Social media: Civil society to resist attacks against freedom of expression---SERAP
(Nigeria) As the world marks the International Right to Know Day,
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has urged the
government of President Goodluck Jonathan to drop threat of attacks against
social media, as “any such threat can only continue to strangle freedom of
expression and limit the accountability of government.”
In a statement dated September 29, 2013 by SERAP’s Executive
Director, Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, in Lagos, the organisation said “The 2011 Report of the
UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression has underscored the
importance of freedom of expression on the Internet, and urged governments not
to arbitrarily restrict this right.
“The call by government officials for censorship of social
media is entirely unnecessary as social media has played an important role in
educating the ordinary citizens about the performance of their governments, and
on issues of transparency and accountability. Social media are important to the
work of human rights defenders everywhere. Any attempt to undermine this work
will be resisted by civil society through national and international legal
actions.
“Freedom of expression on the Internet is a fundamental
freedom. It is absolutely crucial to citizens’ rights to communicate and
associate, and to the enjoyment of their other human rights, including the
right to know how their governments are run, and to hold their leaders
accountable.
“The threats against
the social media patently offend the constitution and Nigeria’s international
human rights obligations and commitments. Any arbitrary restrictions to freedom
of expression including on the Internet through social media will be
unnecessary in a democratic society, and clearly inconsistent with the conduct
of a government reputed to have passed the Freedom of Information Act.
“Rather than equating the role of social media in promoting
transparency, accountability, and the rule of law to incitement to violence,
any serious and people-oriented government should actually work to promote it.
Indeed, the best solution to terrorism, insecurity and violence in any country
is good governance and the rule of law and not flagrant infringement of
internationally recognized human rights.
“While it is important to protect personal integrity in
social media, a clean, transparent and accountable government that has nothing
to fear will not use this ground as an excuse to undermine the sacred right to
freedom of expression.
“Secrecy practices foster corruption. Public access to
information is vital for anti-corruption efforts. Corruption undermines
democracy, human rights and sustainable development.”
“This government needs to move faster to implement
transparency commitments made under the United Nations Convention against
Corruption, UNCAC, by demonstrating a higher level of tolerance for human
rights, including freedom of expression. The president can show this by
releasing to the public his asset declaration details, and publicly committing
to improved transparency, accountability and the rule of law. The president
should urgently introduce public registers of Politically Exposed Persons, PEPs,
and for those PEPs to file and publish comprehensive declarations.”
It will be recalled that the Federal Government on Friday
through the Information Minister, Labaran Maku, claimed that social media
community “are publishing reports capable of undermining military strategy
against extremists, and stir mutiny within the military.”
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