The Justice Defenders Program supports journalists, bloggers, and media organizations. The Program observes trials and other proceedings to discourage the misuse of defamation and criminal laws to silence journalists. We also provide technical legal assistance to journalists to limit their exposure to such frivolous claims.
WHO WE SERVE
Journalists, Bloggers, and Media Organizations
Please see below for examples of our public work involving journalists, bloggers, and media organizations.
ANGOLA
Angola: New Report urges President Joao Lourenço to drop all criminal charges against journalists
The Justice Defenders Program prepared a report on the apparent judicial harassment of human rights defender Musa Usman Ndamba. The Cameroonian human rights defender has appeared before the Cameroonian courts over 32 times, defending himself against allegations of criminal defamation filed by wealthy businessman and politician Baba Ahmadou Danpullo.
Trial Observation Report: The Case of Rafael Marques de Morais
The Justice Defenders Program observed the trial of Angolan journalist Rafael Marques de Morais was charged with defamation in relation to his book Blood Diamonds : Corruption and Torture in Angola. The book implicated high ranking Angolan military officials for human rights violations committed in one of Angola's diamond mining areas. After proceedings that denied Marques de Morais the right to present a defense, induced him into making a statement on the basis of false pretenses and compelled him to bear the burden of proving his innocence, all in violation of international fair trial standards, Marques de Morais was found guilty.
BURKINA FASO
Amicus Curiae Brief on Criminal Defamation Laws in Burkina Faso
The Justice Defenders Program’s pro bono lawyers successfully supported the participation of 17 regional human rights and media organizations at the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights as amici curiae (friends of the court) in a challenge to Burkina Faso’s criminal defamation law, a relic of its colonial days which has been used to target and silence criticism of public officials.
CAMEROON
Cameroon: Ongoing Due Process Violations in Cases of Journalists Reporting on the Anglophone Crisis
This blog explores the cases of several journalists, including Wawa Jackson Nfor, who have been reportedly jailed for reporting on the Anglophone Crisis. For nearly three years, Nfor has been detained at the Nkambe Principal Prison in Northwest Cameroon. Nfor is charged under Cameroon’s notorious anti-terrorism law and faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if found guilty. In addition to the lengthy pretrial detention, the proceedings against him to date have been characterized by significant due process violations, including reports that he was arrested without a warrant, subjected to physical abuse while in detention, and interrogated in the absence of a lawyer.
CÔTE D'IVOIRE
Côte d'Ivoire: A Legal Analysis of the Case Against Freelance Journalist Hubert Yao Konan
Drawing upon an analysis of the court’s judgment and the Center’s observations of the evidence presented during the trial, the Center’s staff have concluded that Konan’s guilty convictions were not based on the required standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Konan seems to have been held criminally liable for the acts of violence committed by others in violation of the requirement of individual criminal liability.
MOZAMBIQUE
Mozambique: Effective Counter-terrorism strategies do not include arresting journalists
In the wake of an increasing crackdown on terrorism in Mozambique, the Justice Defenders Program demonstrated its concern regarding the arrest of Amade Abubacar and several other journalists for investigating alleged human rights abuses by the country's own security forces.
TANZANIA
Report on the Arbitrary Suspension of Kwanza Online TV for Sharing Information Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Justice Defenders Program prepared a report on the arbitrary suspension of Kwanza Online TV, a local media house in Tanzania. The Center urged the government of Tanzania to immediately lift the suspension of Kwanza Online TV and ensure the rights of journalists and broadcasters to carry out their legitmate work free from intimidation and harassment.
ZIMBABWE
The Persecution and Prosecutions of Hopewell Chin'ono
In this report, Center for Human Rights staff find that the arrests and current criminal prosecutions of Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin'ono appear to be politically motivated. In particular, they appear to be in retaliation for posts he made on social media on matters of corruption and bad governance as well as his support of nationwide protests.