UNITED
NATIONS
A
General Assembly
Distr.
GENERAL
A/HRC/RES/12/16
12 October 2009
Original: ENGLISH
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
Twelfth session
Agenda item 3
PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF ALL HUMAN RIGHTS, CIVIL,
POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS,
INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO DEVELOPMENT
Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council *
12/16. Freedom of opinion and expression
The Human Rights Council,
Recalling Council resolution 7/36 of 28 March 2008 and all previous resolutions of the
Commission on Human Rights on the right to freedom of opinion and expression,
Recognizing that the exercise of the right to freedom of opinion and expression is one of
the essential foundations of a democratic society, is enabled by a democratic environment, which
offers, inter alia, guarantees for its protection, is essential to full and effective participation in a
free and democratic society, and is instrumental to the development and strengthening of
effective democratic systems,
Recognizing also that the effective exercise of the right to freedom of opinion and
expression is an important indicator of the level of protection of other human rights and
freedoms, bearing in mind that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and
interrelated,
Deeply concerned that violations of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
continue to occur, including increased attacks directed against, and killings of, journalists and
*
The resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council will be contained in the report of the Council
on its twelfth session (A/HRC/12/50), chap. I.
GE.09-16689