MISA Regional

𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗝𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁

The All Africa Judges and Jurists Summit convened in Nairobi, Kenya, from 17 – 18 September 2024, ended with a call to affirm judicial independence and address challenges to judicial independence and the rule of law in Africa.

The Summit expressed deep concern over the growing challenges to constitutional democracy and the rule of law on the continent, including shrinking civic space, impunity, corruption, and the erosion of democratic processes.

The Summit was convened in recognition of the fundamental human rights enshrined in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, particularly Articles 7 and 26, which guarantee everyone the right to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal in the determination of rights and obligations and of any criminal charge.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲: https://misa.org/blog/misa-communique-on-the-all-africa-judges-and-jurists-summit/

MISA Communiqué on the All Africa Judges and Jurists Summit To strengthen African judiciaries’ engagement with emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, and leverage on them to advance the rule of law and access to justice.

𝗠𝗼𝘇𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗺

Mozambican authorities have followed up on last week’s shutting down of the internet by blocking access to social media and messaging platforms as tensions escalate following the October 9 elections.

MISA’s monitoring showed that the two major mobile service providers, Vodacom and Mobitel, blocked access to Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram on October 31st, 2024.

Some Mozambicans have been planning protests following the elections, and the government’s blocking of access to social media and messaging platforms could be a response to stop the demonstrations.

MISA has since written to Vodacom, seeking clarity on why the mobile service provider shut down the internet and whether this was in response to a government order.

The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises emphasise that these companies have the added responsibility to respect human rights, prevent or mitigate potential harms, and provide a remedy for harms they cause or contribute to.

Thus, by shutting down Internet access, companies fail to respect human rights and contribute to potential harm.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲:
https://misa.org/blog/mozambique-blocks-access-to-social-media-as-more-protests-loom/




MISA Zimbabwe MISA Malawi MISA Zambia MISA Lesotho

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗔

Journalist Passmore Kuzipa was on 25 October 2024 elected unopposed as Chairperson of MISA Zimbabwe’s National Governing Council during the media freedom and freedom of expression advocacy and lobby organisation’s annual general meeting in Harare.

Kuzipa takes over from Golden Maunganidze following the end of his two consecutive three-year terms of office as stipulated by the MISA Zimbabwe constitution.

Phyliss Kachere was elected Vice Chairperson (unopposed) following the expiry of former Vice Chairperson Ruth Butaumocho’s term of office, together with that of Committee Members Pamenus Tuso and Kenneth Matimaire.

Albert Mazhale and Jeffrey Muvundisi were elected as Committee Members while Nokuthula Mahaka retained her position as Treasurer.

Following the MISA Zimbabwe elections, Maunganidze stepped down as the MISA Regional Council Chairperson. Accordingly, the Vice Chairperson, Jeremias Langa (MISA Mozambique Chairperson), assumes office as the new RGC Chairperson.

Golden Matonga (MISA Malawi Chairperson), replaces Langa as the new Vice Chairperson, while Ms Salame Kitomari (MISA Tanzania) remains the Treasurer.

Journalist and publisher of a provincial newspaper in Zimbabwe, Kuzipa who is in the final lap of his law studies, accordingly, joins the Regional Governing Council.

Read more: https://misa.org/blog/new-office-bearers-for-misa/



MISA Zimbabwe MISA Malawi MISA Zambia MISA Lesotho

𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗔 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗣𝗥 𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝘇𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) has engaged the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa Commissioner Ourveena Geereesha Topsy-Sonoo on the indiscriminate attacks on Mozambican journalists following the country’s elections on 9 October.

Official results of the elections are yet to be announced.

As journalists were waiting to interview Venancio Mondlane, the opposition presidential candidate, on 21 October in Maputo, police reportedly fired live bullets and discharged teargas canisters.

Two journalists have since been admitted to hospital, where they are being treated for gunshot wounds.

Other journalists reported temporary blindness, while others had their equipment destroyed following the attacks by the police.

#𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗺𝗜𝘀𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗔𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲
#𝗠𝗼𝘇𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀
#𝗠𝗼𝘇𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

https://misa.org/blog/misa-engages-achpr-on-indiscriminate-attacks-on-mozambican-journalists/

African Union MISA Malawi MISA Zimbabwe

MISA engages ACHPR on indiscriminate attacks on Mozambican journalists In his letter to Commissioner Topsy-Sonoo, MISA Regional Chairperson Golden Maunganidze said the organisation was concerned the government had (at the time of writing of this communique) neither ce…

International Senior Lawyers Project ISLP) in collaboration with the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) regional office invites you to a three part training for women journalists from southern Africa under the theme Knowing and protecting your rights online: International legal standards and norms commencing.

The training will highlight how women journalists can use the law to defend their rights when faced with online violations such as harassment, doxing and deepfakes.

📅 When: 23 October 2024, 30 October 2024 and 6 November 2024
⏲️ Time: 3pm CAT

Register for the meeting here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wWFXjXF7Sa2DYeKDc9I17w

MISA Malawi MISA Zimbabwe

𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 (𝗦𝗼𝗦) 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮

Dr Tabani Moyo Snr, highlighted the following,

" As we open this Second Day’s Session of our Summit, which will straddle the end of the 3rd year of the Spaces of Solidarity as a Forum, I am privileged to say that as a people, we have every reason to be proud of our historic efforts towards setting a collective agenda in response to the challenges impacting on expression in SADC.

It is even more historic for Namibia, the birthplace of the Windhoek Declaration on Diverse and Plural Media and its successor, Windhoek +30—Information as a public good.

The strides we have made during our first three years have laid a firm foundation for the new advances we must and will make during the following years.

These efforts, which you all have been instrumental in, form the core of our annual plans of action and mobilisation.

They are designed to ensure that the people of Southern Africa actively contribute to shaping and advancing the right to express, access information, and engage with a media that is fit for purpose in the face of everchanging contexts.

Suffice it to assert that our region has never in its entire history been at such cross-roads attending to high-density saturation of elections, battling and engaging with fast-paced changes in technology, grappling with the debilitating effects of conflict at a global scale, living with the effects of the changing climate; navigating the fragmentation of progressive forces in the age of increasing right-wing politics and an expression and media ecosystem that faces an existential threat due to these vices."

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲: https://lnkd.in/dFY3qJcD




MISA Zimbabwe MISA Malawi DW Akademie Centre For Innovation and Technology MISA Zambia

𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗔 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻`𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆

Mr Golden Maunganidze noted the following,

" Kindly allow me to kickstart my speech by riding on the protocols observed from yesterday’s summit. As a journalist educator, I found yesterday’s session informative and interesting.

I will undoubtedly be one of the most eager participants in similar exercises in the future.

That as it may be, today, we shift our focus to the Spaces of Solidarity, an organic grouping of like-minded organisations.

This year’s meeting is key because we must move beyond setting up this formidable platform by expanding and consolidating what we have built in the last three years.

I am particularly interested in the need for tangible outputs that will guide us in the next 12 months and beyond.

Without pre-empting the following discussions, let me hasten to say the time for fiddling while Rome burns has ended. In saying this, I am mindful of the rapidly shrinking civic space."




𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲: https://misa.org/blog/misa-regional-chairpersons-opening-remarks-at-the-2024-spaces-of-solidarity/

MISA Zimbabwe MISA Malawi DW Akademie

Day 2 of the “𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲” in 📍 Windhoek Namibia. Today’s focus is on Spaces of Solidarity 2024.

The meeting began with a Free Expression Art Vernissage.




MISA Zimbabwe DW Akademie MISA Malawi

Today is the first day of the “𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲” in 📍 Windhoek Namibia. Today’s focus is on the future of in Southern Africa.




MISA Zimbabwe MISA Malawi DW Akademie Centre For Innovation and Technology

MISA Malawi Vice Chairperson Chisomo Ngulube talks about our media advocacy work in and involvement in the promotion of in Southern Africa.

of Windhoek Conference on Building Resilient Information Ecosystems in .

Conference organisers:
MISA Malawi
MISA Regional
Namibia Media Trust (NMT)
Centre For Innovation and Technology (CITE)
DW Akademie



Picture credit: CITE

𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗝𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁, 𝗡𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗶, 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘆𝗮, 𝟭𝟴 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰.

𝘣𝘺 𝘔𝘐𝘚𝘈 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘋𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 Dr Tabani Moyo Snr

My Lords, My Ladies, the leadership of the Africa Judges and Jurists Forum (AJJF), distinguished delegates to the All Africa Judges and Jurists Summit, it is a great honour for MISA to engage in this august meeting on the nexus and intricate intersectionality between technology and access to justice in Africa.

Chairperson and distinguished guests, we have never been so well placed as we are today to take decisive forward steps towards creating a people-centred society, especially one that places the generally marginalised at the centre of accessing and utilising judicial services through technology.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲: https://misa.org/blog/submissions-to-the-all-africa-judges-and-jurists-summit-nairobi-kenya-18-september-2024/

𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗔 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝘀𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗴𝗮𝘇𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗧𝗜 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹

The government of Botswana has gazetted the Freedom of Information Bill, which has since been brought to the legislature for debate.

During the 2024 World Press Freedom Day commemorations, organised jointly by the Government of Botswana, UNESCO, MISA Regional Office, and MISA Botswana, Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi promised that an access to information bill will be brought before the legislature during parliament’s winter session.

In a letter to the Minister for State President Kabo Neale Sechele Morwaeng, MISA commended Botswana for gazetting the Freedom of Information Bill and asked that the proposed legislation be prioritised.

MISA noted that the winter parliament only sits for a short period, which may affect the bill’s passage.

“Previous efforts to enact an access to information bill have been abortive. Considering the general election is on the horizon, there are real fears that legislators may soon prioritise the elections and negate this very important piece of legislation,” MISA wrote.

“We, thus, call on you to assist with prioritising the passage of this bill.”

MISA raised concerns that citizen participation was limited in the drafting of the bill, with the organisation advising that “public participation is at the core of openness, accountability, and transparency”.

“Public participation is not aimed at demeaning or replacing parliamentarians’ functions but to enhance them while fostering national consensus and ownership of the law making process,” MISA wrote.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲:

https://misa.org/blog/misa-commends-botswana-for-gazetting-ati-bill/

MISA engages SADC CSOs and stakeholders in the operationalisation of regional Non-State Actors’ mechanism

MISA participated in the SADC Non-State Actors Forum Engagement Meeting held on 11 and 12 August, 2024 in Harare.

The meeting sought to operationalise the SADC Non-State Actors Engagement Mechanism.

The meeting brought together the SADC Secretariat, the Southern African Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (SAf-CNGO), NGOs working in the region, and development partners.

MISA believes the forum is a crucial platform for the region, as it is a bridge between the SADC Member States and the region’s citizens.

It is worth noting that the forum prioritises learning from other regional institutions, such as the East African Civil Society Forum and the West African Civil Society Forum.

This is an acknowledgment of the importance of collaborations in building sustainable mechanisms on emerging issues.

Read More:

https://misa.org/blog/misa-engages-sadc-csos-and-stakeholders-in-the-operationalisation-of-regional-non-state-actors-mechanism/

A study of technology facilitated gender-based violence in Southern Africa (Now Available!!!)

FOREWORD

ADVANCES in technology have been a blessing for democracy and active citizen participation in governance.

The internet has improved the way we communicate and facilitated access to information in a way that was unthinkable a few decades ago.

However, while democracies have been enhanced by the growth of the internet and social media, these technologies have also provided for the swelling of online attacks on journalists, particularly women media workers.

While both men and women journalists face attacks online, women journalists bear the brunt of sinister and gendered attacks, also known as technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV).

These attacks are carried out and amplified through digital spaces against a person based on gender.

The net effect of TFGBV is that women journalists are driven by online platforms and social media.

Read More:

https://misa.org/blog/a-study-of-technology-facilitated-gender-based-violence-in-southern-africa-now-available/



Unesco Regional Office for Southern Africa MISA Zimbabwe MISA Malawi

A study of technology facilitated gender-based violence in Southern Africa (Now Available!!!) Globally, the statistics are staggering. It is reported that at least 73% of women journalists say they have been victims of TFGBV.

Journalists attacked during BDP primary elections in Botswana

At least four journalists were attacked on 21 July 2024, and media workers’ equipment was destroyed during the internal elections of the governing Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).

The elections, held in Ramotswa ahead of the country’s elections later this year, were characterised by tensions as election officers and party supporters tried to bar journalists from covering the event.

The election officers and party supporters said this was an internal matter, and the media was not invited. In the melee, a mobile phone that Letlhogile Mpuang of The Botswana Gazette was using to cover the proceedings was damaged.

A female journalist was manhandled as the BDP members tried to grab her phone. Two other journalists were able to repel the political party supporters as they tried to stop them from recording proceedings at the meeting.

The BDP has condemned the attacks on the journalists and said it will investigate the matter.

In a statement, the party said its “electoral process is an open and transparent exercise,” which the media is allowed to cover.



The weekly newspaper, Mmegi, reported that BDP has since replaced Mpuang’s phone.

Read More: https://misa.org/blog/media_violations/journalists-attacked-during-bdp-primary-elections-in-botswana/



MISA Zimbabwe MISA Malawi MISA Botswana

Open Letter to the AU of Heads of State and Government on the Endorsed Continental AI Strategy and African Digital Compact.

Date: 22 July 2024

Your Excellencies,

1. This open letter is produced in response to the statement made on 17 June 2024 by the African Union Commission announcing the endorsement of the Continental Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy and African Digital Compact by African ICT and Communications Ministers.

2. The letter is commissioned by a coalition of civic tech and civil society organizations, convened by Pollicy and the Institute of Southern Africa (MISA).

3. Your Excellences, we applaud the African Union and its partners for their visionary leadership and collaborative efforts in developing and endorsing the Continental AI Strategy and African Digital Compact. This strategic initiative reflects a commitment to harnessing technological advancements for the betterment of all African people and sets a precedent for collective action in addressing the continent's digital future.

4. We note that, while the strategy and digital compact were unanimously endorsed at the 2nd Extraordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Communication and ICT from 11 - 13 June 2024, their implementation at the national level is currently only a recommendation by the AUC. Therefore, the successful outcomes depend on the member states’ ability to translate the objectives of the Continental AI Strategy and African Digital Compact into binding national policies.

Read More:
https://misa.org/blog/open-letter-to-the-au-of-heads-of-state-and-government-on-the-endorsed-continental-ai-strategy-and-african-digital-compact/




Pollicy African Union MISA Zimbabwe

𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐀 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐳𝐚

MISA Zimbabwe’s long-serving Administration Officer, Annie Musodza, who died in the early hours of Saturday, 29 June 2024, was the organisation’s soul.

Madam Admin, as she was affectionately known within the MISA family and beyond for the 20+ years she worked for the organisation, was the heartbeat of MISA Zimbabwe.

A repository of the organisation’s institutional memory, like the back of her hand, she knew and was well versed with MISA’s inception years and its media freedom and freedom of expression journey.

Annie was at home and fluent in the organisation’s culture, collective beliefs, values and traditions. She knew the organisation’s nooks and crannies at both the local chapter (MISA Zimbabwe) and MISA Regional, as she was there in their formative stages.

She had the MISA DNA.

As the messages of condolence poured in, former colleagues and friends from across the Globe, referred to one of her many positive qualities – her all-embracing heart.

Annie went about her work with calmness but was no pushover when it came to standing her ground regarding her professional responsibilities. She had a stubborn streak and would not budge once she retreated into her no-nonsense shell.

You had to be a skilled and persuasive negotiator to convince her otherwise once she retreated into that shell.

She was nonetheless very aware of her worthiness to the organisation, its journalistic membership and stakeholders. She was indeed deserving of her other title: The Matriarch, as she was also known and referred to as per her WhatsApp profile.

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 :
https://misa.org/blog/misa-will-not-be-the-same-without-annie-musodza/

Earlier today, our Director Dr Tabani Moyo Snr, gave an address at the THE 2nd FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION FORUM in Tanzania hosted by Misa Tanzania.




Click this link to read his address: https://misa.org/blog/the-2nd-freedom-of-expression-forum-address-by-misa-regional-director-dr-tabani-moyo/

MISA Zambia MISA Zimbabwe MISA Malawi

𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐀 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 (𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞!!!)

Expression in the Age of Fragmentation

The world is more fragmented today than ever. Strife is more pronounced at a global scale, with conflicts degenerating to armed conflict.

The number of people living in fragile states is perpetually on the increase, while more people
are facing starvation due to climate change- induced famine.

Extremism is on the rise, as much as the right-wing thinking polity which has swept across Europe, including the traditionally left-wing in countries such as Sweden.

The global order has shown beyond doubt that the collective approach to conflict resolution
is increasingly under strain, with the global leadership generally on retreat.

In these precarious conditions, expression and truth-telling are the first layers of casualty, as
nations recoil, become inward looking, focusing on narrow national issues at the expense of a
holistic picture. Suffice to say the entire construct of humanity is highly vulnerable due to such
inward-looking approaches.

Fragmentation at a global scale is a fertile ground for broad, dwindling support to issues of
governance and humanity.

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞:

https://misa.org/blog/misa-regional-2023-annual-report-now-available/



MISA Zambia MISA Zimbabwe MISA Malawi

MISA Regional 2023 Annual Report (Now Available!!!) In these precarious conditions, expression and truth-telling are the first layers of casualty, as nations recoil, become inward looking, focusing on narrow national issues at the expense of a holis…

𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐀 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐍 𝐇𝐔𝐌𝐀𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐏𝐄𝐎𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐒’ 𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐃𝐎𝐌 𝐎𝐅 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐈𝐍 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐍 𝐀𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀 𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝟕𝟗𝐭𝐡 𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝐒𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐍 𝐇𝐔𝐌𝐀𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐏𝐄𝐎𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐒’ 𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

Presented by Dr Tabani Moyo Snr

Chairperson, Excellencies, Honourable Commissioners, state delegations, ladies and gentlemen, the Media Institute of Southern Africa MISA presents this statement during the 79th Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR).

AI adoption, threats and opportunities

The past few years have seen an acceleration in the adoption and use of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and other new technologies that will change how we communicate and access information.

AI can help entrench democracy by improving access to information, freedom of expression, and freedom of association. However, AI can also amplify misinformation and disinformation and encourage surveillance, which serves to undermine the democracies that we seek to build.

Honourable Commissioners, in 2021, the ACHPR passed Resolution 473 on the need to undertake a study on human and people’s rights and artificial intelligence.

I am also cognizant of the ongoing African Union Commission consultative processes on the same, where MISA made formal submissions.

In furtherance to that, MISA calls on the ACHPR to urgently develop and adopt principles for an AI policy framework. The framework should focus on how new and emerging technologies can be used to promote democracy rather than undermine individual liberties.

The principles should also call upon state parties to adopt a human rights-based approach to using AI and other technologies. Priority should be given to transparency and accountability in gathering data.

My organisation, MISA, has developed a policy framework for southern Africa, and we are at hand to assist the Commission on this, particularly on issues of media freedom, privacy and access to information.



𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞:

https://misa.org/blog/misa-statement-to-the-african-commission-on-human-and-peoples-rights-on-the-right-to-freedom-of-expression-in-southern-africa-at-the-79th-ordinary-session-of-the-african-commission-on-human-a/

MISA Zambia MISA Zimbabwe MISA Malawi Unesco Regional Office for Southern Africa African Union

MISA STATEMENT TO THE AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS ON THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN SOUTHERN AFRICA AT THE 79th ORDINARY SESSION OF THE AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS Honourable Commissioners, in 2021, the ACHPR passed Resolution 473 on the need to undertake a study on human and people’s rights and artificial intelligence. I am also cognizant of the ongoing Afri…