{"id":1316,"date":"2022-05-28T14:59:49","date_gmt":"2022-05-28T14:59:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ugandajournalistsunion.com\/news\/?p=1316"},"modified":"2022-05-28T15:01:44","modified_gmt":"2022-05-28T15:01:44","slug":"what-is-freedom-of-expression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ugandajournalistsunion.com\/wp\/2022\/05\/28\/what-is-freedom-of-expression\/","title":{"rendered":"What is freedom of expression?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Hon Agnes Kunihira Female <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Workers MP<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The right to freedom of expression is a cornerstone in the enjoyment of other human rights in any country. It is indispensable in the formation of public opinion as it is closely related to other rights, including the right to information, the right to public participation, freedom of speech and expression that includes freedom of the media; freedoms of thought and conscience, assembly and association. Without free access to information and ideas and the right to express one\u2019s views freely, citizens may not effectively participate in decisions that affect their daily lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In daily life, the enjoyment of the freedom of expression meets a lot of challenges. Some challenges arise from the existing legal framework, while others are institutional and operational in nature, especially where it involved misuse and abuse of the right by both rights holders and duty bearers. Let us now work on what needs to be done to create a conducive environment for the enjoyment of the right to freedom of expression in society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Freedom of Expression?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Freedom of expression is about the right of individuals and organizations to seek information, receive it and be an audience for the exchange of information, ideas and opinions. The right to freedom of expression, therefore, allows individuals and institutions the right to freely communicate opinions and ideas and share information in whatever form within the limits of the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The right to freedom of expression is broad in that it protects almost all the ways in which one can express him\/herself, in both public and private spaces, for political, artistic or commercial purposes. Freedom of expression can, therefore, take the form of words, pictures and sounds communicated through various channels including printed material, films, cartoons, radio, television and social media. Freedom of expression can, for example, be enjoyed through publishing an article in a newspaper or magazine or internet portal, playing a song in public place, displaying an advertisement on a street or wearing attire expressing a certain idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, freedom of expression as a right may not necessarily extend to guaranteeing unrestricted access to the means for expressing ideas, much as it protects from unjustified restrictions. A certain print media may, for example, justifiably refuse to publish an article or a social media company might remove a comment and this may not necessarily be interpreted as an affront on the freedom of expression. Furthermore, much as freedom of expression extends to access to information, this can also be restricted. For instance, members of certain groups or professions such as security agencies and medical practitioners are not at liberty to give out certain pieces of information received in the performance of their duties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Legal Framework<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The right to freedom of expression is provided for in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 19); the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), 1966 (Article 19, sections 1 and 2); and the 1981 African Charter on Human and Peoples\u2019 Rights (ACPHR) (Article 9). In particular, Article 19 of the ICCPR explicitly guarantees everyone\u2019s right to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers and through any media, including in the form of art. Furthermore, Article 9 of the ACHPR provides that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every individual shall have the right to receive information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every individual shall have the right to express and disseminate his opinions within the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa (2002) adopted by the African Commission on Human and Peoples\u2019 Rights adopted in Banjul, Gambia gives a comprehensive outline of what needs to be done to achieve the right to freedom of expression to its fullness in both the private and public spheres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Constitution of Uganda under Article 29 protects the right to freedom of conscience, expression, movement, religion, assembly and association. Article 29 (1) provides for (a) freedom of speech and expression that includes freedom of the press and other media; and (b) freedom of thought, conscience and belief, including academic freedom in institutions of learning. Furthermore, Article 41 (1) of the Constitution guarantees every citizen the right of access to information in the possession of the state or any other organ or agency of the state except where its release is likely to prejudice the security or sovereignty of the state or interfere with the right to the privacy of any other person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A number of legislations further provide for the right of freedom of expression and its regulation. They include: the Press and Journalist Act, 1995; the Access to Information Act, 2005; the Electronic Media Act, 1996; the Uganda Communications Act, 2012; the Regulation of Interception of Communications Act, 2010; the Penal Code Act, 1950; and the Computer Misuse Act, 2011.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How freedom of expression is controlled?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

i.         Freedom of expression,               enjoyment may be limited\/               restricted. This may happen when enjoyment of the right by one person could lead to the violation of the rights of another person or the values of society as a whole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ii.        It is also subjected to certain other restrictions, which are provided for in law; and necessary for the respect of the rights or reputations of others and for the protection of national security, public order, public health or morals (Sec 17(1) (b) and (c) of the constitution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

iii.      Some public speeches, articles and other forms of expression have the potential of seriously harming or stirring up hatred or violence against others or group of persons. In such situations, the state can lawfully restrict or punish expressions that cause personal or public harm or disharmony. This could be in cases of violation of privacy, defamation, hate speech, obscenity, and pornography, threats to individual privacy, perjury, public order, national security, classified information and copyright. (See also Sec 32 (2), 31, 33 and 50(1) of the Uganda constitution\u25a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Hon Agnes Kunihira Female Workers MP. The right to freedom of expression is a cornerstone in the enjoyment of other human rights in any country. 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