Reports show press freedom at stake in several Commonwealth countries

 
Press freedom is the right to communicate, express oneself, and disseminate information through various media, such as print and electronic platforms, without political, economic, legal, or social interference or threats to safety. It involves several aspects, including freedom from prior restraint, freedom from subsequent punishment, access to information, and freedom of circulation. The World Press Freedom Index, published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), assesses this freedom by evaluating countries on their political context, legal framework, economic conditions, socio-cultural environment, and the safety of journalists.

An annual report by Reporters Without Borders that ranks 180 countries based on their press freedom records, using five key indicators. The index considers the broader political and legal environment, economic factors, the sociocultural atmosphere, and the safety and security of journalists.

A report published by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) on Tuesday found that national laws in many Commonwealth member countries severely impede press freedom and unduly restrict the right to freedom of expression.

A press release stated that the CHRI, the Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA) and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) called on member states to urgently repeal “laws that criminalize legitimate public speech” and take decisive action to protect media workers and watchdogs from violence and intimidation.

“The report titled “Who Controls the Narrative? Legal Restrictions on Freedom of Expression in the Commonwealth” finds that criminal provisions for speech offences, including defamation and sedition, as well as violations of national security laws, are arbitrarily applied to intimidate and silence journalists, human rights defenders, and government critics,” the press release read. “A key objective, the authors argue, must be to decriminalize defamation laws in 41 Commonwealth countries — many of which permit long prison sentences.”

According to the press release, the report is based on analyses of national legal frameworks and draws on testimonies from over 30 senior journalists and 35 lawyers across Africa, Asia, the Americas and the Caribbean, Europe and the Pacific regions.

The report concludes that the Commonwealth’s past inaction has “contributed to the serious and persistent challenges to the protection of freedom of expression and the rule of law in some member countries”.

The report urges the secretariat and member states to act resolutely, together with non-governmental organizations, to ensure observance of the 11-point Commonwealth Principles on Freedom of Expression and the Role of the Media in Good Governance adopted by Heads of Government in Samoa.

“These media principles call on governments to create a safe and enabling environment for media workers, and to review and consider amending unduly restrictive domestic laws that inhibit free speech both online and offline,” the press release read.