A/71/373
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and
protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
Summary
In the present report, submitted in accordance with Human Rights Council
resolution 25/2, the Special Rapporteur addresses contemporary challenges to
freedom of expression. He assesses trends relating to the permissible restrictions laid
out in article 19 (3) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and
concludes with recommendations that the United Nations, States and civil society
may take to promote and protect freedom of opinion and expression.
Contents
Page
2/24
I.
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
II.
Legal framework . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4
III.
Contemporary restrictions on expression . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5
A.
Legality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6
B.
Necessity to protect a legitimate objective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7
C.
Illegitimate objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
11
IV.
Efforts to promote freedom of expression . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
20
V.
Conclusions and recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
22
16-15396