From 28 to 30 September 2015, the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa (the Special Rapporteur), Commissioner Pansy Tlakula, undertook an advocacy visit to the Republic of Senegal. The purpose of the visit was to meet with Government officials and other stakeholders, to advocate for the adoption of an access to information law in accordance with regional and international standards on access to information, as embodied in the Model Law on Access to Information for Africa (the Model Law).
The Special Rapporteur was accompanied during this visit by a legal officer from the Secretariat of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and was assisted by an interpreter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Additionally, the delegation accompanying the Special Rapporteur consisted of representatives from Article 19 and Forum Civil.
During her mission, the Special Rapporteur attended the commemoration of the International Right to Know day, on 28 September 2015, which was convened by Article 19. The celebration was attended by Government officials, representatives from civil society and the media. The commemoration was opened by Professor Ismaila Madior Fall, Minister and Legal Adviser in the Office of the President of the Republic, and the key-note address given by Commissioner Tlakula. Following the opening ceremony, the Special Rapporteur addressed members of the media who were covering the occasion.
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Additionally, during the advocacy visit the Special Rapporteur met with Government representatives from the Office of the President, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Promotion of Good Governance and African Integration. Other government institutions visited during the mission, were the National Human Rights Committee of Senegal, the Office of the Electoral Commission (CENA), the Office of the Law Commission of the National Assembly, the Office of the Anti-Corruption and Fraud Commission (OFNAC) and the Office of the National Audiovisual Regulatory Board (CNRA).
All the stakeholders met expressed their interest and intention to develop an access to information law for the Republic of Senegal, to which the Special Rapporteur indicated her availability to assist in the development of this law.
Banjul 06 October, 2015
