NGOs call for legal reforms to protect journalists from harassment – ​​The Whistler Newspaper

In partnership with the MacArthur Foundation and the Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), the Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has called for better legal safeguards to protect Nigerian journalists from harassment and intimidation.

As part of the Collaborative Media Engagement for Development, Inclusion and Accountability (CMEDIA), journalists during the two-day workshop with participants and facilitators presented capacity building and training programs for judges, judicial officers and prosecutors on media laws and their role in democracy.

During the workshop, the Executive Director of MRA, Edetaen Ojo, emphasized that media freedom, a key pillar of democracy, must be protected in Nigeria to ensure that journalists can work without fear of intimidation or interference by powerful individuals and entities of the state .

He said that while the 1999 Constitution, as amended, broadly guarantees freedom of expression, there is an urgent need for improved legal frameworks to specifically protect journalists and media from all forms of attacks.

He said: “The media plays a crucial role in ensuring accountability, transparency and good governance. Accordingly, all stakeholders, including government, the judiciary, civil society organizations and the media community, must work together to create a legal environment that supports a free, independent and professional media sector.

“While the 1999 Constitution, as amended, broadly guarantees freedom of expression, there is an urgent need for improved legal frameworks to specifically protect media freedom and ensure the safety of journalists and media outlets from all forms of attacks, including arbitrary arrests and detention. physical violence, criminal trials, among others.

“The increasing misuse and abuse of some laws such as the Cybercrimes Act, Criminal Defamation Laws and provisions under the Terrorism (Prevention) Act to silence, harass, journalists and other media professionals reporting on sensitive issues such as corruption, to intimidate or punish, abuse of power, poor governance practices and human rights violations, among others, are of grave concern and need to be checked.

“Such laws should either be repealed outright or amended to bring them into line with regional and international norms and standards for the protection of media freedom and to prevent their continued misuse and abuse as instruments of repression against the media.”

Speaking on digital security, MRA Program Officer, Esther Adeyemi, stressed the need for journalists to protect the confidentiality of their sources. malicious actors, including journalists, must be security conscious and establish mechanisms to address threats to data confidentiality, integrity and availability.”

Also, Adams Timiley, fellow MRA program officer, urged participants to adopt the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2011 as a tool to improve journalistic reporting on government activities.

While the 2011 FOIA has had some positive impact in facilitating access to information, which is essential for investigative journalism and routine media reporting, Timeleyin said challenges including bureaucratic delays and the continued culture of secrecy within the government and its institutions, continue to hinder the full and effective implementation of the law.

He noted that the law has not yet fulfilled its main purpose, which is to make information more freely available to the public.

He said: “Under the provisions of the law, public institutions must respond to requests for information within seven days, regardless of whether or not they provide access to the requested information.

“A public institution may refuse a request for access to information if it relies on one or more of the exemptions contained in Articles 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19 and 26 of the law. If the application is refused, the institution must issue a refusal message clearly stating this
the exemption(s) on which it has relied, and the reasons why it believes that the exemption(s) apply.

“A refusal notice must be issued as soon as practicable and not later than seven days after receipt of an application under the Act (section 4)”.