The Africa Media Convention (AMC) is deeply concerned about the levels of impunity and rising cases of violations against journalists and media workers in Africa which has been eroding the rights to freedom of expression and opinion as well as access to information, assembly and political participation.
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And the AMC has recommended that a national minimum wage for journalists per country should be set up as set out in the International Labour Organisatioon (ILO) Convention 11 (ILO Minimum Wage Fixing Convention) and equal pay for work done by all regardless of their gender.
The AMC is also deeply concerned that violations against freedom of the press have continued 30 years after the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed May 3 as the World Press Freedom Day and 75 years since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted.
In its Lusaka declaration, the AMC says it is concerned that many areas of journalistic practice have been criminalised, with the adoption of cybercrime laws prohibiting the publication of false news or news deemed to threaten national security or public health.
The declaration states that there are concerns about the enactment of laws and policies aimed at enhancing control and curtailment of the digital civic space, survelance and interception of communication, the registering and licensing of online content creators and limiting the use of encryption.
The AMC said it was regrettable that some African governments had initiated restrictive measures, including the enactment of laws and policies which often curtailed media freedom beyond the limitations and responsibilities enshrined in the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights and other international, regional and national laws and instruments.
“We recognize the unique challenges women journalists face and the need to ensure provisions for press freedom, freedom of expression, access to information and the safety of journalists adequately address the concerns inhibiting a conducive offline and online environment. We desire that that all Africa Union (AU) Member States member in Africa commit to assess progress of the SDG 16.10 public access to information and fundamental freedoms in accordance with national legislation and international agreements,” the declaration says.
The AMC is calling on African governments to repeal the laws that impinge on freedom of expression and media freedom and ensure compliance with established international standards on human and constitutional rights.
“We propose the establishment of initiatives to safeguard the safety, security and mental wellbeing of journalists across Africa. We call upon the Civil Society Organisations in Africa to collaborate and support journalists and their institutions in resource mobilization, individual and institutional capacity strengthening, research and advocacy actions and coalition building in defending freedom of expression and press freedom,” the reads part of the Lusaka Declaration.
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