Human rights experts urge robust
action to tackle challenges to freedom of expression
GENEVA (11 July 2019) – On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of
the Joint Declarations on Freedom of Expression, the UN Special Rapporteur on
Freedom of Expression, David Kaye, together with other regional experts, has
called for a robust response to the main challenges to freedom of expression
for the next decade.
In a joint declaration issued on 10
July 2019, the experts highlighted ongoing violence against and prosecution of
journalists, threats to media diversity and independence, legal restrictions on
online expression, as well as unlawful surveillance and the power of online
intermediaries as serious challenges to freedom of expression.
They called for the creation of an
enabling environment to protect the safety of journalists and others who are
attacked for exercising their right to freedom of expression online and
offline. Highlighting that the exercise of freedom of expression requires to
build and maintain a free, open and inclusive Internet, they urged States to
recognise the right to access and use the Internet as a human right as an
essential condition for the exercise of the right to freedom of expression.
The declaration also urges private
companies to respect the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. It
also called for an independent and multi-stakeholder oversight, transparency
and accountability mechanisms that could address private content rules that
interfere with individuals’ right to enjoy freedom of expression.
The Joint Declaration was issued by
David Kaye, together with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in
Europe (OSCE) Representative on Freedom of the Media, the Organization of
American States (OAS) Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and the
African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) Special Rapporteur on
Freedom of Expression and Access to Information.
ENDS
Mr David Kaye, Special Rapporteuron the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion andexpression. The Independent Experts are part of what is known as the Special
Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of
independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the
independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms of the Human Rights Council
that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts
of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are
not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent
from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.
For inquiries and media requests,
please contact Thibaut Guillet (+41.22.917.91.58 / tguillet@ohchr.org) or
Daniel Moegster (+ 41 22 9179570 /
dmogster@ohchr.org )
For media inquiries related to
other UN independent experts: Jeremy Laurence, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+
41 22 917 9383 / jlaurence@ohchr.org)
Follow news related to the UN’s
independent human rights experts on Twitter @UN_SPExperts.
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