African Commission launches Guidelines on Access to Information and Elections in Africa
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Commission) recently launched its Guidelines on Access to Information and Elections in Africa (the Guidelines) during its 62nd Ordinary Session in Nouakchott, Mauritania. The launch follows the Guidelines having been formally adopted by the African Commission during the 61st Ordinary Session in Banjul, The Gambia in November 2017.
As noted in the preface to the Guidelines:
For elections to be free, fair and credible, the electorate must have access to information at all stages of the electoral process. Without access to accurate, credible and reliable information about a broad range of issues prior, during and after elections, it is impossible for citizens to meaningfully exercise their right to vote in the manner envisaged by Article 13 of the African Charter. The importance of access to information in the electoral process and for democratic governance is recognised in the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, as well as other sub-regional treaties and standards.
The Guidelines provide guidance in respect of the following: (i) election management bodies; (ii) authorities responsible for appointing election management bodies; (iii) political parties and candidates; (iv) law enforcement agencies; (v) election observers and monitors; (vi) media and online media platform providers; (vii) media regulatory bodies; and (viii) civil society organisations.
The Guidelines are accessible here.
Please note: The information contained in this note is for general guidance on matters of interest, and does not constitute legal advice. For any enquiries, please contact us at [email protected].