CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction Freedom of expression of women can serve a multitude of functions: dissemination of information; expression of the will of the women and general ideas. 1 One of the most disputed areas in contemporary human rights law is that of Freedom of expression of women which begs a question: how far does this right extend particularly with the continuous cultural sensitivities and threats to national security exist. When freedom of expression for women or free speech provisions are contained in bills of rights or charters of rights, it is clear that these are rights entitled to some protection from government interference. So, what is the scope of protection of freedom of expression women? Written constitutions and bills of rights invariably protect freedom of women expression as one of the fundamental liberties guaranteed against state suppression or regulation and so as to fast gender balance.2 Arendt found out that the philosophical, political, economic and social arguments _about the justifications for a freedom of expression of women principle is on this approach highly relevant to constitutional interpretation. 1.1 Background to the study At a global level, there is evidence which shows that freedom of expression of women has its own problems as shown by statistics. A report from Freedom of the Press and expression which sh~ws the global picture.3 On the freedom of expression of women according to the 2014 report suggests that the global freedom of expression of women has fallen to its lowest level in over a decade.4 It shows that out of 197 countries and territories that were assessed in 2013, a total of 32%, these countries gave a room for women to express themselves politically, economically and socially and 68% of these countries women's rights of expression was limited by cultural restraints for example in Qatar and other Arab countries women are not given chance to select men of their choice for marriage indeed it's the parent who does so, in South Africa, in Sotho community women cannot sit on the same table with men to have a dialogue and in Uganda