Mozambique
The following Justice Initiative projects are underway in, or relevant to, Mozambique:
Freedom of Information (FOI)
Nigeria: FOI adoption.
FOI legislation exists in South Africa and is under discussion or drafting in Ghana, Mozambique, and Zambia. Nigeria is now close to adopting a Freedom of Access to Information Bill. Recent passage of the bill in Nigeria’s House of Representatives on August 24, 2004, was partly due to relentless advocacy by the Nigerian FOI Coalition, involving the direct collaboration of the Justice Initiative and OSIWA among others. The bill is now before the Senate; once it passes there, presidential assent is required for enactment into law. Edetaen Ojo's analysis
Access to Information Monitoring Tool.
In 2004, the Justice Initiative Access to Information Monitoring Tool measured levels of government transparency in 16 countries, including six in Africa (Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Africa). Monitoring will establish benchmark levels of transparency and identify opportunities for reform, to be accompanied by advocacy of constitutional and legislative reform where needed. South Africa, with a law in place since 2000, is a particular focus as a potential example for the rest of the continent. With OSF-SA and the Open Democracy Advice Centre, the Justice Initiative is exploring advocacy following the recommendations of its 2003 Access to Information Monitoring Tool report, which might include promotion of an Information Commissioner and the provision of amicus curiae help in litigation.
Freedom of Expression
African Union (AU) Research and Advocacy Project.
In 2005, a series of linked activities will promote the rights to freedom of expression and information in Africa. These include an analysis of African commitments and declarations on media freedom, freedom of expression and information, and the development of recommendations for reform. An audit of media freedom will be undertaken in selected African countries to analyze compliance with existing African and international standards. A coalition of civil society organizations will engage the AU leadership to promote a binding continental instrument on free expression guarantees. The project aims to create an informed and articulate constituency of civil society actors, equipped to work in advocacy directed at national governments and the AU.
Capacity building and networking: the Oxford Media Law Advocates Program.
Ten media lawyers from Africa participated in the Justice Initiative’s 2004 summer school, now in its third year, with an expanded program including African participants for the first time. Summer School Program and Press Announcement
Legal Capacity Development
The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and African regional courts.
Since July 2004, the Justice Initiative and the Coalition for an Effective African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, an alliance of NGOs, have engaged in dialogue with the Commission of the African Union on the best ways to integrate Africa’s various regional courts without delaying the establishment of the human rights court. In the course of 2004, the Justice Initiative, together with the Coalition and the AU, developed a set of guidelines for nominating candidates to the human rights court bench. In 2005, the process will aim to expedite the integration of the human rights court and the AU’s Court of Justice, following an AU decision of July 2004. The Justice Initiative provided legal advice to Kenya and Botswana enabling cabinet-level consideration of ratification of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights Protocol to take place.
Fellows in Africa.
In 2005, five or six fellows from West and Southern Africa will be recruited for programs at the Central European University, Hungary, and up to six from Angola and Mozambique for placement in Sao Paulo University in Brazil. Human Rights Fellows Program, CEU