The Right to Communicate: A Fundamental Human Right

'The right to freedom of expression has generally been considered in many legal systems as a negative right -- a freedom from government interference. ... Today, the right to communicate is increasingly being recognised as a fundamental human right without which all other human rights, especially freedom of expression, are meaningless. ... The enjoyment of the right to communicate is intrinsically linked to the society's level of socio-economic development. ... One of the key obstacles for ICT development in Africa is the need for important investments that African states alone cannot afford. ... The tricky question in the age of globalisation, where the notions of the state, its role, and powers have dramatically shifted, is to identify and determine where the duty for enabling the right to communicate lies. ... it will take continued hard work if we are to truly see the realisation of the right to communicate in the near future.'