This edition of the newsletter covers the first part of 2021 (January – June). It has been productive so far at the MRCG in developing, reviewing, engaging stakeholders, conducting training sessions for journalists and implementing other project activities.
In 2021, Sierra Leone’s media experienced significant changes in its development. Media organisations saw the introduction of the Cybersecurity and Crime Bill 2021. As usual, MRCG, with support from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), held a stakeholder engagement on the Bill with media stakeholders and senior legal practitioners to critically understand the Bill so it will not be another law which will hinder press freedom in Sierra Leone. After two engagements on the Bill, MRCG and the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) developed the Media Position Paper and presented it to the Minister of Information and Communications. The position paper captured concerns on provisions of the Cybercrime Bill 2020 on issues relating to free speech, journalism, and press freedom in Sierra Leone to be looked into by the government before the enactment of the legislation to have it consistent with international obligations that seek to enhance protection, security and responsible use of cyberspace, and the protection of press freedom and freedom of expressions.
MRCG and the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), with support from the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), also launched a report on The State of Media Freedom in Sierra Leone. The report tracked press freedom issues in Sierra Leone ranging from 2018- 2020 and contained an overview of laws, policies and institutions governing the media space in Sierra Leone; key press freedom and safety of journalists’ issues; summary of press freedom violations recorded over the period, analysis of trends of violations, key perpetrators and victims; status of redress of violations; and recommendations to both governmental and non-governmental stakeholders on how to improve the situation.
The MRCG would like to thank NED and its other donors for providing the funds to implement its programs and activities.
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