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The right to just and favourable conditions of work (Art. 7) 2016, para. 49
- Paragraph text
- Human rights defenders should be able to contribute to the full realization of Covenant rights for all, free from any form of harassment. States parties should respect, protect and promote the work of human rights defenders and other civil society actors towards the realization of the right to just and favourable conditions of work, including by facilitating access to information and enabling the exercise of their rights to freedom of expression, association, assembly and public participation.
- Body
- Committee on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the context of multilateral institutions 2014, para. 80
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur finds all these practices deeply disconcerting, and believes that they profoundly undermine the ability of the United Nations to constructively engage with civil society. States sitting on the Committee should champion the right to freedom of association and the right to freedom of peaceful assembly. In this context, he voiced concern about the election of Azerbaijan to the Committee after criminal charges were filed against three of that country's most prominent human rights defenders. His concerns only increased after the three were convicted.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2014
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and press freedom 2010, para. 22
- Paragraph text
- The credibility of the press is linked to its commitment to the truth and to the pursuit of accuracy, fairness and objectivity. Indeed, the Special Rapporteur is of the view that, by voluntarily upholding the highest standards of ethics and professionalism and ensuring their credibility in the eyes of the public, journalists can contribute to enhancing their own protection. In this regard, the Special Rapporteur welcomes various standards that have been developed and adopted by journalists, including the Declaration of Principles on the Conduct of Journalists, and the initiatives undertaken by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) to encourage journalists to voluntarily adhere to the Declaration as a global standard of professional conduct.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and press freedom 2010, para. 24
- Paragraph text
- Journalists play an essential watchdog role in ensuring transparency and accountability in the conduct of public affairs and other matters of general interest by keeping the public informed. However, it is their monitoring role and their ability to influence public opinion which frequently result in their becoming targets of various human rights violations, including abduction, arbitrary detention, assault, enforced disappearance, expulsion, extrajudicial killing, harassment, kidnapping, threats and acts of violence and of discrimination, imprisonment, persecution, and torture, as well as surveillance, search and seizure. Such acts constitute, first and foremost, a violation of journalists' right to freedom of expression and press freedom, as they are aimed at preventing journalists from reporting and expressing their opinions on sensitive issues. Attacks against journalists also constitute a violation of the right of the public to receive information.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and press freedom 2010, para. 28
- Paragraph text
- Perhaps one of the biggest factors exacerbating the risk of threats and actual acts of violence against journalists is impunity, or the lack of investigation of acts committed and prosecution of persons responsible. As the Special Rapporteur noted in his most recent report to the Human Rights Council, perpetrators have enjoyed total impunity in 94 per cent of cases in which journalists were murdered in 2009, while the percentage of cases in which even some partial measure of justice has been obtained has been minimal. The fact that persons responsible for the killings are not brought to account emboldens others who would prefer journalists to remain silent to follow suit, thus perpetuating a vicious circle, which, in the long term, has a "corrosive and corrupting effect on society as a whole", as underscored by the Secretary-General.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and press freedom 2010, para. 39
- Paragraph text
- In addition, States have an obligation to investigate threats and acts of violence against journalists promptly, thoroughly and effectively through independent and impartial bodies. Following investigations, States must ensure that those responsible are brought to justice so as to prevent impunity, and make reparation to individuals whose rights have been violated. The latter generally entails appropriate compensation and can involve, where appropriate, restitution, rehabilitation and measures of satisfaction, such as public apologies, public memorials, guarantees of non-repetition and changes in relevant laws and practices.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and press freedom 2010, para. 41
- Paragraph text
- In sum, international human rights law guarantees the right to freedom of expression of all individuals, including journalists, as well as their right to life, liberty and security, among other rights. However, despite those existing norms and standards, attacks against journalists continue, as highlighted above (see paras. 24-31). The Special Rapporteur strongly emphasizes the need for States to abide by their international obligations by taking more effective action on the ground to ensure the effective protection of journalists, especially where there is a pattern of attacks against them.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and press freedom 2010, para. 64
- Paragraph text
- Whether at the scene of a dramatic event or documenting and disseminating sensitive information, even during times of peace, citizen journalists often face risks similar to those faced by professional journalists, including acts of reprisal for their reporting activities. Citizen journalists have been subjected to acts of harassment and intimidation, including death threats, attacks against their physical integrity, arbitrary arrest and detention, prosecution, prison sentences and/or fines, and even assassination. Acts of harassment and intimidation often include repeated and unsupported police summonses, the targeting of their families, smear campaigns to discredit them and travel bans and other restrictions on movement.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Families
- Year
- 2010
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and press freedom 2010, para. 66
- Paragraph text
- Since 2004, the Special Rapporteurs on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression have sent numerous urgent appeals and letters of allegations to Member States on behalf of individuals whose rights were violated because they expressed themselves via the Internet, often on blogs. The following cases, described in communication reports of the Special Rapporteur which are available publicly, illustrate some of the challenges faced by citizen journalists. Responses of the States concerned, where provided, can be found in the relevant communication reports.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and press freedom 2010, para. 68
- Paragraph text
- On 20 February 2009, the Special Rapporteur, together with the Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders and the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, sent an urgent appeal to the Government of Egypt regarding the situation of an Egyptian citizen and student blogger who, on 6 February 2009, had been arrested and allegedly beaten outside his home in Qotour city by State Security Investigations officers. On his blog, he had criticized the Egyptian policy regarding Gaza, including the restrictions on humanitarian aid delivered through Egypt to Gaza.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and press freedom 2010, para. 69
- Paragraph text
- On 6 January 2010, the Special Rapporteur sent a letter of allegations to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding ongoing concerns regarding the situation of journalists, bloggers and persons who express their views which are critical of the Government in the Islamic Republic of Iran. According to information received, several days prior to 7 December 2009 (National Student Day), various censorship measures were allegedly implemented to limit access to and the flow of information. On 5 December, Internet connections were reportedly blocked or slow, in particular in Tehran, Isfahan and Shiraz, affecting various websites, in particular those presenting views supportive of the opposition leader. Reports also claim that it was impossible to browse or send e-mails. Before and during the demonstrations, mobile phone connections and the Short Message Service (SMS) were also reportedly suspended or jammed. In addition, demonstrators who were using mobile phones to take photographs or to film the events were also allegedly arrested or had their phones seized by security forces.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and press freedom 2010, para. 71
- Paragraph text
- In addition, the Special Rapporteur notes that States frequently utilize restrictive domestic legislation to investigate, arrest and sentence citizen journalists. Such laws include press and penal code provisions, emergency or national security laws and emerging Internet-specific laws and decrees. Examples of the use of such laws and the consequent violations of the rights of citizen journalists are highlighted below, based on urgent appeals and letters of allegations sent and press statements issued by the Special Rapporteur, which are already in the public domain.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and press freedom 2010, para. 72
- Paragraph text
- National penal codes and press laws often contain vaguely defined provisions that criminalize criticism of Government or reporting on politically or socially sensitive topics, which are used to punish not only professional journalists, but also citizen journalists. For example, on 4 March 2005, the Special Rapporteur sent an urgent appeal to the Government of Malaysia with regard to the situation of a blogger who was reportedly under investigation for acts fostering religious disunity for comments posted on his blog regarding religion and politics. He faced imprisonment for a period of two to five years if found guilty under section 298A of the penal code.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and press freedom 2010, para. 73
- Paragraph text
- On 15 July 2009, the Special Rapporteur, together with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, sent an urgent appeal to the Government of Azerbaijan concerning a youth activist and a prominent video-blogger who, on 8 July 2009, together with a colleague, was physically assaulted by two men in civilian clothing while having lunch in a restaurant. Both reported the attack to the police and, as a result, they were interrogated for several hours and subsequently arrested. The following day, a preliminary hearing was held in their case, and the video-blogger and his colleague were charged with hooliganism under article 221 of the criminal code of Azerbaijan and remanded to two months pre-trial detention pending further investigation of the case. The hearing in their case was held in closed session. The assailants were present at their hearing only as witnesses, and remained free at the time the communication was sent.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Youth
- Year
- 2010
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and press freedom 2010, para. 75
- Paragraph text
- Emergency or national security laws are also often used to justify restrictions on citizen journalists' expression of views or dissemination of information through the Internet, often on the basis of protecting vaguely defined national interests or public order. For example, on 27 February 2004, the Special Rapporteur, together with the Chairperson of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, sent an urgent appeal to the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic regarding the arrest of a person in relation to articles which he distributed by e-mail, mainly from the Akhbar al-Sharq Internet site (www.thisissyria.net). The Syrian authorities were quoted as saying that material on the site is "detrimental to the reputation and security of the nation" and "full of ideas and views opposed to the system of Government in Syria".
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and press freedom 2010, para. 76
- Paragraph text
- In other cases, laws or decrees that explicitly regulate online expression have been adopted and used to restrict the peaceful expression of opinion and ideas. For example, on 17 May 2010, at the conclusion of his fact-finding mission to the Republic of Korea, the Special Rapporteur issued a press statement in which he expressed concerns regarding Internet-specific legislation, in particular the Framework Act on Telecommunications and the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection. The Special Rapporteur noted that the former was used as the basis for arresting a blogger for posting online articles which were critical of the Government's economic policy in the context of the financial crisis, while the latter has been used to delete online posts and to sentence or fine individuals who initiated online campaigns for a consumer boycott.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and press freedom 2010, para. 81
- Paragraph text
- It is also worrying that the number of journalists forced into exile as a result of attacks, threats and possible imprisonment doubled between 2009 and 2010 compared with the previous year. While the host Government has the obligation to respect and to ensure the rights of all individuals within its territory, regardless of nationality or other grounds, the Special Rapporteur reiterates the obligation of all States to guarantee the protection of journalists and others who exercise their right to freedom of expression in their own countries in the first place.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and press freedom 2010, para. 82
- Paragraph text
- Citizen journalists have come to play an increasingly important role in gathering and disseminating news, in particular in countries where press freedom is restricted, or in a disaster or conflict zone where professional journalists may not be present. While they cannot replace professionally trained journalists, they contribute to the public's access to a richer diversity of views, opinions and information. Like professional journalists, and for the same reasons, citizen journalists are subjected to acts of harassment and intimidation, including death threats, arbitrarily arrested and detained, prosecuted and sentenced to imprisonment and/or to harsh fines, and even assassinated. However, they enjoy less protection than professional journalists, as they do not have the support of media organizations and networks, and lack recognition as professional journalists.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Groups in need of attention, limitations to the right to freedom of expression, and protection of journalists 2010, para. 95
- Paragraph text
- The States concerned maintain that violence against journalists has varied causes, which may be true. However, the Special Rapporteur believes that States have a duty to carry out exhaustive investigations into each case and to bring criminal charges against those responsible. Failure to perform this duty creates a culture of impunity which perpetuates the violence. Systematically allowing those responsible for killing journalists or social communicators to go unpunished could be interpreted as tolerance or acquiescence on the part of the State.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2010
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right to freedom of opinion and expression exercised through the Internet 2011, para. 54
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur is deeply concerned by actions taken by States against individuals communicating via the Internet, frequently justified broadly as being necessary to protect national security or to combat terrorism. While such ends can be legitimate under international human rights law, surveillance often takes place for political, rather than security reasons in an arbitrary and covert manner. For example, States have used popular social networking sites, such as Facebook, to identify and to track the activities of human rights defenders and opposition members, and in some cases have collected usernames and passwords to access private communications of Facebook users.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2011
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and media freedom 2012, para. 97
- Paragraph text
- Laws that criminalize expression continue to be used by States to imprison journalists who disseminate "inconvenient" information. Journalists may be arrested and detained, particularly in the run-up to elections, often on the basis of vague anti-terrorist or national security laws. The Special Rapporteur is deeply concerned that the current number of journalists in prison is the highest since 1996. Criminal prosecution of journalists creates a "chilling effect" that stifles reporting on issues of public interest.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2012
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and media freedom 2012, para. 99
- Paragraph text
- The protection of journalists and combating impunity requires context-specific measures that address the specific risks in each situation and effectively addresses the root causes of attacks. While there are many organizations committed to ensuring the protection of journalists at all levels, there has not been much collaboration and joint strategies adopted at the international level. The Special Rapporteur thus welcomes the initiative to draft a United Nations joint Plan of Action on the Protection of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity and looks forward to its effective implementation.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2012
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and media freedom 2012, para. 65
- Paragraph text
- One of the biggest challenges to ensuring the protection of journalists is impunity or the failure to bring to justice the perpetrators of human rights violations. In this regard, the Special Rapporteur has on many occasions stressed that impunity for those who attack and/or kill journalists is a central obstacle to guaranteeing the protection of journalists and press freedom, as it emboldens perpetrators as well as would-be perpetrators to attack journalists with no legal consequences. Indeed, impunity is one, if not the main cause of the unacceptably high number of journalists who are attacked or killed every year. States must recognize that in cases of violence against journalists, impunity generates more violence in a vicious cycle.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2012
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and media freedom 2012, para. 66
- Paragraph text
- According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), in nine out of 10 cases in which journalists are murdered, the perpetrators go free. As at 20 March 2012, 565 journalists have been murdered with impunity since 1992. The root causes of impunity may vary from context to context, but can mainly be attributed to lack of political will to pursue investigations, including for fear of reprisal at the hands of powerful criminal networks, inadequate legal framework and a weak judicial system, ineffectiveness of police forces and judicial bodies and lack of expertise, lack of resources allocated to law enforcement and the justice system, as well as negligence and corruption. Against these obstacles, many journalists choose not to report threats or incidents of physical attack, further fuelling the cycle of impunity.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2012
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and media freedom 2012, para. 68
- Paragraph text
- In the case of Guatemala, the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG), which began operations in September 2007, has an unprecedented mandate among United Nations and other international efforts to promote accountability and strengthen the rule of law. The Commission aims to investigate and dismantle violent criminal organizations in Guatemala, which are believed to be among the cornerstones of impunity in the country, threatening the justice system and democratic institutions. The Commission carries out independent investigations in accordance with international human rights standards under Guatemalan law and following Guatemalan procedure. It fortifies Guatemala's public policy framework and justice sector institutions, making proposals for legal reforms, providing technical assistance to justice sector institutions, and working closely with the Attorney General's Office on the prosecution of symbolic cases. Although the CICIG is not specifically directed towards journalists, it draws attention to issues at the heart of the problem of impunity.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2012
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and media freedom 2012, para. 78
- Paragraph text
- Ensuring that journalists can effectively carry out their work means not only preventing attacks against journalists and prosecuting those responsible, but also creating an environment where independent, free and pluralistic media can flourish and journalists are not placed at risk of imprisonment. The Special Rapporteur expresses his deep concern that the current total number of journalists imprisoned worldwide is reportedly the highest since 1996, with 179 journalists behind bars as at 1 December 2011. Reportedly, the work of 86 imprisoned journalists - half of the total imprisoned - has primarily appeared online. In addition, journalists may be victims of short-term detentions, which can also heighten the climate of intimidation. Such detentions are often difficult to document statistically.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2012
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and media freedom 2012, para. 79
- Paragraph text
- Indeed, the Special Rapporteur remains concerned at the continuing existence and use of criminal laws against journalists and members of the media, which are often used by authorities to suppress "inconvenient" information and to prevent journalists from reporting on similar matters in the future. Consequently, there is a chilling effect which stifles reporting on issues of public interest. Charges such as treason, subversion and acting against national interests continue to be brought against journalists worldwide, as well as allegations of terrorism and criminal defamation for reporting false news or engaging in ethnic or religious insult.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2012
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Protection of journalists and media freedom 2012, para. 91
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur also remains concerned at journalists being held accountable for receiving, storing and disseminating classified data which was obtained in a way that is not illegal, including leaks and information received from unidentified sources. In this regard, he emphasizes that journalists should not be held responsible for, or be forced to reveal, their sources of information. The Special Rapporteur further stresses that it is also important for States to facilitate access to historical archives of official information to enable victims of human rights violations to exercise their right to truth, as well as journalists and academics for investigative purposes.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2012
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The implications of States’ surveillance of communications on the exercise of the human rights to privacy and to freedom of opinion and expression 2013, para. 45
- Paragraph text
- Filtering technologies mentioned above also facilitate the monitoring of web activity in order to enable the State to detect forbidden images, words, site addresses or other content, and censor or alter it. States can use such technologies to detect the use of specific words and phrases, in order to censor or regulate their use, or identify the individuals using them. In countries with high levels of Internet penetration, Internet filtering reportedly enables the censorship of website content and communications and facilitates the surveillance of human rights defenders and activists.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The implications of States’ surveillance of communications on the exercise of the human rights to privacy and to freedom of opinion and expression 2013, para. 51
- Paragraph text
- Inadequate legal standards increase the risk of individuals being exposed to violation of their human rights, including the right to privacy and the right to freedom of expression. They also have an adverse impact on certain groups of individuals - for example, members of certain political parties, trade unionists or national, ethnic and linguistic minorities - who may be more vulnerable to State communications surveillance. Without strong legal protections in place, journalists, human rights defenders and political activists risk being subjected to arbitrary surveillance activities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Ethnic minorities
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph