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Burkina Faso and Djibouti were reviewed at the [44th Universal Periodic Review](https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/upr/upr-sessions) that took place over 6 - 17 November 2023. Uproar and its national partners advocated for recommendations to be made for digital rights. In Burkina Faso, we worked with [Centre National de Presse Norbert Zongo](https://cnpress-zongo.org/), one of the leading freedom of expression and media freedom organisations in the country. In Djibouti, we worked with a local consultant who specialises on freedom of expression.  

Continue reading to find out the results of UPR44, and what digital rights successes have been made for these countries. 

> ”We are delighted to see an increase of recommendations on freedom of expression online and off at the UPR. This means UN representatives are understanding that digital rights are human rights. We hope that the recommendations to Burkina Faso and Djibouti are then followed up accordingly by their governments, so we can see real progress in the protection of online spaces and civil liberties."
**Hannah Machlin, Advocacy Manager, Uproar**


# Burkina Faso

Prior to the review on November 6, Uproar and our partner Centre National de Presse Norbert Zongo put forward the following recommendations on digital rights:

1. Create and restore an environment conducive for the exercise of digital rights and freedoms and guarantee access  to the Internet and ICTs by: 
    1. Halting and desisting from any current or future Internet shutdowns and other arbitrary measures limiting Internet access and use, and restore all digital networks, including social media, and broadcast platforms and ensure that any limitation complies with established regional and international standards; 
   2. End the intimidation, harassment, arbitrary arrests and prosecutions of journalists, critics, activists and campaigners who exercise their right to freedom of expression online and offline in accordance with the law;
2. Ensuring the Right to Data Protection and Privacy on the Internet through complying with the government’s commitments to personal data protection and ending all arbitrary surveillance.
3. Repeal provisions of the Penal Code, under Law No. 044-2019/AN and others that arbitrarily interfere with the exercise of free expression, both online and offline. In particular by decriminalising provisions relating to false news and adopting a whistleblower’s protection law
4. Operationalise the access to information law by immediately implementing law N°051-2015/CNT, of August 30, 2015, on access to public information and administrative documents and creating the National Authority for Access to Public Information (ANAIP). Journalists should also be exempt from terrorism charges while conducting their work, especially during information gathering.

[Burkina Faso](https://media.un.org/en/asset/k15/k15c0x3t80) received **16** recommendations on the issue of freedom of expression from **15** different countries with an additional **1** country mentioning freedom of expression in their opening remark:

**Argentina** gave the following 2 recommendations to Burkina Faso: 
1. Guarantee the right to freedom of expression and opinion including the exercise
of freedom of the press, the civic space and participation of civil society
2. Adopt measures designed to guarantee the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons including protections against discrimination & violence, and rights of freedom of expression and association 

**Australia** recommended Burkina Faso repeal laws that inhibit freedom of expression.

**Belgium’s** opening remark stated that they note with concern the increase of a number of measures taken by the authorities over the last few months against freedom of expression. Media, press organisations and human rights defenders play a crucial role in the respect for human rights and we encourage the authorities to take all necessary measures to ensure that they can continue to work in all freedom. However, there was no recommendation made based on their opening statement.

**Canada** recommended Burkina Faso protect the right to freedom of the press, freedom of expression, freedom of association and opinion, whilst ensuring that attacks and threats levelled against journalists and activists are investigated and criminally prosecuted. 

**Czechia** recommended Burkina Faso guarantee the right to freedom of expression and protect journalists and their rights.

**Denmark** stated in their opening that they are gravely concerned by the continued suspension of activities of political parties and CSOs as well as the suspension of certain media and cases of intimidation and attacks on journalists. They recommended Burkina Faso revoke measures impeding on rights to FoE and assembly, and freedom of the press in order to ensure a conducive environment for political parties, CSOs and the free press.

**Germany** stated they were deeply worried about the harassment of Human Rights Defenders, journalists and the LGBTQ+ community in their opening remark. They recommended Burkina Faso refrain from government interventions into the freedom of the press and freedom of expression so citizens can fully enjoy the rights.

**Ireland** stated in their opening that they remain concerned by restrictions on freedom of expression, press freedom and civic space - in particular, reports of intimidation and attacks on journalists and HRDs. They recommended Burkina Faso provide a safe and enabling environment for journalists including by reversing suspensions and expulsions that restrict press freedom.

**Italy** recommended Burkina Faso ensure freedom of expression and media freedom.

**The Netherlands** stated in their opening that they are concerned about the deterioration of the human rights situation in Burkina Faso; they recommended the creation of a safe environment in Burkina Faso by guaranteeing freedom of association and assembly and freedom of expression and freedom of the press.

**Sierra Leone** recommended Burkina Faso promote the full exercise of rights of freedom of expression and assembly including in the context of security measures.

**Spain** recommended Burkina Faso revise existing legislation to more narrowly defined broadly defined defenses which currently limits freedom of the press and freedom of association and so forth.

**Switzerland** highlighted digital rights and recommended Burkina Faso guarantee and protect the right to freedom of expression and freedom of association and they combat the impunity of perpetrators of hate speech both online and offline to call for violence and stigmatisation against groups of the population particularly.

**The UK** recommended Burkina Faso the promotion of an inclusive transition to civilian government by opening up civic space, and promoting and protecting the rights of freedom of expression and assembly and association.

**The US** recommended Burkina Faso repeal portions of the criminal code that violate the right to freedom of expression to ensure journalists and human rights defenders can do their jobs free from fear, harassment or intimidation.

# Djibouti

Prior to their review on November 9, 2023, Uproar recommended that Djibouti should uphold its international and regional commitments to human rights and refrain from restricting digital rights including access to information and media freedom. Uproar and our partners put forward the following recommendations on digital rights:

1. End the harassment, arbitrary arrest, and prosecution of journalists and other activists, and hold to account those that violate media freedom.
2. Repeal all laws that inhibit freedom of expression, media, access to information both on and offline, including article 425 of the Penal Code on criminal defamation and article 78 of the Communication Law criminalising ‘offending’ the president.
3. Immediately end the throttling of the internet and blockage of websites and social media sites and ensure that any restrictions are consistent with fundamental human rights standards.

[Djibouti](https://t.co/glAPXfIMUJ) received **2** recommendations from **2** countries on digital rights and a further **12** recommendations from **12** countries  on the issue of freedom of expression:

**Argentina** recommended Djibouti adopt necessary measures to ensure that the freedom of expression and opinion is in place and guarantee the participation of civil society and political parties in line with international standards.

**Australia’s** opening stated they are concerned with reports of restrictions on freedom of opinion and expression. They recommended Djibouti allow freedom of opinion and expression to enable greater political and civil society participation. 

**Belgium** recommended Djibouti revise law on freedom of communication as well as the criminal code to eliminate any provisions that restrict freedom of expression and association, in particular by decriminalising defamation and by removing restrictions against the establishment of media based on nationality and age.

**Brazil** recommended Djibouti adopt measures to ensure the implementation of the right to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, and freedom of action by political parties, bringing the national legislation into line with international standards.

**Canada** recommended Djibouti ensure freedom of expression and association, peaceful assembly, and protection of all persons of reprisals, particularly journalists and human rights defenders.

**Estonia** recommended Djibouti decriminalise defamation and include it in the civil code. Revise the provisions that unduly restrict the freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of association and peaceful assembly, and ensure that these rights can be exercised freely.

**Germany’s** opening stated they remain concerned about the state of freedom of expression in particular with a view to the freedom of the press, about the absence of a diverse political landscape with genuine opposition parties, and about limited transparency in the election process. They recommended Djibouti guarantee freedom of expression and free work of the press as well as lift all restrictions on political opposition.

**Ireland’s** opening remark stated they remain concerned that the protection of rights facilitating political participation, in particular freedoms of opinion, expression, association, and peaceful assembly continue to be constrained both in law and in practice. They recommended Djibouti ensure that the legal framework providing for the protection of the rights of freedom of opinion and expression, association and peaceful assembly is compatible with international standards, and enables full and free participation in political life.

**Luxembourg** recommended Djibouti review and adapt the legislation governing the freedom of the media in order to bring it in line with international standards.

**Spain** recommended Djibouti fully guarantee the exercise of the freedoms of peaceful assembly, association, expression and of the press, by reforming the 1992 law on the freedom of communication.

**US** gave the following 2 recommendations to Djibouti: 
1. Protect political opposition by allowing all groups to form legally recognised political parties, protect the ability of citizens to criticise the government without fear of harassment,  abuse or detention, and allow unrestricted access to the internet including social media  
2. Guarantee rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly for journalists, human rights defenders and all other persons, this includes a guarantee that they’re not prosecuted, detained or refused entry to the country for exercising these rights 

**Zambia** gave the following 2 recommendations to Djibouti: 
1. Intensify efforts to ensure the guaranteed freedom of expression and media freedom by bringing national legislation into line with international standards
2. Enhances efforts on the adoption of a law on access to information  

The efforts of our partners lobbying, both in Geneva and locally, resulted in Burkina Faso and Djibouti receiving 16 and 14 recommendations respectively. 


To keep up to date with our partner’s latest work, follow them on social media:

[Centre National de Presse Norbert Zongo](https://twitter.com/CnpNorbertZongo)


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A summary of recommendations made to Burkina Faso and Djibouti during the 44th session of the Universal Periodic Review

The 44th session of the Universal Periodic Review: Digital Rights in Burkina Faso and Djibouti

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Fixed Broadband Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants in 2017

The government of Burkina Faso should protect freedom of expression by abolishing severe punishments for speech related offences.

Burkina Faso is a country located in West Africa with a population estimate of 22.1 million. Its 1991 Constitution  provides for various rights including the rights to freedom of expression, opinion, privacy, association, assembly and others. 

Reporters without Borders describes it as ‘’one of Africa’s success stories’’ thanks to its ‘’dynamic, professional and diverse media’’. The country made notable democratic progress following the departure of President Blaise Compaoré. The media environment has improved and defamation was decriminalized, although heavy fines and closures of media outlets can still be prescribed as punishments. Additionally, 2019 amendments to the criminal code prescribed severe punishments for the publication of ‘’false information’’. Freedom of expression is largely unrestricted and NGOs operate freely, however, legal restrictions and violent threats from Islamist militant groups hinder such activities. 

Burkina Faso

We conduct advocacy during the pre-session through direct lobbying to UN member state representatives and support local advocacy events and workshops that amplify the UPR. During the reviews, we amplify the UPR process and the recommendations our partners have drafted through live- monitoring by our local partners and on social media. We then conduct advocacy during the post- UPR period with activities such as training for government officials and events that highlight the recommendations made during the UPR. 

The country clusters are a local working group in each Uproar target country made up of our partner organisations. The clusters are organised by local lead organisations, who then coordinate local civil society and human rights defenders with digital rights expertise to engage in national-level advocacy and campaigning.

A review cycle is a four-and-half-year period within which all UN Member states’ human rights records are reviewed.  Each 4.5-year period is called a UPR cycle. In this section, you can find all recommendations made organised by cycle.

Over a hundred local and international human rights organisations are part of the wider Uproar programme. You can find them listed here.

OHCHR submission44_Digital Rights in Burkina Faso.docx.pdf

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Due process

Justice and impunity

Equality and non-discrimination

Women and girls

Digital rights

Marriage and family

Protection from violence

Children

Journalists and media workers

Free expression

Death penalty and extrajudicial executions

Association and assembly

Advox is a project of Global Voices. They are a global network of activists and journalists dedicated to protecting freedom of expression and free access to information online. They report on threats to online speech, share tactics for defending the work and words of netizens, and support efforts to improve Internet policy and practice worldwide.
 
Global Voices is an international, multilingual, primarily volunteer community of writers, translators, academics, and human rights activists. The non-profit reports, translates, defends and empowers freedom of expression.

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Global Voices

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A global network of activists and journalists dedicated to protecting freedom of expression and free access to information online.

In partnership with Advox Global Voices - a global network of activists and journalists dedicated to protecting freedom of expression and free access to information online.

Uproar Tools are interactive data-driven tools that aim to show you how you can use the Universal Periodic Review to improve the situation of human rights in your country. 

Uproar Tools aims to show you how you can use the Universal Periodic Review to improve the situation of human rights in your country. 

The Tools were made in partnership between Uproar and Data4Change, a non-profit organisation working at the intersection of data, design, journalism and technology, collaborating with organisations on social and policy change interventions to forge real change and lasting impact.

Uproar Tools

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Use our free interactive tools to build recommendations and tailor advocacy efforts at the Universal Periodic Review.

Uproar Tools 

Advocacy Assembly is a free multilingual e-learning platform set up in 2015 aimed at educating campaigners, activists, human rights defenders and journalists in digital rights and digital skills. 
In partnership with leading digital rights organisations and experts, Advocacy Assembly offers self-paced online courses in Arabic, English, Farsi and Spanish using a variety of videos, quizzes and slides. The courses cover topics like design, data science, investigative journalism, open source investigations, effective campaigning for social change and much more.

Advocacy Assembly

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A free multilingual platform to access courses with leading organisations such as Amnesty International, Witness and Greenpeace. 

Advocacy Assembly is a free multilingual e-learning platform to educate on digital rights and digital skills.

Burkina Faso

Upr cycle

Resources

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