Freedom of speech

Freedom of speech is not just a matter of being free to share and document your opinions, but also being free to distribute these opinions through the use of media and publications. By definition, freedom of speech is the right to express any opinions without censorship and restraint. Censorship is an act of restricting the freedom of speech and press. Certain websites being blocked in certain counties are one of the common examples of government censorship. In Sudan, there are restrictions on the media coverage that displays the violent conflicts taking place in Darfur.

The Sudanese government has placed restrictions on the press coverage of the conflicts taking place in Darfur. Journalists reporting the conflicts have been detained and their works have been confiscated by the government before they can be printed and distributed to the public. Media sharing sites (such as youtube) have been banned in Sudan, for fear that journalists will display media coverage of the conflicts online. According to Human Right Watch, "Sudan's parliament should make major changes to a draft press law to ensure that it protects freedom of speech as guaranteed under the Sudanese constitution and international law". The revision of this law will grant Sudanese citizens their freedom of speech. However there is no evidence of whether or  not the government will proceed with these revisions to the Sudanese law. Petitions have been organized to put an end to the censorship, stating that the government “In the face of a unspeakably and worsening catastrophe in Darfur, the government of Sudan continues to arbitrary violate human rights with impunity and systematically subjects journalists to censorship. ”

Bibliography:
http://www.petitiononline.com/darfur07/petition.html
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/04/23/sudan-revise-repressive-press-law
http://www.ncbuy.com/reference/country/humanrights.html?code=su&sec=2a

Videos explaining the conflicts in Sudan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tKvuRZSdmc
The video explains the conflicts in Dafur and how people appear ignorant of the causes of the war and its solutions. This also compares the violence of the war to the massacre of Jewish citizens in the Holocaust.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USLDoIiFzzg
This is video is an explanation of the conflicts in Darfur and it shows someone who has witnessed the situation in Darfur and understands the motives behind the conflict.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_jjTJ19WgE
This video documents the experiences of the refugees seeking sanctuary from the harsh, brutal conflict in Darfur.