and effective strategy in support of African media, media development has to be seen as a separate sector of development and the AUC and EC should establish media development units in their structures, that can engage with the practitioners in the field”, said GFMD Bettina Peters.

The meeting called on the AUC to engage AU Member States in a debate on their adherence and commitment to key African declarations in support of media freedom, such as the 1991 Windhoek Declaration and the African Charter of Human and People’s Rights.

Participants urged the AUC and EC to provide more funding and support to the African Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information.

“This office is doing important work and it is underfunded and not sufficiently recognised”, said GFMD Steering Committee member for Africa Gabriel Baglo. “The AUC and EC have to provide more support for the Special Rapporteur to do an annual report on freedom of expression and to urge AU Member States to live up to their commitments.”

The meeting gave a cautious welcome to the AUC proposal to create a pan-African media portal and established a task force facilitated by the African Media Initiative that would look at the mandate and conditions for establishment of the portal web-site.

The meeting continues and will reach its final conclusions tomorrow.

For further information contact Bettina Peters at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).