PRESS RELEASE
Ethiopia: Journalists detained under Anti-Terror Law
Yusuf Ahmed, editor of YeMuslimoch Guday magazine, has been convicted on terrorism charges, while two other journalists remain in custody. There is evidence that the journalists have been subjected to beating and torture while in detention. Read more >LEGAL ANALYSIS
Somalia: National Communications Act 2015
A19 appreciates the willingness of the Somali Government to adopt some of our previous comments in this Draft Act, but maintains a number of concerns relating to regulatory independence, pluralism, and the vague wording of a number of restrictions on freedom of expression.
LEGAL ANALYSIS
Tanzania: Cybercrime Act 2015
The Act presents a number of areas of serious concern: not only in relation to content and computer-related offences but also in relation to the lack of adequate procedural safeguards, the Act’s disproportionate and inflexible sanctions regime, and excessive police powers to conduct search-and-seizure operations without judicial oversight.
PRESS RELEASE
Gambia: Community Radio Manager missing for 12 days
Manager of Taranga community radio, Alagie Abdoulie Cessay, disappeared for 12 days having last been seen with government security agents; he was released without explanation on 14 July. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance are still unknown, but there are fears for his physical and psychological safety.
Read more >SUBMISSION
UN HRC: Joint Statement ahead of Turkey's UPR
A19 highlights recommendations which need urgent implementation, such as the decriminalisation of defamation, refraining from blocking websites, as well as from censoring social and traditional media.
Read more >STATEMENT
UN HRC: State violence in Gambia aids censorship
A19 delivered an oral statement highlighting the key findings and recommendations of Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, Christof Heyns' country visit to the Gambia.
Read more >LEGAL ANALYSIS
ECtHR: Criminal Defamation Laws protecting the Judiciary from criticism
A judgement has been handed down on
Peruzzi v Italy, which considers the existence of criminal defamation laws as withinthe margin of appreciation on freedom of expression restrictions. Much more clarity and reasoning is needed with regard to how and why the defamation of judges should be distinguished from ‘ordinary’ defamation.
Read more >PRESS RELEASE
Tunisia: Government must not shelve Access to Information Bill
The government has made a sudden decision to withdraw the draft law on the right to access information without any apparent reason, just prior to its final adoption.
Read more >DOCUMENTARY
Brazil: Authorities are complicit in crimes against Freedom of Expression
To address the involvement of local authorities in crimes against freedom of expression, A19 has launched "Impunidade mata” (“Impunity kills"), a mini-documentary which tells the story of investigative journalist Rodrigo Neto, killed in 2013.
Read more >
