AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS LAW JOURNAL Press freedom and democratic governance in The Gambia: A rights-based approach Aboubacar Abdullah Senghore* Dean, Faculty of Law, University of The Gambia Summary The article explores the relationship between democratic governance and the free and independent press in The Gambia since the inception of the Gambian First Republic in 1970. It supports the rights-based approach which perceives the issues of democracy, good governance, and a free and independent press as related to the concept of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Put differently, a free and independent press is not only a mirror of good governance, but also one of the essential elements of democratic governance. This article represents a modest contribution to the existing literature on the questions of governance, democracy, press freedom and human rights, with particular reference to The Gambia. 1 Introduction Press freedom is a prerequisite for the establishment of a functioning democratic system of government and fundamental human rights. Embodied in the principle of freedom of expression, press freedom is a concern and principle of international and national human rights law and a basic norm of civilised behaviour. It is viewed by many as a fundamental necessity for democratic governance. Thus, governments are expected to permit the press, and particularly the private press, to function responsibly without undue obstruction. Press freedom is not only an indispensable pillar of democracy, but it is also important for the long-term sustainability of social and economic development. * PhD (Malaysia);
[email protected] 508 ahrlj-2012-2-text.indd 508 2013/03/01 9:07 AM PRESS FREEDOM IN THE GAMBIA 509 The press has become central to democratic discourse worldwide.