Programme A: Freedom of Expression and the Right to Information A1. During the period under review, MISA continued its campaign for the amendments of the SADC Protocol on Culture, Information and Sport which was signed in August 2001. The Protocol in many respects falls short of what MISA stands for, which is primarily the promotion of media freedom in the region through the repealing or amendment of anti-media legislation, including criminal defamation, the promotion of vibrant and independent media, the establishment of and sustainable management of community media, and the promotion of legislation that guarantees access to information. The other concerns that MISA has about the Protocol is its silence on broadcasting issues, including regulatory aspects and community broadcasting. Critical issues of media ownership and editorial independence of both the public and private media do not feature in the Protocol. In some cases where these phrases are mentioned the discussion is sub-standard and vague, to say the least. Taking into account all these concerns ,MISA questions the sincerity of the SADC governments’ commitment to media freedom, pluralism and the growth of a truly diverse media since these countries are signatories to a multitude of international charters and conventions and therefore MISA decided to conduct further analysis on the Protocol which looks at the compatibility of the Protocol with the constitutions of Namibia, South Africa, Malawi and Mozambique. This analysis will enable MISA to lobby those countries that will be found incompatible with their constitutions to amend them. So far five countries instead of the required nine have ratified the Protocol. The first draft of the report on the analysis is already out and it remains to be seen to what extent SADC governments will observe their responsibility to press freedom in the region. MISA actively participated in the drafting of the Information Policies of Namibia, and Swaziland and engaged the Information Policy of Lesotho by producing a critical analysis and submitting MISA’s proposals to be included in the Policy document. During the period – January to March 2003, MISA commissioned a media law audit on the Lesotho Media Law and a draft media law audit report has since been produced. A workshop with legislators will take place in July 2003. The Regional Secretariat in conjunction with the SADC Parliamentary Forum organised a regional conference on the Promotion of Freedom of Expression and Human Rights through Legislative Action, in Lusaka in October, 17-19, 2002. The conference brought about 74 participants from the SADC region including Members of Parliament from the region, prominent 5