Article 20 which requires journalists to disclose confidential sources
of information;
Articles 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 44 and 45 which
provide an unduly onerous and restrictive framework for the
regulation of the print and web media;
Article 46 which provides for a prior censorship regime for films
proposed to be directed in Burundi;
Articles 48,49,50,51,52,53 and 54 which provide for a right of reply
and correction that is vaguely worded and unduly impedes the
media’s right to freedom of expression;
Articles 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 66, 67,68 and 69 which
provide for a regime of fines and penalties that is allegedly unduly
restrictive on the right to freedom of expression and fails to comply
with generally accepted principles of criminal law and procedure.
11. For the above reasons and other reasons to be set out later,
the
Applicant beseeches this Court to:i) Declare that the Burundi Press Law violates the right to
press freedom and thereby constitutes a violation of
Burundi’s
obligation under the Treaty to uphold and
protect the Community principles of democracy, rule of
law, accountability, transparency and good governance
as specified in Articles 6(d) and 7(2) of the Treaty;
ii) Declare that the Burundi Press Law violates the press’
right to freedom of expression and thereby constitutes a
violation of Burundi’s obligation under the Treaty to
uphold and protect human and peoples’ rights standards
as specified in Articles 6(d), 7(2)of the Treaty;
iii) Order Government of Burundi to, without delay:
a) Repeal the Press Law; or
Reference No. 5 of 2013
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