A/HRC/RES/20/8
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
16 July 2012
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Twentieth 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
20/8.
The promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the
Internet
The Human Rights Council,
Guided by the Charter of the United Nations,
Reaffirming the human rights and fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and relevant international human rights treaties, including the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,
Recalling all relevant resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights and the
Human Rights Council on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, in particular
Council resolution 12/16 of 2 October 2009, and also recalling General Assembly
resolution 66/184 of 22 December 2011,
Noting that the exercise of human rights, in particular the right to freedom of
expression, on the Internet is an issue of increasing interest and importance as the rapid
pace of technological development enables individuals all over the world to use new
information and communications technologies,
Taking note of the reports of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection
of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, submitted to the Human Rights Council
at its seventeenth session,1 and to the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session,2 on
freedom of expression on the Internet,
1
2
GE.12-15325
The resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council will be contained in the report of
the Council on its twentieth session (A/HRC/20/2), chap. I.
A/HRC/17/27.
A/66/290.