The report documents urgent media issues such as the legal environment impacting access to information and media freedom across the region. It aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16.10 and is part of the Media 4 SDGs Series.
Digital rights
Increased urgency and momentum key to addressing barriers and biases women face
Resolution 522 highlights and laments that, digital violence is increasingly gendered and disproportionately affects women, through inter alia threats of sexual violence, misogynistic disinformation campaigns and revenge pornography…
Shadow Report of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Information, Media and Broadcasting Services public hearings on the Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill H.B 9, 2024
Media freedom advocacy group, the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA Zimbabwe) and its partners in a network of journalistic professional associations and media support organisations, the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe (MAZ) participated in all seven (7) public hearings conducted throughout the country to shadow this public process and compile this report to enhance further policy discussions and parliamentary debates on the law.
MISA ZIMBABWE & MAZ Statement on passage of the Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill in the National Assembly
MISA Zimbabwe and MAZ are particularly disappointed by how the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Honourable Jenfan Muswere, who is sponsoring the Bill in Parliament, seemingly disregarded the input of the people as obtained in the report of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Information, Media and Broadcasting Services.
Collaborative efforts across disciplines and sectors key to AI development and deployment
Dr Moyo said MISA supports the African Union’s (AU) approach in negotiating the development and deployment of Afrocentric AI, which reflects African identities, acknowledging the necessity for scale and influence when dealing with platforms and countries that are ahead of the curve.
New Botswana Data Protection Act progressive step to a more secure digital environment
The Act replaces the repealed Data Protection Act 32 of 2018, which officially came into force in 2021, but had to be updated after facing criticism for inadequately addressing emerging data protection challenges,
The future of expression in the age of intersectionality
MISA conveys its condolences to the families and people of Mozambique following the loss of lives in the post-election conflict engulfing the country to date. As a country, Mozambique and its people sacrificed their national and personal prosperity by hosting several liberation movements until the entire southern African region was free.
Southern Africa should intensify fight against online gender-based violence
This calls for developing more rigorous and coordinated strategies to stem the growing menace of GBV at national, continental, and global levels. Female journalists should be capacitated to vigorously deal with technologically facilitated GBV.
Content Production and Practices in the Digital Age: Threats, Risks, and Opportunities
The digital age has transformed the content production landscape, making creating, distributing, and accessing information easier than ever. While this shift has ushered in unprecedented opportunities for innovation and inclusion, it has also introduced significant threats and risks that require collective effort to address.
Collective efforts vital in fighting gender-based violence
Resolution 522 highlights that: Digital violence is increasingly gendered and disproportionately affects women, through inter alia threats of sexual violence, misogynistic disinformation campaigns and “revenge pornography…”