In October 2013, ARTICLE 19 analysed the Draft Proposed Amendments to the Constitution, dated 20 August 2013 (Draft Constitution), in light of international standards on the right to freedom of expression and information.
ARTICLE 19 welcomes that the Draft Constitution includes positive references to rights-based language throughout, including a dedicated bill of rights that sets out the right to freedom of expression and many important related rights.
However, in almost every case the scope afforded to each fundamental right, including the right to freedom of expression and information, is too narrow. At the same time, there is a lack of guidance on how rights may be legitimately restricted to protect other rights or collective interests in compliance with international law. In several instances fundamental rights are qualified in ambiguous terms that give the authorities substantial discretion and that may lead to abuse.