the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa; Noting the adoption by the African Commission of relevant soft law standards, such as the Model Law on Access to Information for Africa of 2013 and the Guidelines on Access to Information and Elections in Africa of 2017; Noting further the adoption of the African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection; Recognizing that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as other international instruments and national constitutions also guarantee the rights to freedom of expression and access to information; Conscious that freedom of expression and access to information are cross-cutting rights that are important for the realization of all other human rights, including socio-economic rights, and of the potential of both rights to contribute to the socio-economic transformation of the continent; Recognizing the need to protect and promote the right to freedom of expression and access to information of marginalized groups and groups that face multiple discrimination, including women, children, persons with disabilities, older persons, sexual and gender minorities, refugees and internally displaced persons; Desiring to promote the free flow of information and ideas and greater respect for the rights to freedom of expression and access to information; Noting that local languages are critical in optimizing the realization of access to information by communities and for the effective realization of freedom of expression; Considering the key role of the media and other means of communication in ensuring full respect for the right to freedom of expression, promoting the free flow of information and ideas, assisting individuals in making informed decisions and facilitating and strengthening democracy; 8