Summary

The Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Irene Khan, visited Zambia from 20 to 31 January 2025. In the present report, she acknowledges progress, including the adoption of the Access to Information Act and the repeal of the offence of defamation of the President. She notes ongoing challenges regarding freedom of expression and the need for legal and policy reforms. In her key recommendations, she calls for the implementation of the Access to Information Act, the decriminalization of defamation and the revision of some speech-related offences in the Penal Code and other restrictive laws to bring them into line with international standards. She also calls for strengthening the media and State institutions. She notes the rise of disinformation and the need to address it with multipronged strategies grounded in human rights. The Special Rapporteur encourages the Government to continue its efforts to expand Internet connectivity to support freedom of expression and access to information. She calls upon the Government to accelerate reforms, foster a culture of transparency and engage with civil society to strengthen the protection of human rights.