AU rights body hails Rwanda on information law

Following the adoption and promulgation of Access to Information Law by the Government of Rwanda last month, the African Union Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) has hailed Rwanda for enacting the law. The commission extended its gratitude to Rwanda in a letter of appreciation addressed to President Paul Kagame. The letter was issued on March 27, 2013 and signed by Advocate Pansy Tlakula, a Commissioner and Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa. It commends Rwanda for adopting a legislation that guarantees reporters access to data held by public institutions. “Your Excellency (President Paul Kagame), the adoption of the law does not only portray the government of the Republic of Rwanda’s efforts in achieving democracy, but it’s also a laudable step towards fulfillment of Article one of the African Charter,” the letter reads in part. The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights requires states to recognise the rights, duties and freedoms enshrined in the charter and adopt legislative and other measures to give them effect. Last month, Rwanda signed an access to information law after years of deliberations and consultations within Parliament and the media fraternity. The law is already in application and has been published in the National Gazette. Notable among its objectives is the promotion of open government through disclosure of information and facilitation on the right of all persons to have access to information held by public authorities. According to the ACHPR, access to information is a fundamental human right and a component of other rights protected under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other international and regional human rights instruments. “I welcome reports I received on March 13, 2013, informing me of the adoption of the access to information law by the Republic of Rwanda. It’s commendable to note that Rwanda is the 11th country in Africa to have a comprehensive right to information law,” Adv. Tlakula says in the letter. She called on Rwanda to ensure that the act complies with all international and regional standards on freedom of expression and access to information. “In line with my mandate to report on the status of freedom of expression and access to information in Africa to the commission, the content of this letter is included in my activity report submitted to the 53rd ordinary session of the AU commission,” Tlakula noted. The meeting which is currently underway in Banjul, The Gambia, started on April 3 and ends on April 23. A Commissioner with Rwanda Human Rights Commission, Laurent Nkongoli, said that the AU commission on human rights has highly commended Rwanda for taking such a great step in freedom of information in Africa. Nkongoli who attended the 53rd ordinary session of the AU commission in Banjul said that “the implementation process of this law still remains a challenge”. “We hope the public institutions are in position to release information meant for the public without any unnecessary bureaucracies,” he said. Rwanda also signed other two laws, the Media Law and the one revising the responsibilities, functioning and organisation of the Media High Council (MHC). One major change in the Medial Law is the introduction of media self-regulation whereby the print media shall entirely self-regulate, while the broadcast media will partially self-regulate. According to the Media High Council (MHC), the law is already in place and journalists can utilise it to access information that is vital to the public. “We are putting in place information sharing system whereby public and private institutions will be publishing information that can be accessed by journalists in a reliable manner,” Emmanuel Mugisha, the Acting Executive Secretary of the MHC, told The New Times recently. The Chair of the interim committee of Rwanda Media Commission, Robert Mugabe, said that a close cooperation with the government in information dissemination will lay a strong foundation for the media development. “We are optimistic this law is going to be implemented. I am working closely with the Rwanda Governance Board to strengthen awareness campaign of access to information law to public and private institutions,” he said. When it comes to Access to Information Law, more than 90 countries around the world have implemented some form of freedom of information legislation with only ten in Africa.