REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA COMBINED SECOND PERIODIC REPORT UNDER THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLE`S RIGHTS and INITIAL REPORT UNDER THE PROTOCOL TO THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN AFRICA extensive as to render the right a nullity.113 The Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, 2000,114 in section 10, declares that no person may publish, propagate, advocate or communicate words against any person that is intended to be hurtful, harmful or intended to promote or propagate hatred save for bona fide engagement in artistic creativity, academic and scientific inquiry, fair and accurate reporting in the public interest or publication of any information, advertisement or notice in accordance with the Constitution. This Act provides for civil remedies. 186. The South African Government Communication and Information System convenes the Government Communicators Forum to ensure effective co-ordination of government communication. The main responsibility of GCIS is to keep the public informed about issues that affect their daily lives. GCIS also provides information on human rights and how to access them. 187. The Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) was established in terms of the Media Development and Diversity Agency Act, 2002115 to help in the creation of an enabling environment for media development and diversity that is conducive to public discourse and which reflects the needs and aspirations of all South Africans. The MDDA was set up to enable historically disadvantaged communities and persons not adequately served by the media to gain access to the media. To achieve its objective, the MDDA will:  Encourage ownership and control of, and access to, media by historically disadvantaged communities, historically diminished indigenous language and cultural groups;  Encourage the channelling of resources to community and small commercial media;  Encourage human resource development and capacity building in the media industry, especially amongst historically disadvantaged groups;  Encourage research regarding media development and diversity. 188. The objects of the Act, in line with the national policy priorities and the Constitution, are to promote media development and diversity, media freedom, the right to freedom of expression and freedom to receive or impart ideas or information. The MDDA also conducts research into media development and diversity and has since produced several reports that assist academics, practitioners and policy makers in understanding the media industry in South Africa. Since its establishment the MDDA has achieved some major milestones including the awarding of grants to the amount of R183.6 million to over 407 projects, training of over 1300 people, the provision of 243 bursaries to different radio and print media and the receipt of unqualified audits. 189. Media ethics are important within the context of press freedom and freedom of expression.116 The Press Council of South Africa, the Ombudsman and the Appeals Panel 113 Islamic Unity Convention v Independent Broadcasting Authority 2002 (5) BCLR 433 (CC) Act No. 4 of 2000 115 Act No. 14 of 2002 116 In this regards, see NM and Others v Charlene Smith and Others (2007) 7 BCLR 751 (CC). The Plaintiffs in this matter were three HIV positive women whose identities were withheld for their protection, and were simply 114 55